Mary Beth Mondello, CNRN Neuroscience ICU

Mary Beth Mondello’s unwavering dedication to her patients and their families often extends beyond the borders of the Neuroscience ICU. Recently, she visited a former patient, for whom she was primary nurse, at home and played cards with her.

“One takes on the role of primary nurse not knowing where the path with the patient will lead, but making a promise of loyalty and advocacy wherever it goes,” said Martha Jurchak, PhD, RN. “This is exactly what Mary Beth does with her patients and their families.”

This particular patient, a vibrant college senior, remained comatose in the Neuroscience ICU for almost 60 days with disseminating encephalomyelitis. “In addition to providing the best nursing care for this patient, Mary Beth also supported the patient’s family through this frightening time,” said Vincent Vacca, MSN, RN, CCRN, nurse educator for the Neuroscience ICU. “She was comforting and dependable for the family and provided them with a sense of safety and security. They found this invaluable, and they keep in touch with Mary Beth to this day.”

Mondello makes an equally strong impression on the new nurses she precepts. Three years ago, when the Neuroscience ICU doubled its capacity and nursing staff, Mondello was instrumental in educating and mentoring newly-hired nurses. “Beyond just precepting, Mary Beth would think to include other orientees or less experienced nurses in observing a procedure that they would one day be responsible to do,” Vacca said. “The experiences of these nurses were positive and rewarding, so much so that most of them still work in the Neuroscience ICU today. Much of the credit belongs to our excellent preceptors, and, in particular, Mary Beth.”

Mondello is involved in many quality improvement initiatives in the Neuroscience ICU and also serves on BWH’s unit-based Quality Assurance Committee and Quadramed Monitoring Committee.

“Mary Beth is a talented nurse who always sees the big picture,” said nurse manager Shaun Golden, BSN, RN, CNRN. “Because she always has the needs of her patients and families in focus, she delivers care that consistently respects their interests and their privacy and always addresses their concerns.”

Mondello joined BWH in 1989 as nurse in-charge of the Neuroscience Unit and became a staff nurse in the Neuroscience ICU in 1997. She previously held nursing positions at Unicare in Andover, Boston Regional Medical Center in Stoneham, Home Health VNA and New England Rehabilitation Hospital. She also served as a travel nurse with Travcorp, working at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Fla., and then at BWH, before joining the staff.

She earned her diploma in nursing from the Framingham Union Hospital School of Nursing and is enrolled in the fast track BSN-MSN-Nurse Practitioner Program at Regis College.

Outside BWH, Mondello volunteers at Rosie’s Place Medical Clinic in Boston.

Mary Beth Mondello was nominated by Vincent Vacca, Jr., MSN, RN, CCRN, nurse educator of the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit.