Ronkonkoma Nurse Launches Nonprofit To Give Back To LI Nurses

RONKONKOMA, NY — Tiana Morano created a Facebook group to help her fellow Long Island nurses in 2013, but it wasn't until the coronavirus pandemic that she decided to take her work to the next level. Now the Ronkonkoma nurse has applied for nonprofit status for Long Island Nurses and expanded her vision: she wants the organization to allow businesses and people to donate to nurses, thanking them for their hard work, and offer furthering education services and scholarships.

Morano is a Shinnecock Nation member who grew up in Glen Cove and has worked as a nurse for 11 years. Now she works as an administrative nurse supervisor and she's studying to become a family nurse practioner, a job that will give her more time to work on Long Island Nurses as well.

Since 2013, she's been able give away $4,000 worth of gift cards to the 3,600 nurses in her Facebook group, donated by local businesses and other nonprofits.

After the events of this year, Morano told Patch, "I decided to expand what I was doing. I felt the need to give back to nurses."

"I'd like to create scholarships for nursing, and to help with interviewing and resume skills for people who want to become nurses or are already nurses." She also envisions being able to sponsor mental health care for anyone suffering with PTSD from their time on the medical front lines.

Morano recently launched an appeal to the NFL on TikTok for a vaccinated nurse to attend the Super Bowl.

"Recently the commissioner of the NFL stated that he’d be asking front lines heroes to come as guests to the Super Bowl as long as they were fully vaccinated. It’s a long shot but I’m trying to make that happen for someone in the group."

Morano has seen Long Island businesses support her efforts.

"It’s a win win. And they want to donate to the true heroes of the front line."