"Above and beyond," "superior," "patient advocate," and "dedicated" are just a few of the adjectives that you will read very often in this award nomination for the M14 nurse, Tina Alano. Every single one of Tina's patients and co-workers have used these words to describe her work ethic. Tina is one of those people that believe that there is always something MORE she could be doing, and she makes it all look so effortless. For example, while most nurses take some down time after the morning rush of giving medication, washing up their patients, and making sure they start walking, Tina is still "out in the field" brushing her patient's teeth, combing their hair, looking at their family pictures, or cleaning their room. These are just some of the routine tasks that Tina has incorporated into her day. "Downtime" is usually not something that Tina has a lot of while she is working the floor. She is a constant help to her co-workers as well, always asking if there was anything she could do to help.

As a primary nurse to so many of our long-stay patients, Tina has definitely become a "house-hold" name. One patient had said that, "Tina has gone above and beyond the call of duty. She always made us (my wife included) feel like her number one priority and never failed to get an answer for us. From the second we met, I felt like she has been my number one advocate. She is caring and compassionate, but when I needed a push, she knew exactly what to say. Tina was able to put a smile on our faces after we heard devastating news. Tina was also wonderful with my wife and tried to keep her as comfortable as possible while she stayed with me here for three plus months! I don't know what I would have done without her support."

When gathering stories and comments from Tina's patients and co-workers, I was never hard-pressed to find someone willing to talk, and each had plenty to say! Another patient who also had a long stay with us on M14 had this to say about Tina Alano. "Tina is not only an extremely competent nurse she is a compassionate and caring one too. She gave me so much individual attention, making my uncomfortable stay much more bearable. Tina went out of her way to put me at ease, was incredibly attentive to all my needs, and I wouldn't hesitate at this point to call her MY FRIEND as well as my nurse. Apart from the impeccable care she has taken with me, Tina is such a positive presence in the hospital. She has boundless energy, a loving demeanor, and most of all makes me feel safe. I wouldn't hesitate to testify that she demonstrates all the qualities of a recipient of this award."

On many occasions Tina has been seen taking patient's belonging to her home to wash their clothes and even buy them new ones. She has given one long stay BMT patient three new sets of Hello Kitty pajamas when hers got soiled. She has brought in hats for patients and has even given a patient a necklace she was admiring. Tina will do absolutely ANYTHING in order to brighten up a patient's day. The patients on M14 are often very sick and are here in the hospital for many months. Tina has this incredible ability to figure out what it is that makes that person happy and give it back to them, in abundance. Whether it's music, baking, jewelry, fashion design, or "beachy" getaways, Tina is able to bring these things to her patients to help them forget that they are sick in the hospital.

Another example of Tina going above and beyond for her patients, even on her days off, is the time when her patient needed a letter from the doctors in order to get an expedited VISA for his daughter to come visit him here in the states. The doctor was unable to write the letter that day, so Tina came in the following day, a day she should have been home, tracked down the doctor and sat with him while he wrote the letter. She then stayed to make sure that the letters were faxed and sent to the correct place.

Tina is not only a friend to her patient's and co-workers, but you literally cannot walk through the hospital without her stopping to say hi to doctors she had worked with once, or nurses from other floors, or just anybody who looks like they need a friendly smile and a hello. Doctors, NPs and PAs all appreciate when Tina is taking care of their patients. They learn her name early on in the day and hear it frequently throughout. An NP on the BMT service has said that Tina delivers that extra "TLC" that some patients are in desperate need of. "When Tina is taking care of my patients I know that they will be pushed to walk, to eat and to bathe, even when they don't want to." A PA on the BMT service has said that "Tina advocates so superbly for her patients. It is her star quality. I love working with her for that reason. Her requests are reasonable and usually result in a better quality of life for the patient. I always appreciate her input."

Tina also believes in utilizing all the services MSK has to offer in order to deliver the best care possible to the patient. She will frequently order integrative medicine, chaplaincy, social work and case management. The physical therapist and occupational therapist have said that "Tina has remarkable advocating skills. She always makes sure that the medical team orders PT/OT services no matter how low level the patients are. Tina will hunt us down to make sure we go to see her patients and she stays with us to help. She does all of this while maintaining a fabulous attitude."

Nursing is Tina's second career, although you would think that she was doing this job all her life. It is clear to her patient's that she loves her job and has the enthusiasm of a new grad. Even though Tina is older than most of the nurses on the floor, she can keep up with all the young women and will always come out after work for dinner or a drink. She is fun to be around and to work with. She brings energy and a light with her exudes and infects the rest of us. Tina makes all of us happy to be here. She in an incredible force and really deserves this honor.

... another quote from a patient: "Tina is so superior as a nurse, intelligent, instinctive, and knowledgeable. She is spirited and you feel happy and safe when she is around, on duty. The compliments we give her, she accredits to her team. Such a talented, humble and wonderful nurse and person. Our entire family and our friends just love her! We feel very blessed to have had her as our nurse."