Katherine Manocchio
May 2020
Katherine
Manocchio
,
RN
Medical/Oncology
MaineGeneral Medical Center
Augusta
,
ME
United States
I am writing about the impact a nurse had on the experience preparing for the 2019 Joint Commission survey. Honestly, I never felt better prepared and comfortable - dare I say excited about learning what I needed to know, performing old tasks in new ways. I was even looking forward to sharing with the surveyors how we provide the care we provide in safe, evidence-based and patient-centered ways. Her enthusiasm and support made it fun like a game/challenge and less ominous and intimidating. Under Katherine's influence, our whole team engaged and were proud of our preparation which provided an ever-widening foundation for our patients to see and perceive our professionalism and knowledge.
As a charge nurse, Katherine leads by quiet, compassionate example and demonstrates an awareness of what nurses can go through in a day's challenges and "opportunities". I never feel judged or criticized by her and instead feel her compassion, respect, and collaboration. She is in the trenches helping to figure out how to meet the challenges of the day and critically evaluate the patients' changing statuses.
In the past year, Katherine has faced her own health challenges with dignity, grace, grit, and realism that has set not only an example for staff but patients as well. Katherine continues to work to provide amazing and insightful care to our patients with a sensitivity and strength that inspires us all. In addition to these qualities, she demonstrates self-compassion, self-care, and self-awareness as a care provider. She is a model for resilience and acknowledging the difficult realities of life's unexpectedness while embracing the sweet moments of family and our hospital community.
***
For this nomination, I would like to explain the numerous reasons why Katherine is a DAISY Nurse.
The summer of 2019 will certainly be one that this nurse will never forget. She was delivered the heart-shattering, earth-stopping news that her biopsy was cancerous. With grace and unbelievable braveness, she turned to her co-workers and explained what was going on and what the next steps would entail. If I remember correctly, one of her statements to the team was, "don't make this weird, and ask me questions if you have them." While we did ask questions when we had them, the ironic part of all of this is that we work on an oncology floor and had a pretty good understanding of what this poor woman was about to go through. The diagnosis isn't why I want to recognize Katherine, instead, it is how she continued to give, and give, and give.
Throughout treatments, she worked as an inpatient nurse on the oncology floor. She cared for five patients at a time and even filled in as charge nurse when needed. You knew she had to be tired and just feeling unwell, but she never let it show. Instead, I continuously found her out-doing herself. One day, I saw her on her hands and knees looking deep into a cabinet in search of a word search, puzzle, or color pages-anything to help brighten the day of a particularly lonely, depressed patient. I also witnessed her running down the hall whenever a bed or chair alarm was activated. She also took on the responsibility of precepting new nurses throughout the summer, a task that takes great patience and vigilance. On a few different occasions, I overheard her talking with the management team to coordinate her work schedule around treatments and making sure to ask what our floor needed for coverage when planning her schedule.
All in all, Katherine could have taken the summer off to focus on her own health and situation, but instead, she continued to give and provide care. I know each and every one of our patients benefit from her care, but as equally important, her coworkers benefit from working alongside her. The DAISY Award is for Extraordinary Nurses and I cannot think of anyone more deserving than Katherine Manocchio. Katherine demonstrated selflessness, grace, and courage throughout the summer in a way that I will always admire. I am so deeply moved by this woman and feel that I am blessed to have an opportunity to work with her. 2 West and MaineGeneral are extremely lucky to have her.
As a charge nurse, Katherine leads by quiet, compassionate example and demonstrates an awareness of what nurses can go through in a day's challenges and "opportunities". I never feel judged or criticized by her and instead feel her compassion, respect, and collaboration. She is in the trenches helping to figure out how to meet the challenges of the day and critically evaluate the patients' changing statuses.
In the past year, Katherine has faced her own health challenges with dignity, grace, grit, and realism that has set not only an example for staff but patients as well. Katherine continues to work to provide amazing and insightful care to our patients with a sensitivity and strength that inspires us all. In addition to these qualities, she demonstrates self-compassion, self-care, and self-awareness as a care provider. She is a model for resilience and acknowledging the difficult realities of life's unexpectedness while embracing the sweet moments of family and our hospital community.
***
For this nomination, I would like to explain the numerous reasons why Katherine is a DAISY Nurse.
The summer of 2019 will certainly be one that this nurse will never forget. She was delivered the heart-shattering, earth-stopping news that her biopsy was cancerous. With grace and unbelievable braveness, she turned to her co-workers and explained what was going on and what the next steps would entail. If I remember correctly, one of her statements to the team was, "don't make this weird, and ask me questions if you have them." While we did ask questions when we had them, the ironic part of all of this is that we work on an oncology floor and had a pretty good understanding of what this poor woman was about to go through. The diagnosis isn't why I want to recognize Katherine, instead, it is how she continued to give, and give, and give.
Throughout treatments, she worked as an inpatient nurse on the oncology floor. She cared for five patients at a time and even filled in as charge nurse when needed. You knew she had to be tired and just feeling unwell, but she never let it show. Instead, I continuously found her out-doing herself. One day, I saw her on her hands and knees looking deep into a cabinet in search of a word search, puzzle, or color pages-anything to help brighten the day of a particularly lonely, depressed patient. I also witnessed her running down the hall whenever a bed or chair alarm was activated. She also took on the responsibility of precepting new nurses throughout the summer, a task that takes great patience and vigilance. On a few different occasions, I overheard her talking with the management team to coordinate her work schedule around treatments and making sure to ask what our floor needed for coverage when planning her schedule.
All in all, Katherine could have taken the summer off to focus on her own health and situation, but instead, she continued to give and provide care. I know each and every one of our patients benefit from her care, but as equally important, her coworkers benefit from working alongside her. The DAISY Award is for Extraordinary Nurses and I cannot think of anyone more deserving than Katherine Manocchio. Katherine demonstrated selflessness, grace, and courage throughout the summer in a way that I will always admire. I am so deeply moved by this woman and feel that I am blessed to have an opportunity to work with her. 2 West and MaineGeneral are extremely lucky to have her.