Rhoads 5 SICU Team
October 2019
Rhoads
Pennsylvania
Surgical
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States
Sebastian Ramagnano, BSN, BS, RN;
Kevin E. Scesa, BS, BSN, RN;
David Alfano, BSN, RN;
Jessica B. Andrews, BSN, RN;
Lina S. Bishnu, BSN, RN;
Danielle Bria, BSN, RN;
Cara T. Brindley, BSN, RN;
Molly E. Bussinger BSN, RN;
Apryle M. Cabuenos BSN, RN;
Kathleen Carpenter BSN, RN;
Chamaio Cheyenne-Rindge BSN, RN;
Kristin Cosper, MSN, RN;
Lindsey O. Craig, MSN, RN;
Audrey Cunningham, BSN, RN;
Tiffany J. Custis, BSN, RN;
Jessica F. Dallura Kolbe, BSN, RN;
Michael J. Daly, BSN, RN;
Kaitlyn Defrangesco, BSN, RN;
Lauren N. DiDomenico, BSN, RN;
Annalese DiPasquale, BSN, RN;
Michael E. Duca, BSN, RN;
Candace E. Finch, MSN, RN;
Tyler Fornwalt, BSN, RN;
Diane Gussler, BSN, RN;
Ruth Gyasi, BSN, RN;
Laini B. Hamm, BSN, RN;
Meghan Hand, BSN, RN;
Bryan Hernandez, BSN, RN;
Cortney Johnson, BSN, RN;
Tricia Kalinoski, BSN, RN;
Michael A. Keyack BSN, RN;
Julie Kiley, BSN, RN;
Nicola T. Kloss, BSN, RN;
Dawn Kollonige, BSN, RN;
Christy A. Lamb, BSN, RN;
Paige O. Leone, BSN, RN;
Ashley E. Lewis, BSN, RN;
Nicholas J. Lutz, BSN, RN;
Danielle A. Lynons, BSN, RN;
Nicole Mancini, BSN, RN;
Michael Massimiani, BSN, RN;
Anita McAlee, BSN, RN;
Kayleigh McCarthy BSN, RN;
Erin McCormick, BSN, RN;
Cathy McMillan, BSN, RN;
Kerlange Mentor, BSN, RN;
Meghan Michniewicz, BSN, RN;
Lukas Mikolajczyk, BSN, RN;
Elaine K. Morrison-Faino, BSN, RN;
Jennifer L. Naji, BSN, RN;
Hillary A. Novosedlik, BSN, RN;
Gemma L. Oetzel, MSN, RN;
Meghan R. O'Neill, BSN, RN;
Tenzin Palzom, BSN, RN;
Rebecca Pearce, BSN, RN;
Valencia J. Pelzer, BSN, RN;
Cristina Perone, BSN, RN;
Julianna Santine, MSN, RN;
Kendra B. Schaefer, BSN, RN;
Jennifer A. Sirna, MSN, RN;
Samuel R. Smith, BSN, RN;
Katherine E. Soueidan, BSN, RN;
Lauren K. Staedt, BSN, RN;
Christine Steffon, BSN, RN;
Laura S. Toth, MSN, RN;
Christopher R. Trainor, BSN, RN;
Joann M. Vernon, BSN, RN;
Thomas Vigliotti, BSN, RN;
Lisa M. Wadja, BSN, RN;
Lawrence E. Ward, BSN, RN;
Jessica Weatherwax, BSN, RN;
Kathryn M. Whalen, BSN, RN;
Judy Y. Wong, BSN, RN;
Danielle Wright, BSN, RN;
Christine M. Aiello, BSN, RN

 

 

 

I can't even begin to thank all of you for the care you gave my mom in what turned out to the best last days of her life. Every single one of you treated her with such professionalism, kindness, and dignity. You checked her heart and lungs respectfully, kept her warm when she felt cold, and gave her a fan when she felt hot. Your unending patience with all my questions, all my tears, and my constant presence in the room... I would have never had the strength to make it through those 2 weeks without you. As a family, we are all so very thankful to each one of you.
***
For the past 2 years, my husband J has been battling cancer. Our daughter was getting married in June 2019 but J had problems that resulted in hospitalization the day before the wedding. He was devastated as you can imagine. The following day Heather and Mike decided to lift J and our family's spirits. Heather brought in decorations and Mike decorated the family waiting room. The nurses stashed my daughter's gown and flowers and J's suit jacket. The nurses wheeled J into the hallway, J and our daughter had their first look and then we went to the waiting room and they had their father-daughter dance. All the nurses were so kind and shared this occasion with us. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. Mike and Heather were so wonderful giving J special attention when we were at the wedding, and they helped to take such a sad time for us and helped create a great memory for our family. We truly can't thank them enough.
***
You guys are truly outstanding and I'm so blessed to work with such an amazing team. I could not have made it through my shift without the help of everyone! Being a healthcare provider isn't just about how smart you are or your grandeur. It's about the love and commitment we make each day to give our patients the best quality care. No book can teach you how to cry with a patient or hold their child's hand as they transition from this life to the next. No class or professor can teach you how to tell a family that their loved one has little chance of recovery. It's about being able to LOVE people when they are at their weakest moments and that's what we did as a team. Our love, compassion, and respect for our patients go a long way! Thank you!