Celebrating Nurses 05-09-2024

BCELEBRATING NURSES: MEET SOME OF OUR NURSE HEROES

SHAHIN BANU

Critical Care Nurse

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital

Originally from Nepal, I have been living in Far Rockaway for the past 2.5 years. When I moved to the United States in 2015, I did not know the language fluently, the culture or the people.

However, I found a home here in EHS, and fell in love with the community. It has become my home away from home, and I feel blessed to have two angels — Iona Folkes and Natalie Brown — who have trusted, loved and supported me as a mother would.

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CATHERINE FRANCAVILLA, BSN, RN, CRRN

Becoming a nurse has always been my dream, inspired by my mother. Throughout my childhood, I witnessed her selflessly caring for loved ones with immense compassion. She always encouraged me to pursue nursing as my profession, as she was not privileged to study it academically.

I fulfilled her wish and became a critical care nurse in 2010, always aspiring to be just like her. Being a nurse is not just about administering treatments; it is about fostering genuine connections with patients, providing comfort, and advocating for their well-being. I feel privileged to be entrusted with the responsibility of healing and supporting others. It is incredibly fulfilling to know that each day brings the opportunity to make a positive difference in someone’s life — whether it is a patient or their family members when they are most vulnerable. When I see the smile on a patient’s face, I feel like I have done my job well. It keeps me humble, grounded, and motivated to do better.

CELEBRATING NURSES: MEET SOME OF OUR NURSE HEROES

LAURAANN GIARDELLI, BSN, RN

Glen Cove Hospital/Northwell Health

ecoming a nurse was a second career choice. I was working as an insurance adjuster and after experiencing the care nurses give up close when my father was sick, I decided to become a nurse. I was always impressed with nurses displaying comfort, compassion, and empathy. I enrolled into an associate degree nursing program at St. Paul’s School for Nursing, graduating in 2014 and immediately enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Chamberlin University. I completed my BSN in 2015 and started working at Glen Cove Hospital as a float nurse.

Glen Cove Hospital/Northwell Health

When I floated to the brain injury unit, I just knew I wanted to be a rehabilitation nurse. I was impressed by the staff’s dedication and commitment to their patients under challenging conditions. Consistently they demonstrated empathy and kindness towards those in their care. I was thrilled to accept a full-time position on the unit in 2018 and became board certified in rehabilitation nursing in 2022.

I constantly challenge myself with growth and professional development. I’m continuing my education by pursuing my Master’s degree at Chamberlin University. I want to continue to build a strong foundation for myself in nursing knowledge and clinical expertise. I’m looking forward to working in nursing education in the future and pursuing a second certification as a stroke certified nurse.

Glen Cove Hospital is where I have proudly transitioned from a student nurse to a professional registered nurse. As a student, I had the privilege of being a part of the Dedicated Education Program, Nurse Externship and Senior Capstone offered at GCH to have hands-on learning experiences alongside the nurses. With the instruction and support of my then professors and now nursing leadership, Jennifer Dixson and Jessica Ferruso, my clinical skills and critical thinking had a strong foundation to build upon.

As I am making the often trying yet always rewarding transition into my new graduate role, the support and encouragement I receive at GCH is a constant from the exemplary team here, especially on my unit, in my nurse residency and mentorship programs. My education is always continuing to grow and expand with the numerous conferences and programs made available to staff to maintain the highest quality of care for our patients.

I am confident in myself and my abilities, that is largely in part to the experiences and opportunities I’ve had at GCH. I chose nursing to connect with people and make a difference in their lives, I am reminded why I chose nursing every night when I hit the floor and take care of the fine people of our community. I am happy to be celebrating my first Nurse’s Week as a Northwell nurse at Glen Cove Hospital!

CELEBRATING NURSES: MEET SOME OF OUR NURSE HEROES

LISA GUARNIERI, RN

Long Island Jewish New Hyde Park/Northwell Health

Lisa Guarnieri has worked at LIJ New Hyde Park for 35 years. She works as a registered nurse in 9 Tower, a department that focuses on med-surge patients.

She was inspired to work as a nurse to help others, feeling that she could thrive and make a difference pursuing a career in healthcare.

Nursing means facilitating patients getting back to their optimal level of wellness — something she takes pride in doing.

KERIANN LOPEZ, RN

Assistant Nurse Manager

Long Island Jewish New Hyde Park/Northwell Health

Since starting here, Lisa notes nursing has changed, with nurses switching from eight-hour to 12-hour shifts. This affects the amount of time nurses might spend with individual patients throughout their hospitalization.

She's is grateful for every patient she has come in contact with, having profound experiences that have impacted her as a person no matter the duration of time they spent in her care.

“They could touch me within five minutes, and hopefully I can do the same for them. Sometime it’s not the time — it’s the quality and the rapport.”

She hopes that throughout her time at the hospital she has been able to help out her colleagues. She has found it very rewarding to be a resource for nurses starting at the hospital and help develop a “new age of nurses.”

“Hopefully with my experiences, being there so long, I was able to help out some of the newer nurses navigate a difficult profession a little bit more easily,” she says.

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• MS in Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

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Keriann Lopez has been in the Emergency Department at LIJ New Hyde Park for 11 years, as the ED's assistant nurse manager for the past two and a half years.

Empathy and compassion for patients is crucial to Keriann's career. She says it also requires sacrifice, as the public might not see how much nurses give up of themselves to care for their patients. The Emergency Department sees much death and trauma; it can be diffficult for the staff to always express empathy when there are so many devastating cases day in and day out.

“You get so devastated after a while, but the nurses that provide the best care are the ones who can still put themselves in people’s shoes and I think that that is a big part of nursing,” she says.

Kerriannis continuing a family tradition; her mother worked as a licensed practical nurse at Franklin General, now known as LIJ Valley Stream, throughout her life. She recalls a memory of painting her grandmother’s nails while she was in the hospital, her mother serving as the nurse in her room. Seeing her mom providing that care served as an inspiration for her to pursue a career of her own in nursing.

Lopez says that the most rewarding part of nursing is getting to build relationships with patients and their families.

RENEE CHASE

Renee Chase began her career path with a desire to make a difference, inspired by her mother.

“I always wanted to pursue a field where I could help people,” she says. “My mother was a nurse, and is one of the most inspiring people I know.”

She continues: “When I went to visit her at work, people would tell me about the impact that she made. I came into nursing to connect with people on a deeper level, to bring light into their darkest times.”

WAYNE LEE

Admission, Discharge and Transfer Nurse

Long Island Jewish Valley Stream/Northwell Health

As a fledgling nurse, Chase relied on experienced colleagues as she navigated patient care. Over time, she grew her skills and knowledge, embracing leadership opportunities. As co-chair of the Nurse Empowerment and Connection Council, Renee works to recognize nurses' efforts, fostering appreciation within the facility. Additionally, her involvement in the Chief Retention Officer Council demonstrates her dedication to assist new nurses, ensuring a bright future for healthcare at LIJVS Hospital.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of being a nurse at Valley Stream are the people that I work with every day. We are a family that relies on each other to get through the most difficult times in our lives and the lives of our patients. We celebrate all holidays together, some of us see our coworkers more than we see our families.”

Chase advises aspiring nurses to find joy in their daily work, emphasizing the privilege of being part of someone's healing journey.

Wayne Lee, the admission, discharge, and transfer (ADT) nurse, otherwise known as the throughput nurse, oversees the efficient movement of patients throughout the hospital, bridging the gap between administration and patient care.

Wayne joined LIJ Valley Stream after a successful career in various nursing specialties. His transition to this position was motivated by a desire to blend leadership with direct patient interaction, filling a void in the hospital's administration.

"I started working at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach in 2000 with my first job, and then I came here in ’09,” Wayne says. “I've been on this unit for 13 years until I took my position two years ago as the throughput nurse. The position had been unfilled for several years because it just never worked the way they wanted to."

His role involves greeting patients in the Emergency Room hold, providing them with an overview of their care plan, and ensuring a smooth transition to their assigned units. Through his efforts, Lee reduces patient stress and creates trust, improving the overall patient experience.

Joining LIJVS Hospital, Wayne ound a sense of fulfillment that he couldn’t get working at a larger facility.

“I'm Caribbean. I'm from Jamaica originally,” he says. “A tremendous amount of Caribbean folk come through these doors, and I'll be honest with you, sometimes in their most sick and vulnerable state, I'll pop out the accent and you'll see the smile come out. You see that gleam in their eyes. A community hospital is just an amazing place to work.”

CELEBRATING NURSES: MEET SOME OF OUR NURSE HEROES

JOSEPHINE MURRAY

Mount Sinai South Nassau

With nearly a decade in nursing, 66-year-old Josephine Murray of Bayside, Queens brings a unique blend of dedication and empathy to her role. Beginning her journey into nursing at 53, Josephine's path to healthcare was unconventional, marked by a 20-year tenure in policing, — retiring as a sergeant — before she transitioned into nursing.

MOISES CARABALLO

Mount Sinai South Nassau

MHer decision was deeply influenced by her experiences supporting friends battling cancer after 9/11. Witnessing the profound impact nurses had on their lives inspired Josephine to pursue a career where she could provide compassionate care and comfort to those in need.

“I had several of my friends who were police officers who were diagnosed with cancer and I took them to a doctor's appointment,” she says.“I took them to chemo and radiation treatments at Sloan Kettering and I saw how much of a difference the nurses really made.”

After retiring from the police force, she earned her nursing degrees from Queensboro and Stony Brook University. For Josephine nursing embodies selflessness, empathy and dependability.

“You have to be selfless because you have to care for others before you care for yourself in so many different ways,” she says. “I find that it’s a position where you're very empathetic and compassionate.”

Her commitment to her patients has not gone unnoticed, earning her accolades such as Employee of the Quarter, nominee for the National Nurses Excellence Award and finalist for the DAISY Award.

oises Caraballo, 36, has been serving the community since 2010. An Oceanside resident, originally hailing from Puerto Rico, he found his calling due to his innate desire to help others, inspired in part by his mother's initial desire to pursue a career path in nursing.

Reflecting on his journey into nursing, Moises recalls a childhood fascination with science and health subjects, which naturally led him towards his career. His decision was further solidified during nursing school when he participated in an externship program at was then South Nassau Communities Hospital, where he discovered his passion for patient care.

“They recruited us and called me after your graduation, and did an externship for three months and I actually fell in love with Long Island and the hospital,” he says. “I actually had an offer to stay as a patient care tech and I decided to stay.”

For Moises, nursing is more than just a profession; it's a vocation deeply rooted in making a meaningful impact on people's lives. He finds immense fulfillment in being a part of the healing process, witnessing patients’ transition from sickness to recovery and cherishes the connections he forms with patients and their families, striving to provide comfort, support, and quality care during their time of need.

Throughout his tenure at Mount Sinai South Nassau, he hass been recognized for his dedication and excellence in patient care, including as Employee of the Quarter last year.

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Always learning. Always teaching. Always caring. For every patient and for the future of nursing, nurses put their heart into everything they do. We’re grateful, we care and we thank them.

Nurses Week is a chance to shine a spotlight on the most-trusted professionals across the country who devote their lives to the betterment of others' health and quality of life. And it is a chance to reflect on the challenges nurses face. Without nurses, our healthcare system would not be able to function, and so we take this week each year to recognize and celebrate the hard work and critical role nurses have in keeping us all healthy and safe. This is a time to celebrate nurses for the essential role they play in our lives and our health care system.

From caring for our communities on daily basis, the unprecedented response throughout the pandemic, to assisting with life-threatening crises to delivering babies and caring for the elderly in their last moments, nurses perform some of the most difficult and heartbreaking tasks in the medical world. As workers who perform the vitally essential healthcare tasks, nurses serve as the first point of contact for most patients.

We honor their contributions and sacrifices. In this photo essay by Photo Editor Tim Baker we show you some of our valiant nursing heroes. Our

Photos by Tim Baker/Herald

1 At Glen Cove Hospital: Andrea Marchese ICU, Meredith Minsky, Nursing Education, and Dylan Silas, Telemetry

Mercy Hospital Emergency Department: Sophia Telemaque RN, and Deenu Joseph, RN

Mount Sinai South Nassau: Damali Bernadotte, RN, with Darya Sledzinskaya, RN, assistant nurse manager critical care unit

Hyde Park's Katz Women's Hospital Gabriella Cicio and Monica Rosa Photo courtesy of Katz Women's Hospital.

5 At St John's Episcopal Hospital: CCU RN Yanique Robinson and CCU RN Daijah Lyons

6 LIJ Valley Stream Emergency Department: Modise Elmine, RN, with Tamoya Range, RN, and Lara Bote, RN

7 Glen Cove Hospital Emergency Department: Diane Paez, Tracy Mastakouris and Danielle Frantino

8 Mercy Hospital Infusion Center : Usha Seepaul, RN, and Jennifer Okoye, RN

9 At Mount Sinai South Nassau: Emerrgency Department Nurse Manager, Emily Leboff, RN, wiith Director of Emergency Services Cristina Cellucci, RN

10 At St John's Episcopal Hospital: Kristina Meledina, ICU RN, with Chuchi Macias, ICU RN

CELEBRATING NURSES: MEET SOME OF OUR NURSE HEROES

COLLEEN CAMP, RN

Labor and Delivery Catholic Health – Mercy Hospital

For 24 years, I've dedicated myself to nurturing mothers and newborns as a mother-baby nurse at Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital. Every day has been filled with positive experiences, contributing to a wealth of knowledge and insight.

ILYSE

As a certified lactation counselor, I am dedicated to being a supporter of mothers, guiding them through the often challenging journey of breastfeeding. I've witnessed moments of frustration turn into triumph with words of encouragement, education, and practical advice, ensuring that every mother feels empowered and capable. Having had my own four children at Mercy Hospital, I understand intimately the anxieties and joys of motherhood, and I try to bring that understanding into every interaction.

Living locally, I take delight in seeing "my mommies" and their families around town. Mercy Hospital has become not just a workplace, but a community where I've built lasting relationships. Together as a team we take pride in being educators who help to ensure new families leave the hospital feeling confident to care for their newborn at home.

Our role isn't just about providing medical care; it's about offering compassion, reassurance, and a shoulder to lean on during one of life's most transformative experiences. Being a mother-baby nurse isn't just a job to me, it feels like a calling. I am grateful for every moment I've spent helping mothers and their precious babies thrive and look forward to meeting our new arrivals here at Mercy Hospital!

Being a nurse is much more than just a career or a profession; it is a true calling. Since I was younger I always knew I wanted to do something to help people and luckily I found that in nursing.

Throughout my years in this profession the meaning of nursing has changed for me. In the beginning of my career I thought it was to help a patient during their hardest times.

Now as I have seen changes in the profession, gained more experiences, and worked in various fields of nursing- I have learned that nursing is truly being part of a support system. I am so honored that as a nurse I have been able to be there for my patients and their families during the good and the challenging. I realized that nursing is not just about focusing on the tough times, but it’s also being there for second chances new beginnings and celebrations as well.

I also love that I am able to share my wisdom/experiences with new nurses entering the profession while also being a support system. Nursing is an amazing profession because one can go on various pathways and the possibilities are unlimited. I also love the fact that even on the hardest days at work I can say I am passionate for the profession and excited to see where it will take me next.

JAMES MORIAH

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital

Iwas born in Guyana, South America. My nursing career began in November 1996 as a nursing assistant/ transporter within the St. John’s Nursing Department.

Graduating from Queensborough Community College in 2001, I secured full-time employment on the medical-surgical floor. Recognizing the challenges and rewards in nursing led me to enroll in a Bachelor of Nursing program, which I completed in 2008.

KERRY ANNA MCNEIL-HOWARD

Clinical Nurse Manager

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital

Successful healthcare delivery depends on an informed knowledge base in this changing healthcare system. In the fall of 2010, I received my Master’s degree in adult health nursing from Lehman College.

These 27-plus years of my career have made me committed to the highest quality patient-centered care, professionalism and nursing service. At the same time, I excel in educating our patients and their families, preparing them for self-care when discharged.

Empathy, patience, and attention to detail characterize my nursing approach, often leading to requests to mentor new nurses. I am often seen as the team leader (charge nurse or not) who remains helpful, compassionate, and calm under pressure. With me as a role model, I assume responsibility for making the unit clinically excellent.

I am currently an adjunct associate professor at Nassau Community College. I enjoy teaching and nurturing people. I want to give back to a community that has given so much to me.

Iam a clinical nurse manager at Episcopal Health Services, which includes St. John’s Episcopal Hospital and its associated health facilities.

I have been a nurse for over 20 years, but my nursing career did not start in the usual way.

I didn’t grow up knowing that I wanted to be a nurse. My nursing career started unexpectedly in the late 1990s when I became a LPN (licensed practical nurse) after graduating from Vocational Education and Extension Board in Uniondale.

As a LPN, I learned the practical skills to accomplish tasks, and my love for nursing and patient care grew, leading me to pursue a registered nursing degree. I wanted to expand my knowledge to be the best nurse that I could be and put myself in a position where I would be equipped with the necessary education and experience to provide better care to patients and families in the most underserved populations.

Throughout history, nursing has been a vital profession that has played a crucial role in providing compassionate, empathic care and support to patients and families.

Since completing my first registered nursing degree, I have also completed a graduate nursing-level degree. This degree provides an added knowledge base that integrates evidenced-based practice into nursing. With this added knowledge base, I hope to be a greater asset to the communities I serve.

NUMC’S NURSES

During Nurses

Week, we honor Mount Sinai South Nassau nurses who create excellence together.

At Mount Sinai South Nassau, nurses create excellence together through compassion, collaboration, and unwavering dedication. This week, and all year, we honor the nurses who earned Magnet ® Recognition, a national quality standard that few hospitals obtain, and that indicates better outcomes for patients.

mountsinai.org/southnassau