Leslie Sabatino, BSN, RN

Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit

Whether she’s organizing a surgical mission halfway across the world or helping nurse colleagues and patients transition from the Tower to Shapiro, Leslie Sabatino rises to meet any challenge.

“I have witnessed Leslie’s dedication and commitment in upholding the highest nursing standards possible for the last eight years we have worked together,” said Linda Forte, BSN, RN, of the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit.

Sabatino, who became a nurse because her mother died at a young age of cardiac disease, joined BWH in 1999 in the Thoracic Intermediate Care Unit, where she worked for two years before transitioning to her current position.

“Leslie has proven herself to be a consistent role model, not just among the Cardiac Surgery ICU nurses, but other nurses in the hospital as well,” said Maria Bentain-Melanson, MSN, RN, CCRN-CS, Cardiac Surgery nurse educator, who nominated Sabatino for this award. “Her passion and commitment to make a difference is remarkable.”

During the last two years, Sabatino was one of the leaders of Team Heart, a volunteer group committed to performing cardiac surgery on patients in Kigali, Rwanda. “She dedicated 60 hours a week of her own personal time to organize this project and formed a fabulous team of nurses, respiratory therapists, surgeons and other volunteers to complete this mission,” said Matt Quin, BSN, RN, nurse manager of the Cardiac Surgery ICU. “The compassion and devotion Leslie provided to her patients in Rwanda is the same compassion and dedication described by her patients every day here at BWH.”

Sabatino is just as committed to her patients and nursing colleagues at BWH. When cardiac units from the Tower moved to the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center last summer, Sabatino volunteered to work during move day and helped her unit devise a plan and create a safe environment for family and staff. “At the end of move day, we had our first code in Shapiro, and Leslie helped resuscitate the patient,” Bentain-Melanson said. “The code response was so organized that patients and staff felt safe.”

Sabatino embraces patient- and family-centered care in her practice. “She explains to families in a manner that they understand so they can grasp the clinical situation, and she collaborates with the family to provide what’s helpful to the patient, like asking for pictures of loved ones so the patient can constantly see them,” said Bentain-Melanson.

Sabatino is a member of the Nursing Informatics Committee and BWH Decontamination Team. Prior to joining BWH, she served in staff nurse positions at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Allied Pediatrics of Greater Boston and New England Deaconess Hospital. She earned her BSN from Northeastern University.