Eileen Sino is known as an angel with big gold wings. She is considered a passionate nurse with a heart of a gold. Eileen has a can-do attitude, strong ability to connect with patients and their families of all cultures and nationalities. She unselfishly gives her time and energy, ignites engagement of others, mentors others, and most of all she is a transformational leader. I cannot begin to tell everyone how important and invaluable Eileen is to SNCH, to the patients, to staff, and to the nursing profession as a whole.
A patient came in for an infusion after being in remission for years. The patient's tumor affected her lymph nodes so badly that she couldn't put her left arm down and it was very painful. The physician's decided to give her chemotherapy to see if it would help. During the patient's treatment, she developed a reaction. Eileen knew that it was extremely important for the patient to get her full treatment regime. Eileen addressed the reaction and slowed the treatment down. This process of the patient having a reaction, stopping the treatment, addressing the reaction and restarting the treatment continued over several hours. The normal treatment regime was supposed to be a 3 hour infusion but Eileen worked with this patient for 11 hours. Eileen said to the patient, "If it takes all night for you to get this treatment, that's what we will do and I will be with you all the way. There is no way I'm leaving you". The next time the patient returned for her follow up infusion, her arm had greatly improved, she could move her arm around and of course, Eileen was there to welcome the patient with open arms.
There was a newly diagnosis breast cancer patient. Eileen navigated the patient and assisted her with making her appointments: medical, surgical and radiation oncology. Being diagnosed with cancer can be a very stressful situation especially if the patient does not have a strong support system. The patient was very concerned about losing her hair. The patient wanted to get a wig that Hewlet House provides in collaboration with SNCH transportation and was very sad. Eileen went to patient's home, picked her up, took her to Hewlett House to obtain a wig and brought her back home.
Eileen received a call from an oncology patient who was hospitalized but very anxious. After her shift was completed, she drove to the hospital, visited the patient, talked with the patient for about 2 hours, gave the patient a back rub and rubbed her feet. Eileen made sure that the patient was okay before she left to go home.
With all that Eileen does, she still found time to offer her time and expertise for the new nurses that were hired for the outpatient infusion unit. Eileen assisted in the smooth transition of patients from the oncology practice into the hospital. Eileen educates, mentors, coaches and role models professional behaviors for the outpatient infusion nurses. In addition, she has been able to build an outstanding team by having an open door approach and recognizing each one of them for what they contribute to the team. She creates an environment for others to learn. I could go on and on about what Eileen contributes to the art and science of nursing but then I would have to write a book about her naming it #MyGoldenAngel. Eileen makes a difference in the life of not one, but many patients and staff.