Karen Troiano
July 2015
Karen
Troiano
,
RN, PCCN
Heart & Vascular
Yale New Haven Hospital
New Haven
,
CT
United States
The care that Karen Troiano gives to her patients consistently shows the same compassion she would likely give t her own family member. Karen would never consider giving anything less exceptional care, and she will ensure that the care is provided, she will pull in team members of every relevant role, and create an atmosphere of caring during the entire hospital stay.
One recent example that comes to mind is when Karen orchestrated showering a very physically and behaviorally challenged patient pre-operatively. This required 5 people and a move to a shower in another area. Karen made it happen and the patient went off to the operating room as clean as he had likely been in months. Although he initially didn't want to do this, Karen was able to help him understand the importance of it and when they finished, the patient expressed how good it felt! She has a way of always doing the right thing for patients and families, no matter how "hard" it might seem to other staff or to the patient. She comes to work with a "can do" attitude and it is contagious to the staff. Karen breeds an atmosphere and attitude of caring for patients as if every one was a family member. She is kind and compassionate, and at the same time can successfully get patients to do things that may seem impossible, but ultimately what they need to do to move toward recovery.
...
Karen has made special connections with many patients and family members. One imparticular was a few years ago with a post-op patient faced with some complications. He had a hard recovery but as his primary nurse, Karen pushed him in such a caring way and ultimately he did well and went home. Each Christmas since that time, Karen has received a case of oranges from him. He sends a beautiful note each year. She looks forward to hearing from him, and shares the oranges and the story with staff. Her impact on him is evident, and her impact on the growth and development of new nurses observing her compassionate and caring behaviors over the years is unsurpassed.
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Karen makes a difference every day in the lives of our patients and their families. One example that comes to mind is with a patient with a life threatening diagnosis and a very poor prognosis. She had several surgeries, was in the unit for months, and was suffering. The patient had 2 loving attentive daughters that were very close to her. They were at the bedside almost continuously, and wanted aggressive intervention for their mom. The patient however, when the daughters left at night, expressed her wish to no longer have aggressive intervention, she wanted to be a DNR. She expressed that she was only doing this for them. The doctor was also struggling with this complicated situation and trying to do the right thing for the patient, while respecting the daughters' sadness. Karen was able to communicate with the daughters in such a supportive yet honest fashion, they eventually were able to understand better their mother's wishes. She brought together all of the involved roles, including the MD, family, patient, social work, hospice, and eventually the patient was sent home (her last wish was to get home) where she died peacefully in her own bed with her family at her side. I know the patient and family appreciated all of the care she received, and Karen was in the lead of it all. This is just what Karen does, it is the way she is.
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Karen Troiano RN is one of the most incredible nurses. In addition to the way she personally cares for patients, the impact she has on new, young staff, as well as nursing students, is remarkable. She supports them teaches them, encourages them and praises them. She can give feedback in a way that they learn, never diminishes them. Her legacy will not only be the amazing nursing care she delivers every time she is here, but the way she coaches other nurses to set their bar high, and never, never, lower that bar.
One recent example that comes to mind is when Karen orchestrated showering a very physically and behaviorally challenged patient pre-operatively. This required 5 people and a move to a shower in another area. Karen made it happen and the patient went off to the operating room as clean as he had likely been in months. Although he initially didn't want to do this, Karen was able to help him understand the importance of it and when they finished, the patient expressed how good it felt! She has a way of always doing the right thing for patients and families, no matter how "hard" it might seem to other staff or to the patient. She comes to work with a "can do" attitude and it is contagious to the staff. Karen breeds an atmosphere and attitude of caring for patients as if every one was a family member. She is kind and compassionate, and at the same time can successfully get patients to do things that may seem impossible, but ultimately what they need to do to move toward recovery.
...
Karen has made special connections with many patients and family members. One imparticular was a few years ago with a post-op patient faced with some complications. He had a hard recovery but as his primary nurse, Karen pushed him in such a caring way and ultimately he did well and went home. Each Christmas since that time, Karen has received a case of oranges from him. He sends a beautiful note each year. She looks forward to hearing from him, and shares the oranges and the story with staff. Her impact on him is evident, and her impact on the growth and development of new nurses observing her compassionate and caring behaviors over the years is unsurpassed.
...
Karen makes a difference every day in the lives of our patients and their families. One example that comes to mind is with a patient with a life threatening diagnosis and a very poor prognosis. She had several surgeries, was in the unit for months, and was suffering. The patient had 2 loving attentive daughters that were very close to her. They were at the bedside almost continuously, and wanted aggressive intervention for their mom. The patient however, when the daughters left at night, expressed her wish to no longer have aggressive intervention, she wanted to be a DNR. She expressed that she was only doing this for them. The doctor was also struggling with this complicated situation and trying to do the right thing for the patient, while respecting the daughters' sadness. Karen was able to communicate with the daughters in such a supportive yet honest fashion, they eventually were able to understand better their mother's wishes. She brought together all of the involved roles, including the MD, family, patient, social work, hospice, and eventually the patient was sent home (her last wish was to get home) where she died peacefully in her own bed with her family at her side. I know the patient and family appreciated all of the care she received, and Karen was in the lead of it all. This is just what Karen does, it is the way she is.
...
Karen Troiano RN is one of the most incredible nurses. In addition to the way she personally cares for patients, the impact she has on new, young staff, as well as nursing students, is remarkable. She supports them teaches them, encourages them and praises them. She can give feedback in a way that they learn, never diminishes them. Her legacy will not only be the amazing nursing care she delivers every time she is here, but the way she coaches other nurses to set their bar high, and never, never, lower that bar.