Suzanne Fernandes, BSN, RN
ICU Float Pool
Nominated by Float Pool Nursing Director Catherine Rumble Paccioretti, MS, RN, with letters of support from Marianne Cummings, MS, RN, nursing director of the NICU; Linda Kraiger, MS, RN, Float Pool nurse educator; and Rhonda Martin, MPH, BSN, RN, Float Pool nurse.
Suzanne Fernandes' interpersonal skills have allowed her to blend into any team or unit at BWH during her 12 years as an ICU Float Pool nurse. A natural leader, she cares for both adult and newborn patients and always responds to difficult situations with a calm energy.
"Whether she is caring for a critically ill adult patient or the tiniest critical newborn, Suzanne's compassion and clinical excellence are unwavering," said Catherine Rumble Paccioretti, MS, RN, nursing director of the ICU Float Pool. "Her passion for caring is her guiding light, and her presence alone speaks volumes."
Fernandes always puts her patients first, and is there to make the best decision based on clinical data, science and practical knowledge. In ethical dilemmas, Fernandes proves to be open and mindful of both patient and family wishes. The trust she has with her patients and families is unmatched, and creates comfort and ease for them during times of difficult decisions, according to Rumble Paccioretti.
In 2010, Fernandes volunteered with Partners In Health to provide aid in Haiti after the earthquake. There, she was sought out for her NICU expertise and provided comfort measures to tiny patients who would not make it. "Suzanne knew that holding these babies in her arms as they passed was as important as anything else going on around her," said Rumble Paccioretti. "Words cannot convey the power of those moments."
Fernandes also volunteers regularly with Operation Walk Boston, traveling to the Dominican Republic with the BWH-led team to care for patients undergoing knee and hip replacement surgery.
"Volunteering her time and resources to help others is always at the top of Suzanne's priorities," said Float Pool colleague Rhonda Martin, MPH, BSN, RN. "A team player, Suzanne is always ready to help her colleagues and take on any assignment with a positive attitude."
Fernandes earned her diploma from Catholic Medical Center School of Nursing and is enrolled in an MSN program at Regis College. She has previously worked as a nurse in both the MICU and NICU at BWH, as well as in adult care units at DFCI and Mass. General Hospital.