September 2010
Patricia
Cucinotta
,
RN
RN
Winchester Hospital
Winchester
,
MA
United States

 

 

 

In the nomination, Cucinotta was praised for her unfailing commitment to quality patient care as so often evidenced by her willingness to go above and beyond for each patient she serves. Pat has a collaborative approach and is able to work with professionals within and outside of the Winchester System with the goal of safely caring for patients at home or transitioning patients from one setting to another.

Co-worker’s noted, Cucinotta’s “commitment to her patients is 24/7.” In one instance, she worked closely with physicians and a patient of the Christian Science faith to reconcile his religious beliefs with the conventional medications and treatments that were being prescribed. Another time, she guided the safe transition of a suicidal patient back to the home setting. Cucinotta, who is a certified mental health nurse, also conducts staff education services and runs the hospital’s monthly Caregiver Support Group.

“Pat is compassionate, knowledgeable and a great resource for mental health-related issues,” the nurse wrote. “She never backs down from difficult situations, and she is an invaluable asset to our agency.”

The nomination reads: "As long as I have known Pat (8 years) she has gone the extra mile to take care of her patients in Home Care. She works part-time but her commitment to her patients is 24-7. She visits patients often on her days off if the need arises because of a patient's condition. Pat is our Certified Mental Health Nurse - she cares for the most difficult patients who present very challenging delimmas. She recently cared for a gentleman whose religious beliefs posed a huge challenge to his being able to care for himself in a competent manner. He belongs to the Christian Science faith and he struggled with the conventional medications and treatments that were being prescribed to him. Pat worked closely with the patient, his physicians, hospital staff and coworkers to facilitate the care he needed through a difficult crisis. She respected his need to work through his feelings with trying to adhere to his beliefs.

Pat runs a "caregivers support group" every month to aid the community in providing support for caregivers of all ages. She is highly respected by her colleagues in Home Care as she is compassionate, knowledgeable and a great resource for mental health-related issues. She collaborates with McLean's Hospital and Lawrence Memorial Hospital to transition patients both into and out of these facilities.

Recently we had a referral to Home Care with a suicidal patient and we asked Pat to talk to the referral source as she had the expertise to ask the appropriate questions for safe transition back to the home setting. Pat never backs down from difficult situations and she is an invaluable asset to our agency.

Pat conducts staff education inservices as well and keeps herself well informed with current psychiatric medications and treatments.

I feel that Pat is well deserving of the DAISY Award.