Terry Cardona
June 2025
Terry
Cardona
,
BSN, RN, OCN
3 North
NYU Langone Hospital--Long Island
Mineola
,
NY
United States
The compassion she showed was inspiring and a true testament to what it means to be a nurse. She cared for the whole person rather than just checking off a list of things she had to do for her shift.
This one particular patient was with us for many weeks and would persistently yell for the nurses (even though she had her call bell in hand and all her needs were met). The patient was lonely and just wanted some companionship, but it was challenging for the floor nurses to spend a large amount of time in the room with her, as we had other patients.
This nominee would routinely go spend time with this patient in her room to keep her company so she wouldn’t be lonely. She would talk to her and watch TV with her, even though she had a million other things to do.
The compassion she showed was inspiring and a true testament to what it means to be a nurse. She cared for the whole person rather than just checking off a list of things she had to do for her shift. She is setting an amazing example for the nurses on our unit and really made a difference in the patient's mood every time she sat with her. She was able to put herself in the patient's position, and she showed empathy, something all nurses should strive to do every single time they come to work.
***
I would like to recognize this nominee for being an exceptional and dedicated assistant nurse manager. She is an extraordinary leader who supports staff in every way, offering not just clinical help, but emotional and psychological support. Her calm presence, strong communication, and ability to problem-solve allow her to handle any situation with grace. This nominee ensures the unit runs smoothly while always prioritizing patient safety and comfort.
Despite managing a busy 42-bed unit, she remains hands-on and remarkably in tune with every patient. She takes time to connect with them personally, which has a profound impact. I’ve seen her calm an agitated patient simply through conversation, then bring the patient to the nurses’ station for a change of scenery, staying with her so she wouldn’t feel alone. With another challenging patient, this nominee was the only one he would listen to. Her compassionate approach made him feel at ease and improved his care experience.
During a rapid response, she jumped in immediately to support the team and noticed the patient’s terrified family member. After ensuring the patient was stable, she guided the family member to a nearby spot, explained the situation calmly, and stayed with her throughout, offering reassurance during a traumatic moment.
This nominee’s leadership has been especially vital during times of transition. When our unit went over a year without a nurse manager and struggled to meet key metrics, she continued to advocate on our behalf, emphasizing the need for leadership stability and support. What she may not realize is that she has always been that anchor—quietly holding us together, lifting morale, and leading by example.
Through a hospital transition, a pandemic, and constant change, Terry Cardona has remained a steady, compassionate presence. Her commitment to both patients and staff makes her truly deserving of this award.
This nominee would routinely go spend time with this patient in her room to keep her company so she wouldn’t be lonely. She would talk to her and watch TV with her, even though she had a million other things to do.
The compassion she showed was inspiring and a true testament to what it means to be a nurse. She cared for the whole person rather than just checking off a list of things she had to do for her shift. She is setting an amazing example for the nurses on our unit and really made a difference in the patient's mood every time she sat with her. She was able to put herself in the patient's position, and she showed empathy, something all nurses should strive to do every single time they come to work.
***
I would like to recognize this nominee for being an exceptional and dedicated assistant nurse manager. She is an extraordinary leader who supports staff in every way, offering not just clinical help, but emotional and psychological support. Her calm presence, strong communication, and ability to problem-solve allow her to handle any situation with grace. This nominee ensures the unit runs smoothly while always prioritizing patient safety and comfort.
Despite managing a busy 42-bed unit, she remains hands-on and remarkably in tune with every patient. She takes time to connect with them personally, which has a profound impact. I’ve seen her calm an agitated patient simply through conversation, then bring the patient to the nurses’ station for a change of scenery, staying with her so she wouldn’t feel alone. With another challenging patient, this nominee was the only one he would listen to. Her compassionate approach made him feel at ease and improved his care experience.
During a rapid response, she jumped in immediately to support the team and noticed the patient’s terrified family member. After ensuring the patient was stable, she guided the family member to a nearby spot, explained the situation calmly, and stayed with her throughout, offering reassurance during a traumatic moment.
This nominee’s leadership has been especially vital during times of transition. When our unit went over a year without a nurse manager and struggled to meet key metrics, she continued to advocate on our behalf, emphasizing the need for leadership stability and support. What she may not realize is that she has always been that anchor—quietly holding us together, lifting morale, and leading by example.
Through a hospital transition, a pandemic, and constant change, Terry Cardona has remained a steady, compassionate presence. Her commitment to both patients and staff makes her truly deserving of this award.