Katherine Criollo
October 2025
Katherine
Criollo
,
BSN, RN
4 West, CTICU
New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
New York
,
NY
United States
When I think about the qualities of an exceptional nurse: compassion, dedication, humility, selflessness, and joy, Katherine embodies them all and more.
From the very start, Katherine was a bright light in one of the darkest times for our family.
My best friend, my person, and my husband were preparing to undergo his second open-heart surgery. We met Katherine the day before his procedure, when she was assigned as his nurse. From the moment we met, we instantly connected. She put not only my husband but also me and my entire family at ease and made us feel safe during such an overwhelming time.
After surgery, my husband was transferred to the cardiac ICU. Those first days were terrifying. On the first day, while he still had his breathing tube, his blood pressure dropped, and the team had to place another arterial line in his femoral artery. I was by his side along with my daughter and my twin granddaughters. We were all so scared.
As we were leaving, Katherine came over and gave me a big hug in the doorway of the hospital. She could see how upset I was and somehow knew exactly how to calm me. Before starting her shift, she took the time to meet my family and reassured us that she would be checking in on my husband. She even took the time to encourage my granddaughters, who are both on their way to PA school, by talking with them about their journey.
I left that evening feeling reassured, knowing that my husband would be safe because the most amazing nurse, Katherine, was watching over him. The next day, my husband’s breathing tube was removed, and we were finally able to talk with him again. He did so well throughout the day, and though we left around 6 p.m., I worried about who his night nurse would be.
At 10 p.m., I called for an update. When I heard the cheerful voice on the other end say, Hello, I instantly knew it was Katherine. The relief I felt in that moment brought me to tears. She shared that she had requested to be assigned to my husband again, and my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude.
That night, she let me know that my husband’s oxygen saturation had dropped and that he was back on blood pressure medication. Of course, I was nervous, but hearing her explain everything with such compassion and confidence reassured me. The following night, when I called again, Katherine was once more caring for my husband. She reassured me that he was safe and doing as well as possible under the circumstances.
When I visit my husband in the hospital in the mornings, he often talks about what a wonderful person and nurse she is. She not only cared for him, but she cared for us as a family. She answered every question with patience, explained what the team was doing, and truly made us feel like we were never alone in this journey.
Katherine is a gift from God.
When I think about the qualities of an exceptional nurse: compassion, dedication, humility, selflessness, and joy, Katherine embodies them all and more. It was a privilege to have her care for the most important person in my life.
My best friend, my person, and my husband were preparing to undergo his second open-heart surgery. We met Katherine the day before his procedure, when she was assigned as his nurse. From the moment we met, we instantly connected. She put not only my husband but also me and my entire family at ease and made us feel safe during such an overwhelming time.
After surgery, my husband was transferred to the cardiac ICU. Those first days were terrifying. On the first day, while he still had his breathing tube, his blood pressure dropped, and the team had to place another arterial line in his femoral artery. I was by his side along with my daughter and my twin granddaughters. We were all so scared.
As we were leaving, Katherine came over and gave me a big hug in the doorway of the hospital. She could see how upset I was and somehow knew exactly how to calm me. Before starting her shift, she took the time to meet my family and reassured us that she would be checking in on my husband. She even took the time to encourage my granddaughters, who are both on their way to PA school, by talking with them about their journey.
I left that evening feeling reassured, knowing that my husband would be safe because the most amazing nurse, Katherine, was watching over him. The next day, my husband’s breathing tube was removed, and we were finally able to talk with him again. He did so well throughout the day, and though we left around 6 p.m., I worried about who his night nurse would be.
At 10 p.m., I called for an update. When I heard the cheerful voice on the other end say, Hello, I instantly knew it was Katherine. The relief I felt in that moment brought me to tears. She shared that she had requested to be assigned to my husband again, and my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude.
That night, she let me know that my husband’s oxygen saturation had dropped and that he was back on blood pressure medication. Of course, I was nervous, but hearing her explain everything with such compassion and confidence reassured me. The following night, when I called again, Katherine was once more caring for my husband. She reassured me that he was safe and doing as well as possible under the circumstances.
When I visit my husband in the hospital in the mornings, he often talks about what a wonderful person and nurse she is. She not only cared for him, but she cared for us as a family. She answered every question with patience, explained what the team was doing, and truly made us feel like we were never alone in this journey.
Katherine is a gift from God.
When I think about the qualities of an exceptional nurse: compassion, dedication, humility, selflessness, and joy, Katherine embodies them all and more. It was a privilege to have her care for the most important person in my life.