From the moment our patient was admitted to the Medical ICU a few months back, her story was heavy and an emotionally difficult one for our staff. The patient was young and riddled with cancer containing a poor prognosis. On top of that she started bleeding out of an intercostal artery. Due to the severity of the bleed and her lack of sufficient blood counts, the patient quickly declined to the point where she lost her pulse and required CPR. 

Our team worked quickly and efficiently, and the patient regained her pulse, but was still in a very critical condition. She received countless blood products as well as five different blood pressure medications to keep her blood pressure high enough to sustain life. All the while, the patient continued bleeding out of her artery. She needed surgical intervention immediately. Even though the risk of surgery was high, we had no choice but to try. Kate Messineo was working that day and helping assist the primary nurse as the patient’s critical condition continued to decline. When surgery was confirmed, Kate had another nurse watch her patients while she helped transport and care for the patient down in Interventional Radiology along with the primary nurse. During the procedure, Kate and the primary nurse worked tirelessly on the patient until shift change. This is when I was assigned to assume care for her and met Kate and the primary nurse in the procedure area. 

While I received report, Kate continued to care for the patient: stabilizing vital signs, managing blood products, titrating life support, and everything else needed to keep the patient alive. The primary nurse finished report, made sure I had everything I needed, and headed home for the day. I assumed care for the patient but as I was working, I noticed that Kate was still working feverishly. She looked at me and assured me that she was not going anywhere because the patient was still too unstable for one nurse to care for. Kate voluntarily stayed an hour and a half after her shift ended to care for this patient who was not hers. She was determined to give the patient the best fighting chance. Kate is the epitome of a nurse who sees nursing as more than just a career. Each shift she goes above and beyond to serve her patients in whatever capacity they require. She did not give a second thought to helping the patient despite the fact that this patient was not a part of her patient load. 

Kate's natural reaction to someone in need is to run towards them. And this is not just for her patients, but her coworkers too. This shift was my first day back after having a friend suddenly pass away several days before. I questioned whether I could come to work that night because I didn't believe I had the emotional capacity and strength to care for an ICU patient on top of my grief. Kate already knew my situation and as we were down to the procedure room together, I expressed to Kate that I didn't know if I could care for the patient. Kate assured me that she was right there with me, both physically and emotionally. She filled the gaps I could not provide during this time and her presence gave me the strength and encouragement to also fight for our actively dying patient. I cannot speak highly enough about Kate Messineo. She put herself aside to care for the patient and both primary nurses that day. But this is in no way out of the ordinary for Kate, because this is the life she continuously lives out, that day and every day.