Beatrice McWeeney is a warm, caring and compassionate nurse who touches lives one patient at a time. She is a true patient advocate and treats patients and their families with dignity and respect. Her soothing Irish brogue makes people immediately feel at ease.

Beatrice consistently demonstrates clinical excellence and teamwork. Her many years as a critical care nurse enables her to react to any emergent clinical situation quickly and competently. When novice nurses begin their On-Call responsibilities, they are often teamed with Beatrice because of her expertise and mentoring skills.

Recently, a situation in the Recovery Suite required service recovery. A patient's scheduled procedure was significantly delayed because the physician was involved in a patient emergency at another hospital. The patient was becoming extremely impatient and disruptive to other patients, visitors and staff. Even though it was not her patient, Beatrice stepped in to action and her unique ability to communicate calmly with the patient immediately diffused the patient's agitation.

Beatrice doesn't hesitate to take on the challenges of additional projects. She was the lyricist for the winning "Hearts in Motion" video for the Cardiac Services contest designed to promote Go Red for Women's Heart Health. Beatrice choreographed and directed the video intended to promote heart healthy habits and exercise. Her enthusiasm inspired staff participation. She has been co-chair of our Cardiology CCC and is responsible for improving many patient care issues. Communication boards were installed in the Recovery Suite at her suggestion to ensure timely communication of patient care needs. Currently, she serves as our Magnet Champion and her extraordinary creativity was recognized by her peers when her Magnet slogan, an acronym, was chosen: May All Great Nurses Excel Together.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, our unit was struck by the sudden and unexpected loss of one of our co-workers. This nurse was a peer and personal friend of Beatrice's. Putting her own feelings of grief aside, Beatrice quickly responded to the needs of her dear friend's husband and daughter. Her Life Coach training enabled her to focus on the emotional and psychological needs of the family. She opened her home to the extended family, providing all the comforts of a home-away from home, including preparing her famous signature scones. At a memorial service held at LIJMC, Beatrice delivered a heartfelt poem that she wrote, "Celebrating a Life of Nursing Service". This service enabled staff to share stories, both personal and professional, that provided comfort at this difficult time.