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Updated: November 15, 2020 / 2020 Health Care Heroes

Aileen Legnani

Aileen Legnani, Registered Nurse, Short-Term Rehabilitation Unit Jefferson House

 

Honoree Category: Nurse


Aileen Legnani began her career as a registered nurse at the Veterans Hospital in Newington in 1985. She worked with HIV patients during a very challenging time as the virus had recently been discovered.

After she left the Veterans Hospital, she worked at a few long-term facilities and came to Jefferson House in 1997.

In March, Jefferson House needed to convert a nursing unit into an isolation unit for patients who might test positive for COVID-19. The nursing staff was fearful of caring for patients with coronavirus, given the unknown and uncertainty about the infection.

Legnani was unafraid when the unit she worked in was chosen to become the isolation unit. She warmly welcomed patients with the COVID infection. Visitation to skilled nursing facilities had been stopped by Gov. Ned Lamont, which meant patients were not only isolated in their rooms but they were also isolated from family and visitors.

Legnani not only identified and cared for the physical needs of each patient but also the psychosocial and emotional needs, and was able to connect patients and their loved ones via phone calls, window visits and electronic communication. She was able to spend additional time with patients to communicate to them that their families and loved ones were being updated as to their condition.

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1 Comments

Anonymous
November 19, 2020

Congratulations Aileen! You have always been kind and compassionate, and have the heart of a hero. Your award is well deserved.

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