Maria Gagliardi's cheerful countenance spreads contagiously to all she meets. Her compassionate and total patient care delivery shines to all her patients, coworkers, and customers. As our nursing council leader she puts her "heart and soul" into improving care, safety and customer service. She is a true blessing to Kennedy.

Maria Gagliardi was asked, when she was getting ready to leave, to start the admission process on patient JS. He was a 20 year old young gentleman having a procedure and he was telling her about his college experiences. She realized she had an instant connection with his mother SS. SS had been a friend of hers at St. Maria Goretti High School in South Philadelphia and had not seen her in 30 years. SS felt alone and told Maria that she had lost her husband tragically 4 months prior. This was the first surgery on her child in which her husband would not be present. SS was upset, crying, and visibly shaken. She asked if Maria was going to be her son's nurse since she was very apprehensive about the surgery. Maria told her it was the end of her shift. Maria left the room but I knew she felt compelled to stay. Maria ended up staying after her shift that night. She proceeded back to the room to notify the family that she was going to stay. The patient and mother felt so relieved to know that she would be there. The patient's mother actually said that she was considering cancelling the surgery because she was uneasy about it yet felt comfortable knowing that Maria would be there. SS's mother and mother in law came in the room and were informed of their high school connection; they were elated that Maria was his nurse. The patient's surgery was completed at 8pm.

I felt that Maria tried to bestow the best care to the patient and all his family. I felt that she wanted their experience not to be one of remorse but one that they would be satisfied with. As the patient left the building at 9:15pm his family offered many grateful comments, hugs and tears. I think they were extremely happy with his care. Maria is a salary nurse staying those extra 6 hours was on her own time. And I think she was more than happy to do it and never felt more content. I felt that Maria showed compassion and really made a difference in that patient and his family's life.