Nursing Beyond The Bedside

Nursing careers at Northwell Health goes beyond the bedside—there are many different ways for nurses to make an impact for patients and their families. As a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, Northwell offers competitive benefits, education and career growth opportunities for registered nurses, no matter what area of nursing interests you. See below for several nursing positions beyond the bedside to jump start your exploration for a career well cared for.

Check out our open nursing positions here.

Two Nursing Careers, Two Equally Amazing Journeys

Career growth and development means different things to different people. For Jessica Jimenez and Tamaka Wallace, their nursing careers began along different paths but through tuition support and mentorship, they blossomed just the same and continue to grow at Northwell Health. Read below to learn more about these unique career journeys in nursing and imagine your own career path with us.

Jessica Jimenez, Clinical Professional Development Educator

Jessica Jimenez, clinical professional development educator for the emergency department at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream (LIJVS), started her nursing career at Northwell in 2013 as a student nurse extern. It didn’t take long for Jessica to envision what her career path could be. According to Jessica, Northwell is as much focused on expanding the services we provide to the community, as we are in expanding opportunities for our employees to learn and grow throughout their careers. “It’s one of the reasons I was attracted to the health system in the first place. I could tell that Northwell had big plans for the future and since joining, I have felt every bit a part of their vision.”

Jessica found tuition support in her strive for professional development when she enrolled in a nursing leadership and administration master’s program through a partnership between Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) and Stony Brook University. She originally felt nervous when presented with this opportunity, but the encouragement from her mentors outmatched any trepidation she had about her own abilities. “Whenever I wondered whether I was ready for the next step, my leaders and mentors at Northwell would provide me with encouragement so I could move forward with zero doubt.”

Jessica found the road from nurse extern to clinical professional development educator paved by infinite support. Today, she is responsible for onboarding the new nursing staff at the LIJVS emergency department and runs their orientation and nurse fellowship program, where she teaches new graduate nurses starting out in their career. “My role involves many different responsibilities. Mainly, I aim to provide exceptional training through courses and simulations so that my peers feel as prepared as I did.”

Tameka Wallace, Director of Patient Care

Tameka Wallace, director of patient care for out-patient ambulatory surgery at the Schwartz Ambulatory Surgery Center at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH), joined Northwell as a teenager taking advantage of an internship program in the summer of 2000. For Tameka, the attraction of a career at Northwell started at home. Tameka’s mother was a clerical support associate at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) at the time, so she became very familiar with the culture and knew that Northwell was where she wanted to be. “Everyone is respected and there is a palpable drive to promote diversity.” Not long after the internship, Tameka joined her mother in the nursing program at Farmingdale State College and together they graduated with their associate degrees in Nursing. Every step of the way, Tameka said she felt supported from the organization. From mentorship opportunities to tuition reimbursement, she had the support in continuing her education to obtain a master’s degree in Nursing, as well as a master’s degree in Business Administration.

Like Jessica, Tameka credits the relationships she has built with her peers and leaders for bolstering her confidence and opening the career path ahead of her beyond what she could have imagined. She attributes her achievements to both her own determination and the championing she received from her mentors. From attaining her associate’s degree, to her bachelor’s degree and then to a double master’s degree, she never felt alone in the adventure.

Since Tameka’s days as a support care associate, she has been passionate about patient care and has been able to grow in her position so that she can increase her impact on the patient community. “I love what I do every day. My duties include evaluating and directing all nursing employees, establishing goals for the nursing department, and creating and enforcing compliant healthcare policies.” Making a difference for the nursing staff and patients motivates Tameka to continue her growth and it explains a nomination she received for Magnet Nursing Leader of the Year at NSUH. An avid advocate for the special needs community, Tameka is also looking for opportunities to make strides in the healthcare of these patients and their families. She has her sights set on finding ways to incorporate more understanding and informed care in support of special needs patients.

Forge your own unique and passionate nursing journey at Northwell Health, discover a career well cared for here.

CNO Corner: A Conversation with Tiffany Powell, Chief Nursing Officer at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills

Tiffany Powell, MSN, RN, NE-BC, and chief nursing officer (CNO) at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills (LIJFH), has experienced career growth and endless opportunities over nearly two decades at Northwell Health.

It all began in 2004 when Tiffany started at Northwell Health as a nurse extern. Passionate about learning, Tiffany sought every opportunity to gain experiences and grow her career. After completing the externship and achieving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Tiffany jumped at the chance to be part of the health system’s first-ever critical care fellowship in 2005.

During the next several years, Tiffany continued to gain experience working as a staff RN in telemetry and in a medical intensive care units (MICU). By 2014, she had transitioned to a leadership role as an assistant nurse manager, and was then promoted to nurse manager of a medical surgical unit in 2016. Her desire for exposure to more nursing specialties then brought her to North Shore University Hospital where she worked as a nurse manager on a palliative care unit and with a renal and liver transplant team.

All of her passion and experience took her career journey to Long Island Jewish Forest Hills (LIJFH) in 2019, as director of patient services responsible for the critical care, telemetry, and dialysis units and interventional radiology nursing practice. Now as chief nursing officer at LIJFH, Tiffany is looking to encourage and support others who strive for career growth and new opportunities.

Read our conversation with Tiffany below to learn what key advice she has for all nurses looking to develop their careers.

What attracted you to Northwell Health initially and is it still true today?

At the time I was looking for my first nursing job, I was offered two great positions at different healthcare providers and I chose Northwell Health. What attracted me to Northwell the most is their commitment to innovation.

I love working here, because at Northwell, your voice is heard and respected at all levels. Team members actively participate in the changes that take place in our organization, and they work in an environment that is exciting, never stagnant.

As a nursing executive, what would you say are the most important qualities a leader should have in order to positively engage their team in delivering exceptional patient care?

Throughout my career, I have always felt that the two most important qualities of any leader are authenticity and relatability. Strong, effective communication is also key but authentic leaders will naturally appeal to those around them, and develop a followership built on trust and respect. The foundation of a strong leader is their ability to build interpersonal connections with people, and to resonate with others you must be relatable.

We understand that you are passionate about encouraging personal well-being in the workplace. Can you share a few examples of how personal well-being is supported for team members at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital?

My team will tell you that my mantra is, “we must take care of ourselves before we can take care of our staff and patients.” I truly emulate this in all that I do because personal well-being is so important, and in the workplace, it starts at the top. At LIJFH, we have exercise classes in our memorial garden, and a meditation room where staff can go to relax. Sometimes it just takes small measures that result in big impacts. I have committed to starting all my nursing leadership meetings with a one-minute meditation for all the nurse leaders here and I have challenged my nurse managers to use this approach with their staff at their daily huddles and staff meetings.

What advice do you have for nurses who are looking to grow in their careers?

I recently heard someone ask, “What would the world be like if we were always working on ourselves or thinking of how we can help others.” For all nurses, my advice is simple, reflect after every day. What did I do well? What could I have done better? Always remember what motivates you, and act with humility. It is such a gift to be able to care for patients in their most vulnerable times.

For those looking to grow, networking is key. Meet new people and build relationships. Never burn any bridge. Get involved in hospital/organizational activities. Never stop being curious. Instead, always try to learn something new every day. And one especially helpful piece of advice that always works for me: once per year, set a professional goal that you can accomplish and when you do, it’s a feel-good moment, so celebrate it!

What would you say makes nursing at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital unique?

We are resilient, agile, and diverse. Our sense of community allows us to really get to know each other.

There is lots of positive energy pumping through the halls of LIJFH. Having achieved the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence designation in 2021, we are now beginning our Magnet Journey.

Among our goals is our continued focus on shaping our shared governance model and promoting professional development for our nurses. And we are incredibly excited about the roll out of new technology at our facility such as the myNora system pilot – a technology to assist with the efficiency of Interdisciplinary Rounds (IDR) – as well as telemetry monitors and zebra devices (healthcare mobile computers). All initiatives meant to inspire learning and growth.

If you’re inspired by Tiffany’s incredible career, explore nursing careers with many avenues to grow your skills at Northwell Health.

Discover why our OR nurses love working at Peconic Bay Medical Center

At Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) in Riverhead, NY, registered nurses won’t just find a rewarding career in the OR, they will find the opportunity to help serve their communities.

There has never been a better time to join the PBMC team. We are proud to be certified by the Joint Commission in Total Hip Replacement and Total Knee Replacement Surgery and are always seeking advancements that improve patient experience. As our health services grow, our nurses are able to work in a community setting within a department that is continually being updated and expanded to enhance the hospital stays.

Discover five reasons why our OR nurses love working at PBMC.

1. Career growth opportunities and resources are offered to all team members

PBMC registered nurses and team members benefit from receiving career resources provided by the largest private employer in New York State within a community setting. Some of these resources include our tuition reimbursement program, nurse certification program, and skills-based workshops at the Center for Learning and Innovation. These extensive resources have been put in place at Northwell so our team members can grow their careers while delivering compassionate and innovate care for our patients.

Salone Ayala, BSN, RN, is the perfect example of a career well cared for at PBMC. “I enjoy working at PBMC because there is room for professional growth, and it is encouraged. I started my career as an LPN and I have gone on to complete my RN, an OR fellowship, and this past year my BSN.”

2. Delivering care in new and renovated units

As PBMC grows, so does the ability to expand care to the community. In an effort to provide the best care for our patients and their families, we are building a seventh OR and purchasing a second Da Vinci Robot that will expand services in Advanced Thoracic, GYN and Colorectal procedures.  Our remodeling efforts have also recently focused on our patient areas and waiting rooms, which is expected to be completed shortly.

3. The local community offers a unique setting for self-care

PBMC is located on the east end of Long Island and is neighbored by miles and miles of sandy ocean beaches, world-renowned campsites, and unique specialty shops. As part of a self-care regimen, you may find some staff taking in the views and exploring the local cuisine during their breaks and time off. Nestled near downtown Riverhead – a town known for ease of access to several cultural and recreational hot spots – Peconic Bay Medical Center offers plenty of options to relax before or after the work day.

4. Interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork

Our OR nurses work closely with the surgeons, anesthesiologists, and perioperative staff who provide care on a wide range of surgical procedures. Largely in part of the incredible synergy within our OR team, PBMC has received a Level III Trauma Center verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma.

5. The opportunity to support patients beyond the bedside

At PBMC, we know how important it is to educate our patients as they prepare to rejoin their communities and readjust to their lives post-surgery. That’s why we provide resources for our patients prior to the hospital experience to help ease their concerns and ensure smooth recoveries after they leave to minimize postoperative discomfort.

Discover a career well cared for at Peconic Bay Medical Center. Explore our OR nursing opportunities today!

From Nursing Assistant to Public Relations, Angela Mandelos Grew Her Career in Unexpected Ways at Northwell Health

Northwell’s culture was a perfect environment for a curious 22-year-old starting her career as a nursing assistant at South Shore University Hospital (SSUH). That curiosity was fed by the encouragement Angela received from leaders and peers she worked with. Words of encouragement alone may seem like an incubator for growth but at Northwell, Angela also found support in learning opportunities provided by the Center for Learning and Innovation, having leaders who served as mentors, and benefits such as Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program.

That support made the decision to continue her education easy, attaining a bachelor’s degree followed by an MBA in Healthcare Management. Throughout this time, Angela was also given multiple opportunities by SSUH leadership to participate in various hospital committees which expanded her scope and knowledge of the health system.

The combination of her continued education, her desire to spread her wings, and Northwell’s workplace culture helped set new directions for Angela’s career journey in the organization. Angela embarked on a second phase in her career with the department of service excellence at SSUH. She became a certified patient advocate, led an award-winning team, and soon grew in her role again. First, she served as director of community relations and then as principal of public and media relations at SSUH, which is the role she holds today. “These positions expanded my knowledge of our community and the importance of preventive education,” Angela says.

Her experiences made her a thought leader in community engagement and communication, and Angela sees it as an opportunity to impact not only the workforce but the patients cared for at Northwell Health. Angela believes that her successes wouldn’t have been possible without a lot of teamwork, “I am grateful to have leaders and peers who support my ideas and offer continuous motivation; we support and respect each other.”

Angela’s Northwell career journey unexpectedly took her from nursing assistant to principal of public and media relations. When asked what inspired her to grow her career at Northwell, Angela explains, “My years as a nursing assistant provided me with firsthand knowledge of patients’ experiences, and the day-to-day efforts of frontline heroes. Those moments inspired me to keep pushing myself to be their voice and to help create an environment that brings smiles to all.”

One piece of advice that Angela has for both new and seasoned employees looking to grow their careers at Northwell: “Make every moment meaningful. Every moment is an opportunity to learn something new, make new connections, or to make a difference!”

Discover a career well cared for at Northwell Health.

Celebrating National Certified Nurses Day

Celebrated on March 19th, National Certified Nurses Day is a special day that allows us to acknowledge all nurses who have gone the extra mile to earn professional certification in their specialty practice area. All of our Northwell Health nurses are committed to improving care delivery and positive outcomes for our patients and families and those who have earned professional certification exemplify their commitment through national recognition as a certified nurse!

Why get certified? Achieving certification affirms the knowledge, skill, and practice within a specialty of nursing. The certification is nationally recognized and promotes a dedication to lifelong learning that is above and beyond the state requirements to practice as a nurse.

Northwell Health boasts a nursing certification rate that is above the national average for Magnet ® hospitals.

Northwell Health offers professional development programs that support nurses in getting prepared to successfully earn certification including continuing education programs and discounts on selected certification exams. Northwell Health also recognizes professionally certified nurses through our certified RN bonus pay program.

This year, there’s even more to celebrate! Congratulations to Launette Woolforde, EdD, DNP, RN-BC, vice president of System Nursing Education and Professional Development at Northwell for being named a winner of 2019’s Certified Nurse Award by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Launette was recognized for demonstrating the value and impact of specialty certification and creating a pathway to help 16,000+ nurses at Northwell achieve certification.

Congratulations to all Northwell Health Certified Nurses!

Happy Nursing Professional Development Week!

All week long, Northwell Health has been celebrating Nursing Professional Development Week! We’re celebrating the values that make our nurses Made for the great work they do every day. From sharing their knowledge in a Truly Ambitious way to seeking Truly Innovative opportunities and by working Truly Together, Nurse Educators and Nursing Professional Development (NPD) Practitioners lead the professional development of our health care team.

Did you know that Northwell Health offers nurses various personal and professional growth opportunities to continue to excel in our health system? Here are some of those opportunities:  

#1: Summer Nursing Student Extern Program:

At Northwell, we’re always working toward delivering better care and that means developing the next generation of talented nurses. Our Nurse Educators coordinated 78 nursing students from schools across the U.S. to participate in the Northwell Health summer nurse extern program. After a formal orientation at the Institute for Nursing, students continued to a Northwell Health hospital site to work with a Registered Nurse in various specialties. We’re excited to see where these Truly Ambitious nursing students go with their career.

#2: Academic Progression Counseling:

Academic progression counseling is available to Northwell Health nurses seeking to continue their life-long academic goals and support in achieving specialty certifications. So how did they do it? There are over 60 nursing affiliation agreements to support clinical experiences at Northwell facilities and Northwell Health nurse educators serve as preceptors to nursing professionals furthering academic progress in BSN, MSN, Ph.D., and DNP programs. At Northwell, nurses have the opportunity to attend on-site classes at select locations where they get to work towards their BSN or MSN degree. We are proud to offer a Master of Science-Nurse Practitioner program with several specialty tracks to help our nurses continue their education and advance their practice at our Hofstra-Northwell Graduate School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies.

#3: Professional development:

We believe that nursing is never business as usual and we’ve built our professional development course to back that idea. Our Passport to Preceptorship e-learning module and courses are available to Northwell Nursing Professionals. And they’re popular! In 2017, 528 nurses completed the i-learn preceptor module and 191 nurses attended the in-person class. Our Nursing Leadership Basic courses offer a foundation for excellence within the organization for over 90 new and aspiring nursing leaders and the SOURCE learning lab for clinical staff enhances clinical skills and creates an individualized learning environment. Not to mention, specialty orientation classes attended by over 490 nurses including Cardiac Devices, Core Concepts of Mechanical Ventilation, and Basic and Advanced Neurologic Concepts.

#4: Orientation:

We want all of our team members to start off on the right foot. So we ensure that our nurses have the tools to do so! Nurse educators provided orientation across Northwell Health specialties for over 2,500 nurses and patient support staff in 2017. The knowledge, skills, and behavior in the orientation program provide the foundation to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), Clostridium difficile (C difficile), and other infections; pressure injury; and helped to increase team communication, humanism, and critical thinking.

We’re excited to spend the week celebrating Nurse Educators at Northwell Health! Learn more about our incredible nursing opportunities here.

Huntington Hospital, one of our community hospitals, has recently attained its 4th Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This is the highest honor an organization can receive for excellence in nursing care. In addition to being the first on Long Island,  they are also second in New York State, and one of just 36 in the country to receive Magnet four or more times.  Magnet status is the gold standard for nursing excellence – a reflection of Huntington Hospital’s nursing professionalism, strong collaboration, innovation, and teamwork as well as superiority in patient care.

Huntington Hospital’s culture is built on a commitment to quality, exceptional experience, and excellence for both patients and employees.  “Our Nursing Leadership team is professional, dedicated, and committed to ensuring the best practice environment,” said Janet Milanese, Associate VP of Nursing.

Their nurses are able to practice in a supportive environment where opportunities are abundant, innovation is encouraged and their voices are heard. Their nurses work collaboratively and collegially with their interdisciplinary team to provide the best outcomes for their patients. “Senior leadership remains committed to nursing and meeting their strategic goals by supporting education, certification, and resources necessary to continue to provide high-quality care.  Achieving and maintaining Magnet designation is a true testament to not only nursing efforts but also the efforts of all that support the nursing department at Huntington Hospital,” said Donna Tanzi, Director of Nursing Education and Professional Development.

Nurses at Magnet facilities can feel the strong attraction between the two as they are known for their high retention rates, high job and employee engagement/satisfaction scores, as well as a culture of excellence and positive patient outcomes. “As a new nurse seeking employment, Huntington Hospital was my number one choice because of their sterling reputation as a Magnet designated hospital. Working alongside nurses who hold such high standards has given me an unsurpassable advantage in my career. I consider myself very lucky to work in an organization that thrives on education and excellence,” said Jessica Shremshock, RN. Nurses are identified as the pioneers at the forefront of our evolving health system and all aspects of patient care, and the nurses at Huntington Hospital are always keeping the patient and their family’s needs at heart and find innovative ways to meet those needs. It’s that sense of empathic necessity that keeps their nurses motivated and constantly seeking ways to improve the care of their patients by refining nursing-sensitive indicators and keeping patients at the center.

Huntington Hospital nurses feel empowered knowing they have a voice that will be heard, and this support reinforces the culture of pride that is felt by all who work here. Megan, a registered nurse in the ER reaffirms just how special working at a Magnet organization feels, stating, “Working in a Magnet facility reminds me every day why I chose a career in nursing in the first place.” Shannell Blanchard, RN, also adds, “Working at Huntington Hospital has really changed the way I practice nursing. As a magnet hospital, they hold their nurses to standards of excellence and it has given me a foundation with which to be a better nurse. I am glad I made the choice to work here.”

Being recognized by Magnet is a tremendous honor.  The culture of excellence at Huntington Hospital continually inspires the highest level of safety, quality,  and patient and staff satisfaction. This fourth achievement affirms the foundation of nursing excellence they have built.Explore their nursing opportunities. (link to RN Huntington positions)

 Explore their career opportunities.