Your Stories: Tu-Minh Nguyen, RN, Named Sue Keefe Excellence in Palliative Care Award Recipient

Tu-Minh Nguyen, RN (left) is the 2025 Sue Keefe Excellence in Palliative Care Award recipient. The award is named in honor of Sue (right), who created the Palliative Care Team at Saint Francis.

Caitlin Ferraro, APRN, a member of the Palliative Care Team, praised Minh for her dedication and commitment to the patients and families she serves, saying, “Minh is consistently a go-to resource for our palliative care patients. When they are faced with critical illnesses, Minh is influential in engaging patients and their families in discussions regarding quality of life, and is an advocate for them to ensure they have the interventions available to keep them comfortable and safe throughout that process. She is a strong support for patients and families throughout any stage of their disease process and goes the extra mile to make sure that patients are treated with dignity and comfort at the end of their life.”

“It is a comfort to know our patients are being cared for by Minh,” added Beth Esstman, APRN. “Her brilliance, gentle presence and dedication are an asset to the organization. We are honored to work with her and learn from her, and we are thrilled to have the chance to recognize her talent.”

Sue Keefe, APRN, is a beloved Saint Francis leader who created the Palliative Care Team in 2001. She worked tirelessly to integrate palliative care into the organization to improve patient care and minimize the suffering of patients with serious, life-limiting diagnoses. The award, named in Sue’s honor, was established in 2024 in recognition of her retirement and legacy and in celebration of colleagues who care on her mission of delivering outstanding care to palliative patients and their families. The award is given annually in November during National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.

Submitted by Beth Esstman, APRN, Palliative Care Team, Saint Francis Hospital.

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