Melissa Cutrera
August 2022
Melissa
Cutrera
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
Intensive Care Unit
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York
,
NY
United States
Under her hands, the care of an acutely ill patient is organized with high level of prioritization for safety and disease management. At the same time, she pays attention to the patient's and families' mental well-being and holistic factors. She pairs them hand-in-hand.
Melissa Cutrera embodies the MSK's Relationship-based Care professional practice model. I have worked with her for approximately four years. From the start, she coordinated the new orientee's shifts and was a charge nurse who was approachable. She always made you feel welcome. Through each experience working with her, I have noticed that her way of caring for her colleagues and patients is unleveled. She is such a positive role model and inspiration to us. Many people on our unit, not nurses alone, but providers, PCTs, and patients share the same sentiment. Her showing up every day, with a positive attitude and the mental fortitude to provide for others is inspiring to all. She is a major asset on our unit. To the new nurses, she is like a "Mama Bird." To others, she is someone reliable, accountable, well-knowledged, approachable, caring, and kind. She is deserving of this DAISY Award although she seeks no special recognition for the excellent "above and beyond" work that she does on a daily basis for all.
In a specific encounter that we had, I had received a sick patient on 3 vasopressors in multi-system organ failure. Although her shift was over, and she had handed off the patient to me, she stayed to help me smooth over orders. When I thanked her for her time and help, she said, "I just hope they (the patient's family) are able to cope with this." It was a sudden decompensation, and it was verbalized by the family through the day that they were not mentally prepared for this. It stood out to me, that all she cared about was how the family felt. What was on her mind was not how exhausted she was, not how her shift was over, not how she was on her feet for 10+ hours today, but how the wife felt. Her compassion and empathy for the patient's family were especially evident to me at that time. With Melissa's observation, she notified me that the wife had been holding onto the patient's hand the entire time. She asked if I could allow her to stay past visiting hours. At this time, before COVID, this was up to the nurse's discretion. Our patient, although very acutely ill, was not actively dying. Melissa advocated on his family member's and her patient's behalf, and I agreed with her that the wife should remain at the bedside to help her cope with the situation. She cared for the patient and his family member as if they were her own family members. Midway into my shift, the patient started to decompensate even further. By the next day, he was actively dying. When Melissa returned to work, she was not placed with this patient because she was the Charge Nurse that shift but she circled by many times to help the patient and his family. I personally witnessed this on many occasions, but this event stood out to me. She truly extends her heart and care to all around her.
Her clinical skills are extraordinary as she serves as a preceptor and experienced nurse on the unit. She seeks to constantly improve herself and asks for others' input and advice. When she does not understand something, she would speak up and ask for rationale. I personally had witnessed her questioning the appropriateness of an order. She has her CCRN certification and stays up-to-date with evidence-based practices. Under her hands, the care of an acutely ill patient is organized with high level of prioritization for safety and disease management. At the same time, she pays attention to the patient's and families' mental well-being and holistic factors. She pairs them hand-in-hand. With that same patient, although the patient was admitted that shift, she had initiated many interventions to stabilize his airway, breathing, and circulation. Without Melissa's keen insight and nursing assessment, this patient's stabilization would not have been possible. During report, she highlighted pertinent things to me and took the time to explain to me things that I did not understand. Not only was she proactive in caring for the patient, but she was proactive in caring for me in making sure I understood everything before she went home.
Melissa is a nurse who takes pride in her work, which is evident in the meticulous care she offers her patients. She is kind and compassionate and advocates for her patients as their nurse and for her staff as charge. She is my go-to person for any questions, both professional and personal. I always feel her support when she is at work, even when she is not in my pod. Melissa has often been working as a charge nurse. I was taking care of a patient when I got a call from the unit assistant informing me that another patient of mine needed attention. However, I could not break away immediately. By the time when I got to the other patient’s room, Melissa was already there taking care of my patient and cleaning the soiled bed. Melissa helps in a heartbeat, and nothing ever is "out of the way." She will go the extra mile to make a difference in someone's day. It is her attitude and her way of caring that deserves special recognition. She has been a nurse for over 5 years, and her way of caring has been inspiring to all of us.
Melissa has left a lasting impression on many patients and patients' families. Patients have positive and excellent outcomes under her care. Her nursing judgement, coupled with a compassionate, holistic approach, holds strong advocacy for her patients. She upholds a high standard of care for all her patients.
In a specific encounter that we had, I had received a sick patient on 3 vasopressors in multi-system organ failure. Although her shift was over, and she had handed off the patient to me, she stayed to help me smooth over orders. When I thanked her for her time and help, she said, "I just hope they (the patient's family) are able to cope with this." It was a sudden decompensation, and it was verbalized by the family through the day that they were not mentally prepared for this. It stood out to me, that all she cared about was how the family felt. What was on her mind was not how exhausted she was, not how her shift was over, not how she was on her feet for 10+ hours today, but how the wife felt. Her compassion and empathy for the patient's family were especially evident to me at that time. With Melissa's observation, she notified me that the wife had been holding onto the patient's hand the entire time. She asked if I could allow her to stay past visiting hours. At this time, before COVID, this was up to the nurse's discretion. Our patient, although very acutely ill, was not actively dying. Melissa advocated on his family member's and her patient's behalf, and I agreed with her that the wife should remain at the bedside to help her cope with the situation. She cared for the patient and his family member as if they were her own family members. Midway into my shift, the patient started to decompensate even further. By the next day, he was actively dying. When Melissa returned to work, she was not placed with this patient because she was the Charge Nurse that shift but she circled by many times to help the patient and his family. I personally witnessed this on many occasions, but this event stood out to me. She truly extends her heart and care to all around her.
Her clinical skills are extraordinary as she serves as a preceptor and experienced nurse on the unit. She seeks to constantly improve herself and asks for others' input and advice. When she does not understand something, she would speak up and ask for rationale. I personally had witnessed her questioning the appropriateness of an order. She has her CCRN certification and stays up-to-date with evidence-based practices. Under her hands, the care of an acutely ill patient is organized with high level of prioritization for safety and disease management. At the same time, she pays attention to the patient's and families' mental well-being and holistic factors. She pairs them hand-in-hand. With that same patient, although the patient was admitted that shift, she had initiated many interventions to stabilize his airway, breathing, and circulation. Without Melissa's keen insight and nursing assessment, this patient's stabilization would not have been possible. During report, she highlighted pertinent things to me and took the time to explain to me things that I did not understand. Not only was she proactive in caring for the patient, but she was proactive in caring for me in making sure I understood everything before she went home.
Melissa is a nurse who takes pride in her work, which is evident in the meticulous care she offers her patients. She is kind and compassionate and advocates for her patients as their nurse and for her staff as charge. She is my go-to person for any questions, both professional and personal. I always feel her support when she is at work, even when she is not in my pod. Melissa has often been working as a charge nurse. I was taking care of a patient when I got a call from the unit assistant informing me that another patient of mine needed attention. However, I could not break away immediately. By the time when I got to the other patient’s room, Melissa was already there taking care of my patient and cleaning the soiled bed. Melissa helps in a heartbeat, and nothing ever is "out of the way." She will go the extra mile to make a difference in someone's day. It is her attitude and her way of caring that deserves special recognition. She has been a nurse for over 5 years, and her way of caring has been inspiring to all of us.
Melissa has left a lasting impression on many patients and patients' families. Patients have positive and excellent outcomes under her care. Her nursing judgement, coupled with a compassionate, holistic approach, holds strong advocacy for her patients. She upholds a high standard of care for all her patients.