Jessie began her nursing career working in a trauma rehab department helping patients recover from very serious injuries. Now as a Critical Care Nurse, she sees patients at an important decision-making point in their treatment plan, and has a clear sense of what sort of journey they’ll face on the path to survival. Regardless of whether her patient’s final outcome is full recovery or death, she finds that helping people set meaningful, realistic goals is an important part of her work.

Marlene McHugh is a pioneer in enhancing the role of nurses in palliative care. She is an assistant professor at Columbia University School of Nursing and serves as the associate director of the palliative care service at Montefiore Hospital.