Linda Solano, RN, has long played an important role as a team member of Mount Nittany Health’s Women and Children’s Services unit. She is well respected by her colleagues and known for providing exceptional care to her patients. Recently, Linda was honored with a DAISY Award for exceeding the expectations of a patient during and after labor.
Linda’s nomination read, “I recently had my third baby at Mount Nittany Medical Center, and while I’ve received incredible care each time, I was compelled to nominate a particular nurse who made my experience even better. Linda Solano is the nurse who cared for me throughout the majority of my labor and for the delivery. She asked questions about my previous labors to find ways to make this one better. She was the perfect patient advocate, made sure I was making informed decisions, anticipated my every need, and still managed to enthusiastically teach things to eager medical students while she juggled everything else. After being discharged, I unfortunately had some unforeseen complications and ended up being readmitted. Linda was not my nurse this time, but she still stopped in every single day to check in with me. She would always ask if I needed anything and expressed true concern for how my husband and children were managing at home. My husband and I both work for Mount Nittany Health, and our experience with Linda was the perfect reminder of how much the little things mean to a patient.”
Linda has been providing compassionate care to the Centre region and has been an integral part of Mount Nittany Health for nearly 30 years. In addition to being a labor and delivery, post-partum, and nursery RN on the Women and Children’s Services unit, she has taken on multiple leadership roles within the health system as a nurse mentor, preceptor, charge nurse, and standardized patient at Penn State University for medical students and residents. Linda is the founder and co-chair (alongside Laurie Smeal, RN) of the Perinatal Bereavement Committee, and the founder and coordinator of Public Cord Blood Donation. She has also given back to the community as a Mount Nittany Health Foundation Charity Ball committee member and Gift of Life team member, and she is a passionate volunteer with Ghana Medical Relief; a medical mission team that travels to Ghana each year to provide medical services, education, and donations.
Before joining Mount Nittany Health in 1994, Linda was an RN at Lehigh Valley Hospital Center, and a senior staff RN at New York University. She received a bachelor of science in nursing from Hunter College of the City of New York, and she holds a certification in inpatient obstetrics. Linda is also trained as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).
Linda was humbled to be selected as a DAISY Award winner, and noted that she thoroughly loves what she does. “I love caring for my patients and making a difference when I can,” said Linda. “Being a DAISY Award winner is a tremendous honor and privilege, and I am incredibly grateful for the acknowledgement.”
She also paid tribute to her colleagues: “The best thing about my department is that we all support each other and our patients in good times and through challenging ones. We are a family and that makes all the difference.”
When she is not busy providing exceptional care and serving the community, Linda enjoys traveling, spending time with her new granddaughter, biking, and spending time with friends and family. She is grateful for the love and support of her husband David, who she has been married to for 34 years; her daughter Maria and son-in-law Hank; her daughter Nicole and son-in-law Norb; her son David; and her granddaughter Emilia Rosemarie.
Please join us in celebrating Linda for exemplifying Mount Nittany Health’s core values and for being a DAISY Award recipient. Linda, thank you for your commitment to providing compassionate care and for furthering our mission of “Healthier people, stronger community.”
Created by the family of Patrick Barnes, who passed away from complications of an autoimmune disease in 1999, the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is an international program designed to recognize exceptional care in the nursing community. A global program with over 5,000 participating healthcare facilities across all 50 states and 31 countries, nurses throughout Mount Nittany Health have the opportunity to receive prestigious recognition as DASIY award recipients.
Please remember, anyone, including patients, families, visitors, volunteers, or staff can nominate a nurse for this esteemed award. If you are interested in nominating a deserving nurse or if you have any questions, please contact: daisyaward@mountnittany.org.