As Floridians salute the state’s more than 185,000 registered nurses during National Nurses Week, May 6-12, several of the state’s nurses with HCA Florida Healthcare are being hailed for making nursing their life’s work while going above and beyond the call in ways never imagined. Across the state from Jacksonville to Tampa, our nurses take “Caring Like Family” to heart with patients, pets and their own family. Nurses Week is a special moment for us to celebrate our Florida nursing colleagues a little bit more.

Care Like Family Includes 4-Legged Member for Gainesville Nurse

Yolanda Castillo-Baron, RN, an oncology nurse at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital in Gainesville, learned a cancer patient had to leave her dog alone while she received treatment. Castillo-Baron made a special promise to provide faithful and forever care to the patient’s beloved canine companion, Boogie.

“It was very difficult to leave him behind when she needed to go to the hospital for care,” explains Castillo-Baron. “I offered to take care of him so she could focus on her treatment.”

When the ailing patient was later advised to consider hospice care, she understandably didn’t want to leave Boogie alone.

“I let her know I would take care of Boogie, and the following day, the patient told the medical team she was ready to transition to hospice,” Castillo-Baron added.

Thanks to Castillo-Baron, Boogie was by his owner’s side, providing comfort in her final days. Shortly after, the patient passed away.

Today Boogie is a big part of Castillo-Baron’s family, the center of attention who enjoys long walks and lots of treats.             

From European Refugees to Tampa Cardiology Professionals

High school sweethearts in Yugoslavia, Jasmina and Josip Katinic were torn apart by the outbreak of the Croatian War for Independence in 1991.

Sometime later after they reunited and married in Germany, they had the opportunity to immigrate to the United States which had a program that accepted refugees from the former Yugoslavia.

“We both dreamed of pursuing higher education, but that wasn’t going to happen in Yugoslavia. Plus, we had no homes left to go back to,” recalls Josip Katinic.

In 1998, the couple flew from Germany to Davenport, Iowa to begin their new lives and careers in healthcare.

“We both fell in love with cardiology,” said Josip Katinic. “It led us to where we are now – both working in cardiac specialties at HCA Florida Healthcare.”

Today the couple is happily settled in Tampa Bay with their two sons. Jasmina Katinic, with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, is director of the Structural Heart Program for the HCA Healthcare West Florida Division. Josip Katinic, also with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, is with HCA Florida Heart Institute’s Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing Clinic.

For Aventura Mother and Son, Nursing is a Family Affair

Making a difference in people’s lives is a family affair for the mother-and-son duo of Yovana Valentin, RN, who works with trauma, step down and telemetry patients at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, and her son, Ricky de Jesus, a patient care technician at the same hospital.

Nursing is Valentin’s second career. After working for an international real estate company, she returned to her home in Puerto Rico to attend nursing school, graduating in just two and a half years.

In contrast to his mother, de Jesus wanted to work in healthcare since he was a child.

“I always felt the desire to help people,” he recalls. “I was in middle school when my dad would bring me to the hospital to visit the cardiovascular ICU and the cath lab. Those experiences taught me how broad the title of nurse is.”

In October 2021, de Jesus began classes at Galen College of Nursing-Pembroke Pines where he hopes to attain his associate degree in nursing in two years. He then plans to work in the ICU and continue his education, with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.

Sister Act: Jacksonville Nurse Inspires Career Choice

Maria Montemayor says she never stops telling others how rewarding it is to be a nurse. She just never expected her enthusiasm to rub off on her three younger sisters.

A nurse in the Sepsis Unit at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Montemayor and her family came to the United States from the Philippines in 2005. After holding jobs in retail and accounting, she decided to enter nursing.

“When I started nursing, that’s when I truly found my calling,” recalls Montemayor. “I knew in my heart this is what I would do until I retire.”

So, when her three younger sisters asked if she would share her thoughts about a career in nursing, Montemayor jumped at the chance.

“I told them it’s a challenging education, but if you have compassion for other people, it will be the best decision you ever made,” she says. “My sisters say I inspired them, so as the saying goes, ‘imitation is the highest form of flattery.’”