Trinity Health Of New England Nurses Honored with 2026 Nightingale Awards
April 29, 2026Categories: Awards and Recognition
Eleven nurses from Trinity Health Of New England hospitals in Connecticut were honored as recipients of the 2026 Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing at the annual awards dinner held on May 5 at the Connecticut Convention Center. The Nightingale Award was created in 2001 to celebrate and elevate the nursing profession by honoring nurses who demonstrate excellence in clinical practice, leadership, and/or education.
Johnson Memorial Hospital
Danielle Trosky, RN, has been a staff nurse in the Emergency Department (ED) at Johnson since 2024. After serving in the Saint Francis ED for 13 years, Danielle brought her expertise to Johnson and immediately became a pillar in the department. Her presence, unmatched skill and dependable leadership earned her the respect of nurses, physicians and other colleagues throughout the hospital. Across every role, every setting and every year of her career, Danielle has built a legacy defined by expertise, service, mentorship and humanity. She has shaped the practice of countless clinicians, improved the care of innumerable patients and strengthened the communities she serves. Danielle is widely recognized for her unwavering advocacy for her patients. She ensures that every patient receives the highest-quality care possible and her exceptional work ethic inspires those around her, motivating the team to work harder and more intentionally on behalf of their patients. Danielle’s excellence is demonstrated not in a single extraordinary moment, but in her ongoing pattern of stepping up, mastering challenges and elevating the quality of care across the entire hospital. She serves as a clinical resource, a mentor and a patient advocate, all simultaneously and at a consistently high level. Danielle’s impact is enduring, far-reaching and truly representative of a lifelong legacy in emergency nursing.
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
Amanda O’Connell, MSN, RN, is a Nurse Manager for Acute Rehab at Mount Sinai. With over 18 years of dedication as a colleague, Amanda embodies both inspiration and innovation for current and future generations of nurses. She began her journey as a CNA, advanced to RN, and now excels as a nurse manager by remaining grounded in the principles of servant leadership. Amanda fosters a positive and collaborative culture, encouraging professional development, shared decision making and a strong sense of unity. Under her guidance, the department has flourished in both outcomes and morale. Amanda’s team trusts her implicitly because she listens deeply, acts fairly and holds herself to the same high standards she expects from others. Her gentle, patient-centered and nonjudgemental approach is recognized and appreciated by all who interact with her. She continues to advance the profession through a lens of equity, safety and compassionate care. Amanda is currently working toward the completion of her DNP program. Her pursuit of higher education not only enriches her practice but inspires the next generation of nurses to strive for excellence. Amanda’s legacy is one of unwavering dedication, exceptional leadership and transformational impact – both at Mount Sinai and in the broader nursing community.
Saint Mary's Hospital
Katrina Monagas, BSN, RN, serves in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Saint Mary’s. Katrina shows the best of nursing through her steady leadership, strong clinical judgement and deep commitment to patients, families and colleagues. As the ICU’s most trusted preceptor and a respected charge nurse, Katrina leads with calm authority, clarity and humility. She sets high standards and builds trust and support among her team. Katrina often goes above and beyond, like when she came into the hospital on her day off to support a family during an honor walk, making sure they felt cared for and respected during an incredibly difficult time. In high-pressure situations, Katrina stays calm, thinks clearly, communicates well and always puts patient safety first. After more than 20 years at Saint Mary’s, Katrina has helped shape the unit’s culture, supported her community through tough times and continues to make a lasting impact, as seen in the gratitude of families and the nurses she inspires every day.
Dana Marker, RN, is a staff nurse in Saint Mary’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Dana stands out for her clinical skill, deep compassion and strong advocacy for the hospital’s smallest and most vulnerable patients. Colleagues often call Dana their “Baby Mechanic” or “Panda warmer doctor” because she has such a deep understanding of neonatal equipment. She is generous with her knowledge, mentoring nurses with patience, clear explanations and a love for teaching. Dana often goes the extra mile to care for her patients and families, always ensuring every baby receives safe, expert care. Whether responding quickly to emergencies or ensuring the Emergency Department has a fully stocked neonatal warmer, Dana focuses on safety across departments. With more than 45 years of nursing experience, Dana’s steady leadership, mentorship and high standards have strengthened teams, improved care and protected countless infants. The nurses she has trained and the families she has supported will continue to carry Dana’s impact forward for generations.
Saint Francis Hospital
Janet Alejandro, MSN, RN, is the Nurse Manager for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Janet began her career at Saint Francis as a staff nurse in the NICU 12 years ago and has served as Nurse Manager for five years. Along with leading the NICU, Janet oversees the Lactation Department and is a co-lead for Baby Friendly coordination. With over 60 colleagues and more than 350 admissions to the NICU each year, she instills a culture of safety and holds all colleagues accountable for maintaining safe patient care. Janet routinely goes above and beyond expectations because of her ability to see the big picture. She combines an expert clinical knowledge base with being a solution-focused leader who actively seeks to understand before acting, recognizing the implications of clinical situations while looking for systemic changes to prevent events from recurring. Janet is also committed to the continued growth and development of her colleagues and is passionate about the unit’s ability to provide up-to-date evidence-based care. Because of Janet’s ability to manage with integrity, dedication to clinical excellence and expectations of best possible outcomes, each member of her team is raised to a higher level of performance, caring practice and professionalism.
Lisa Gallant, RN, is a staff and charge nurse on Labor and Delivery. With decades of experience, Lisa brings a level of skill, awareness and clinical judgment that consistently raises the bar for those around her. She makes every patient feel important and genuinely cared for, never losing sight of the emotional side of what they are going through. At the same time, she is always thinking ahead to anticipate potential complications and prepare for all possible outcomes to ensure the safest care for both mother and baby. Lisa uses her years of experience and a strong sense of clinical awareness to remain calm under pressure while paying close attention to details, always prepared for how quickly things can change in obstetrics. Lisa’s influence on her colleagues comes from the way she practices every day – watching her care for patients inspires those around her to be more thorough, more prepared and more intentional in their own practice, setting a standard that others naturally want to meet. She consistently goes above what is expected, often stepping forward to take on the most medically challenging patients or those with complicated social situations. She does so without hesitation, recognizing those patients need experienced, thoughtful care. Lisa’s impact can be seen in the nurses who work alongside her, the patients who feel truly cared for under her watch and the systems she has helped improve over time. Lisa represents the kind of nurse others look to when they want to understand what excellent care really looks like.
Tu Minh Nguyen, RN, is a staff nurse on the 8-1 Oncology unit. Minh is an exceptional nurse who carries great compassion for her patients and empathy for their families. She is a fierce advocate for patients under her care. Minh greets patients and families with a smile, taking time to answer any and all questions, explaining medications, procedures and care plans, and helping to ease the unexpected.. She is reliable and always true to her word, providing relief and reassurance whenever needed. Minh sees her patients holistically, knowing that in their most difficult moments, the most important thing is for them to be surrounded by those who love them. She builds relationships with her patients, offering support during their most difficult times and compassion when it is needed the most. Minh’s empathy, competence, advocacy and compassion highlight her true calling as an oncology nurse.
Kathryn Monroe, BSN, RN, is a charge nurse and preceptor for the Pre and Post Surgery Ambulatory Operating Room (OR). Kathie exudes a level of compassion, integrity, knowledge and efficiency that is unmatched. She goes above and beyond the call of duty for patients, colleagues and the organization every day. Kathie demonstrates excellence not through grand gestures, but through the consistent standard she sets every day. She is the nurse others seek out when a situation becomes complex or uncertain while also exhibiting a vigilance that prevents problems before they occur. She is constantly scanning the unit for ways to improve safety or workflow, providing foresight and clinical judgement that ensure the unit functions at its highest level. Kathie’s contagious “can-do” attitude motivates those around her to approach challenges with confidence and determination. She has a gift for making people feel seen, heard and valued – whether they are patients, family members or fellow colleagues. Kathie meets chaos with calm, adversity with perseverance, discouragement with motivation and challenges with problem solving and resolution. Beyond her technical skill, Kathie is a trusted mentor and role model to her colleagues, always willing to share her knowledge, guide others and strengthen the team around her.
Renee Mullen, RN, is a staff nurse on 8-7 Acute Intermediate Care. Always displaying professionalism, patience and acceptance, Renee is a team player and mentor. She has had the opportunity to mentor nursing students, Certified Nursing Assistants, Graduate Nurse Residents and pharmacy students during their training, all with a positive, infectious and welcoming attitude. Renee doesn’t just train colleagues, she takes the time to learn something about each person, building a rapport that helps them feel at ease. She sees the good in her colleagues, always acknowledging a job well done, recognizing and taking the extra effort to commend those around her and sharing positive feedback with unit leadership. Renee takes pride in her role as a nurse and always sees learning opportunities for herself and others. She often attends classes and seminars to continuously improve her knowledge base, sharing with others and encouraging them to seek higher education. Renee has touched the lives of many colleagues, students, residents and others by sharing her knowledge and love of nursing, while also touching the lives of countless patients with her care and compassion.
Antonetta Palmer, RN, serves as Senior Case Manager. Toni has been at Saint Francis for 28 years and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to patient care, professional excellence and the support and mentorship of her colleagues. Toni is vital to the Case Management Department, serving as a resource for all. Her passion for teaching and learning new things is evident with her positive attitude and always offering support. Toni’s teammates often consult her about complex cases due to her knowledge, wisdom and suggestions. She is known for her can-do attitude that exemplifies a positive culture. Toni’s dedication to patients often goes beyond her business day, as she is always thinking of ways to assist patients and will reach out to her colleagues with suggestions after hours or on her days off. She is never too busy to help her peers, reaching out to offer a hand with complex cases. Her ability to combine clinical expertise with the organization’s Mission and Core Values is a unique talent. Toni’s commitment is equally impactful to colleagues on her team and in other departments. She often recognizes other colleagues for their work, whether that’s a conversation, email or even personalized, handwritten letters. Toni’s career reflects not only longevity but a sustained passion for excellence and service.
Julie Pollack, MSN, BSN, is a nurse for TogetherTeam Virtual Nursing. Julie exemplifies the very essence of nursing – vigilance, compassion, leadership and an unwavering commitment to protecting patients when they are most vulnerable. In her role as a virtual nurse, Julie serves as a quiet but powerful guardian of patient safety. Her meticulous attention to detail, clinical expertise and refusal to overlook even the smallest inconsistency have prevented potential adverse events. Julie does not simply complete tasks – she truly sees her patients, even from a distance, and advocates fiercely for their well-being. Her work strengthens the culture of accountability and reminds all her colleagues that excellence lives in the details. As co-chair of the Virtual Nursing Unit Practice Council, Julie extends her influence beyond patient encounters. She leads with integrity, collaboration and vision. She works to refine workflows, elevate practice standards and ensure that virtual nursing continues to evolve in ways that prioritize both quality and compassion. Julie’s impact may often happen behind a screen, but its ripple effect is felt throughout the organization. In every safety catch, every colleague supported and every patient protected, Julie demonstrates that nursing excellence is not defined by visibility but by vigilance.