Celeste Jakubowski, BSN, RN

Celeste Jakubowski, BSN, RN has been a nurse at Catholic Health since 1978, working at Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus.

Prior to COVID-19, she was the Nurse Manager of Hall 4, an orthopedic nursing unit. As the pandemic was nearing, and elective surgeries were canceled, Ms. Jakubowski prepared to welcome unknown numbers of COVID-19 patients. She filled a vital role, coordinating staffing needs with CHS’s Buffalo corporate team, and making sure patients received quality care.

Ms. Jakubowski spent innumerable hours ensuring there was enough nurses and staff to care for the people in her community. She is a trusted leader whose staff turned to with questions, worries, and fears. A pillar of strength, she provided necessary reassurances that they would get through a challenging time by working together.

As the patient population of the COVID-19 treatment center changed, Ms. Jakubowski and her staff adapted to meet the needs of the community. She worked with nursing staff and medical leadership to care for a new population of patients on Hall 4, providing support and guidance for those who had undergone a tracheostomy and the surgical insertion of a feeding tube. Ms. Jakubowski proudly wore PPE, and supported her team and their patients as they progressed on their arduous path to recovery. As numbers declined, Ms. Jakubowski reopened Hall 4 to those not suffering from COVID-19 while simultaneously supporting staff who were caring for COVID-19 patients. She proved to be a steady force, providing leadership in an ever-changing atmosphere.

Ms. Jakubowski has been working at St. Joseph Campus for over 40 years and is a lifelong resident of Western New York. She loves how nursing is a profession that is always acclimating to new challenges. She became a nurse to help make a difference in people’s lives, and is a shining example of the best of what nursing can and should be.

Ms. Jakubowski was honored in 2016 with the Caritas Award from the Sisters of Charity Hospital Foundation and is a Business First WNY Nurse of Distinction.