Gianna Fortino
June 2025
Gianna
Fortino
,
BSN, RN
Perelman Emergency Department
NYU Langone Health - Tisch/Kimmel
New York
,
NY
United States
What makes Gianna truly exceptional is that this isn’t a one-time event—this is who she is, every day, with every patient. She consistently delivers patient-centered care with empathy and professionalism, no matter the situation.
Gianna is the ideal nurse—someone I would trust wholeheartedly to care for my own parents. As her Assistant Nurse Manager and former educator, I’ve had the privilege of watching her grow exponentially over the past two years in our Emergency Department. Her clinical skills, emotional intelligence, and professionalism have flourished, making her a cornerstone of our team.
I’ll never forget an instance when a patient's family member expressed frustration over the wait for an inpatient bed. It was my first week in my new position, and I didn't know how to respond, but Gianna knew how to address the families' concerns. Gianna handled the situation with incredible grace and composure. She remained calm, compassionate, and took the time to thoroughly explain the care process and the reasons for the delay, helping the family feel both informed and heard.
More recently, we received an email from a grateful family member after Gianna cared for their loved one who had just been diagnosed with a UTI.
The patient had a 24/7 health aide who had concerns about the new diagnosis. Gianna immediately picked up on the aide’s nonverbal cues—her body language, facial expressions, and overall demeanor—and recognized her worry and self-doubt, even before anything was said aloud. Without hesitation, Gianna stepped in to offer reassurance, education, and kindness.
The family wrote:
"When one of the nurses, Gianna, came to give us the test result, informing us that my mom had a UTI, she looked at my mom’s full-time aide and said to her, 'This is no reflection on how you are caring for her and keeping her clean. People this age have a tendency to get a UTI.' My mom’s aide showed an expression of relief! I was very impressed by this nurse’s thoughtfulness and sensitivity."
What makes Gianna truly exceptional is that this isn’t a one-time event—this is who she is, every day, with every patient. She consistently delivers patient-centered care with empathy and professionalism, no matter the situation. Beyond her bedside care, Gianna is also a trusted mentor to new nurses. She takes time to guide them, model best practices, and foster a supportive learning environment, helping to shape the next generation of excellent emergency nurses.
Gianna embodies the essence of nursing—compassion, competence, and a genuine dedication to patients, families, and her colleagues.
I’ll never forget an instance when a patient's family member expressed frustration over the wait for an inpatient bed. It was my first week in my new position, and I didn't know how to respond, but Gianna knew how to address the families' concerns. Gianna handled the situation with incredible grace and composure. She remained calm, compassionate, and took the time to thoroughly explain the care process and the reasons for the delay, helping the family feel both informed and heard.
More recently, we received an email from a grateful family member after Gianna cared for their loved one who had just been diagnosed with a UTI.
The patient had a 24/7 health aide who had concerns about the new diagnosis. Gianna immediately picked up on the aide’s nonverbal cues—her body language, facial expressions, and overall demeanor—and recognized her worry and self-doubt, even before anything was said aloud. Without hesitation, Gianna stepped in to offer reassurance, education, and kindness.
The family wrote:
"When one of the nurses, Gianna, came to give us the test result, informing us that my mom had a UTI, she looked at my mom’s full-time aide and said to her, 'This is no reflection on how you are caring for her and keeping her clean. People this age have a tendency to get a UTI.' My mom’s aide showed an expression of relief! I was very impressed by this nurse’s thoughtfulness and sensitivity."
What makes Gianna truly exceptional is that this isn’t a one-time event—this is who she is, every day, with every patient. She consistently delivers patient-centered care with empathy and professionalism, no matter the situation. Beyond her bedside care, Gianna is also a trusted mentor to new nurses. She takes time to guide them, model best practices, and foster a supportive learning environment, helping to shape the next generation of excellent emergency nurses.
Gianna embodies the essence of nursing—compassion, competence, and a genuine dedication to patients, families, and her colleagues.