Hannah Galeucia
April 2026
Hannah
Galeucia
,
BSN, RN
DCT8
Duke University Hospital
Durham
,
NC
United States
It is nurses like Hannah who make the world a better place, not just the hospital.
R has been battling glioblastoma. He has been treated at three hospitals and encountered many nurses. They have all been kind and done their best to give him quality care. After his brain surgery at Duke University Hospital, we encountered a nurse, Hannah Galeucia, who went above and beyond the call of duty.
I once read a quote that said, "Little things can be big things." Hannah demonstrated this on a daily basis during the week my husband was in the hospital. Not only did she provide the expected care, but she also helped him overcome a needle phobia he has had for over 50 years!
As I watched her provide care with the utmost respect and compassion, I saw his trust in her develop. At times when he was concerned about how taking too many medications may affect his kidneys and liver, she was able to help him understand how the medications worked together to control his pain and that they were also monitoring his organ functions and other markers.
On several occasions, his pain was beyond what he could handle, and it was not the time for him to take more of the medication he had been taking. Instead of telling us that he would have to wait until it was time to take the Tylenol he was taking, Hannah contacted the doctor to determine if there was an alternate plan for medications. I personally noticed how Hannah recognized from R's body language and facial expressions when he was in pain. Because of her, the doctors modified his medications so that multiple pain medications could be taken on an alternating basis. This was much more effective in managing his pain.
Because of his brain cancer, he is now more sensitive to cold. Realizing this, Hannah would often bring in warm blankets to make sure he was warm. Hannah also did something we had never seen done before. Realizing that he had in the past experienced seizures and was on seizure medication, she padded the metal rails on the bed and covered them with disposable hospital underwear. Wow! She was thinking ahead of the game. This also gave us an opportunity to laugh a bit in a situation that needed some laughter.
When R was given the approval to go for daily walks, Hannah would come in and ask if he was ready to go for his walk. We knew she had other patients, but she never made us feel like she was rushed. She took her time, and we had some good conversations during those walks around the unit. These short walks and conversations gave us the opportunity to think about something other than the brain cancer he was battling.
On a lighter note, he was determined to go to the bathroom on his own; however, this was not safe right after his surgery. He thought he was going to insist on this and get his way. Hannah has such a kind and firm nature about her. She let him know that she could not allow him to go on his own and explained why. He would probably have kept insisting and probably become a bit difficult, but because he had developed such respect for Hannah, he agreed to follow her instructions.
We also noticed the patience Hannah had with the nurse she was mentoring. Instead of the nurse just watching what Hannah was doing, Hannah gave her responsibilities and talked with her like she would with any other member of the hospital staff. The nurse later told us what a good mentor Hannah was. Hannah would sometimes get a call from another nurse needing help. Even though it was obvious Hannah was busy, she always let the person calling know that she would help them with what they needed.
Something that was a "small thing" that was "BIG" to me was how she would bring me coffee each morning and always ask if I wanted more water. I stayed with R every night in the hospital and got very little sleep. When Hannah and the other nurses did this for me each morning, it was a little blessing to me.
When we asked her what her plans for Christmas were. She explained that last year and this year she volunteered to work so that nurses with families could spend the time with them. Her face lit up when she shared with us how she and the other nurses made Christmas special for the patients. We could truly see what a big heart she had for her patients.
It is nurses like Hannah who make the world a better place, not just the hospital. We have told many people about our experience. Just sharing this with others gives us time to focus on something positive. We were so blessed to have her as R's nurse.
I once read a quote that said, "Little things can be big things." Hannah demonstrated this on a daily basis during the week my husband was in the hospital. Not only did she provide the expected care, but she also helped him overcome a needle phobia he has had for over 50 years!
As I watched her provide care with the utmost respect and compassion, I saw his trust in her develop. At times when he was concerned about how taking too many medications may affect his kidneys and liver, she was able to help him understand how the medications worked together to control his pain and that they were also monitoring his organ functions and other markers.
On several occasions, his pain was beyond what he could handle, and it was not the time for him to take more of the medication he had been taking. Instead of telling us that he would have to wait until it was time to take the Tylenol he was taking, Hannah contacted the doctor to determine if there was an alternate plan for medications. I personally noticed how Hannah recognized from R's body language and facial expressions when he was in pain. Because of her, the doctors modified his medications so that multiple pain medications could be taken on an alternating basis. This was much more effective in managing his pain.
Because of his brain cancer, he is now more sensitive to cold. Realizing this, Hannah would often bring in warm blankets to make sure he was warm. Hannah also did something we had never seen done before. Realizing that he had in the past experienced seizures and was on seizure medication, she padded the metal rails on the bed and covered them with disposable hospital underwear. Wow! She was thinking ahead of the game. This also gave us an opportunity to laugh a bit in a situation that needed some laughter.
When R was given the approval to go for daily walks, Hannah would come in and ask if he was ready to go for his walk. We knew she had other patients, but she never made us feel like she was rushed. She took her time, and we had some good conversations during those walks around the unit. These short walks and conversations gave us the opportunity to think about something other than the brain cancer he was battling.
On a lighter note, he was determined to go to the bathroom on his own; however, this was not safe right after his surgery. He thought he was going to insist on this and get his way. Hannah has such a kind and firm nature about her. She let him know that she could not allow him to go on his own and explained why. He would probably have kept insisting and probably become a bit difficult, but because he had developed such respect for Hannah, he agreed to follow her instructions.
We also noticed the patience Hannah had with the nurse she was mentoring. Instead of the nurse just watching what Hannah was doing, Hannah gave her responsibilities and talked with her like she would with any other member of the hospital staff. The nurse later told us what a good mentor Hannah was. Hannah would sometimes get a call from another nurse needing help. Even though it was obvious Hannah was busy, she always let the person calling know that she would help them with what they needed.
Something that was a "small thing" that was "BIG" to me was how she would bring me coffee each morning and always ask if I wanted more water. I stayed with R every night in the hospital and got very little sleep. When Hannah and the other nurses did this for me each morning, it was a little blessing to me.
When we asked her what her plans for Christmas were. She explained that last year and this year she volunteered to work so that nurses with families could spend the time with them. Her face lit up when she shared with us how she and the other nurses made Christmas special for the patients. We could truly see what a big heart she had for her patients.
It is nurses like Hannah who make the world a better place, not just the hospital. We have told many people about our experience. Just sharing this with others gives us time to focus on something positive. We were so blessed to have her as R's nurse.