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Karen Politano, BSN, RN, was touched when she opened an envelope full of pictures and a hand-written note last month from a former heart transplant patient and his wife. “It made me cry; I couldn’t believe that they would think of me this long after they left the hospital,” she said.
The patient stayed months in the Cardiac Surgery ICU because he needed a certain type of left ventricular assist device while he awaited a transplant, and Politano cared for him on almost every shift she worked. “If you take care of someone when they are sick, they remember you,” said Politano. “They remember if you helped them get better, and their families remember you if you did all you could.”
With her compassion, skill and gift for connecting with people, Politano has made a lasting impression on hundreds of patients and families in her 22 years as a cardiac surgery nurse on the night shift at BWH.
Last night, she was honored with the Essence of Nursing Award at this year’s Nursing Recognition Dinner at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, where all BWH nurses were celebrated.
The four exemplary honorees for the Essence of Nursing Award also received special recognition: Sandra Dougal, BSN, RN, of the Medical Intensive Care Unit; Catherine Hogan, MSN, RN, of the Medical Cardiology Intermediate Care Unit on Shapiro 9/10; Samantha Leonard, BSN, RN, of the Tower 14AB Medical Intermediate Care Unit; and Paula Trabucco, RN, of the Neuroscience ICU.
Mairead Hickey, PhD, RN, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services, celebrated and congratulated the honorees. “Karen and our four honorees are excellent nurses who inspire us with the way they provide truly exquisite care to patients and families and help teach and mentor the next generation of nurses,” she said. “It is a privilege to have them as colleagues.”
More than 500 nurses attended this annual celebration, during which they saw videos highlighting nurses’ work with patients and families throughout the hospital. This year’s theme “Nurses and Patients: The Caring Connection” highlighted the many ways nurses affect patients’ lives and advance the practice of nursing.
“With your knowledge, expertise and compassion, you carry the message of our mission and our vision to deliver excellent care with the best staff in the safest environment to those who depend on us in their time of need,” said BWH President Betsy Nabel, MD.
Politano told her colleagues that she is passionate about sharing her knowledge with nurses new to the intensive care unit. “The new nurses come in with such great attitudes, good skills and an excitement to learn more,” she said. “They really energize me and help me to keep my own practice fresh.”
Providing the best care means continuously striving to learn, said Politano. “I still get nervous every time I admit a patient from the OR,” she said. “If you think you’ve learned it all, it’s time to leave.”
Politano can’t picture herself ever leaving bedside nursing. “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she said.
Karen Politano cares for patient Megan Canfield.
View the photo gallery here >>