Archive for category: Nursing
Susan Knoepffler, chief nursing officer (CNO) and vice president of Nursing at Huntington Hospital, first started at Northwell Health as a new graduate registered nurse in the Neonatal ICU at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). She gained nursing experience at NSUH and beyond before returning to Northwell in 2008 as the patient care services director at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. From there, her career continued to grow and in 2011, Susan was appointed the CNO at Huntington Hospital.
“As I reflect back, I appreciate what an amazing and deeply rewarding journey my career has been,” says Susan. “My passion for patient care and desire to influence through leadership has led me to where I am today.”
Today, Susan uses the experience she has gained to lead the registered nurses at Huntington Hospital. Read more in our CNO Corner interview with Susan.
At Huntington Hospital, we are continuing the Magnet® journey as we prepare for our fifth designation. Currently, our documents are in final review with an anticipated site visit in the fall. We are incredibly proud of our four consecutive designations. This would not be possible without the visionary leaders, excellent outcomes and collaboration across all hospital disciplines. In our mission to promote and improve the health of individuals, families and communities, there will be a continued emphasis made on nursing research.
Nurses represent the frontline of healthcare. We strongly encourage and support personal and professional development, job satisfaction and retention. One example is our nurse mentorship program, established to support growth for new nurses in the hospital and nurses transitioning into a new role. The success of this program at Huntington Hospital is evident by the increase in certifications and advances into leadership positions, as well as newly formed, lasting relationships. This program also served as a foundation for the Northwell Health system-wide nurse leader mentor program.
2020 was a year like none other. The pandemic hit Huntington Hospital in March of 2020 and oddly enough (or not so oddly) the World Health Organization had proclaimed 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, honoring the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Little did we know that we would face an unprecedented crisis.
As healthcare workers we learn about preparing for disasters such as hurricanes and mass causality events, but we never prepared for an event like this. This pandemic struck with speed and an incredibly high acuity. Our nurses arrived to work with the fear of becoming sick and the fear that they would bring it home and make loved ones sick.
It became a time of rapid evolution that lasted for weeks as the volume of COVID positive patients climbed at an alarming rate. Although they did not want to be referred to as heroes, our nurses responded in a way that was “truly heroic.” They fought this pandemic with courage, compassion, creativity and resilience.
For all involved, the pandemic forced us to face the challenging situations and impacted us in countless ways. Some of which we may have yet to be recognized. It made us feel softer but stronger, cynical but more sincere, discouraged but hopeful, saddened but joyful, uncertain but wiser and alone but together. The importance is we stayed true to Northwell’s values: Truly Compassionate, Truly Innovative, Truly Ambitious, Truly Together and Truly Ourselves.
We are a hospital that provides comprehensive medical care in a community setting yet supported by the well-established Northwell Health system. There is an incredible sense of pride among all caregivers. The classic matrix model is evident in the integration and collaboration across the organization. The caregivers at Huntington Hospital truly embrace our mission: to improve the health and quality of life for the people and communities we serve by providing world-class service and patient-centered care.
Follow your heart, seize the next opportunity, and stay open to trying something new. Stop to enjoy the small precious moments when you know that you “made a difference” for a patient or their family member. If you are interested in further development, seek out a mentor. That relationship provides a guiding light for your journey ahead.
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When Lily Thomas, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, started her career as a nurse educator in nephrology at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in 1983, she hadn’t expected that her career journey would lead to her dream job in nursing research.
“At the time there were no formal positions assigned to nursing research,” says Dr. Thomas. “However, that never stopped me from my vision of creating a foundation for developing nursing research. I felt confident that I could seek mentorship from faculty and experts in the field.”
While working as a nurse educator, Dr. Thomas joined a Ph.D. program, eventually assuming the role of Chair of the Nursing Research Council at NSUH, and later was appointed as Chair of System Nursing Research Council. These roles helped her to build the nursing research capacity across the health system and provided the foundation she needed to take on the inaugural role of vice president, system nursing research.
Read our discussion with Dr. Thomas below to learn about the important role of nursing research and its focus on care delivery and patient outcomes.
As nursing research and evidence-based practice continues to evolve across the health system, we are focusing on three key areas: Creating new knowledge through research; facilitating evidence-based practice (EBP), and building capacity and competency for research and EBP at the system’s sites. The overarching goal of research and EBP projects are to enhance patient care and outcomes. Our studies focus on patient safety, the impact of nursing interventions, symptom management, identifying and validating observed phenomenon and response to illness and treatment. Currently we are also working on some studies related to COVID-19.
Our team completed three studies after the initial surge in early 2020 and other studies are in progress. The research team at Northwell’s Institute for Nursing (IFN) and two of our hospitals conducted studies to understand the experiences of nurses and nurse leaders during the pandemic, impact of their deployment, as well as nurses coping during the pandemic.
Studies showed that nurses were motivated to work during the crisis because of their commitment to nursing and overall belief that nursing was a calling. Nurses never felt like they were doing enough for patients especially because they saw little recovery. Fortunately, the front line nurses used different coping mechanisms to remain resilient, and peer and team support mitigated feelings of being overwhelmed and powerless. Most nurses looking back on the care they provided during this period, described ways they had grown both personally and professionally. Quantitative studies are planned to utilize these results to explore programs that will ensure the physical and mental health of nurses.
Nursing research builds the knowledge base and science for practice, promotes excellence in nursing care, and impacts quality health outcomes. Our practice has evolved from a research-based practice to evidence-based practice (EBP). EBP combines the best evidence from research, the tacit knowledge successfully utilized in practice (clinician expertise) and patient values, and is utilized for problem-solving and clinical decision making.
We also have several sites that have Magnet Designation® (Magnet Designation is awarded by the American Nursing Credentialing Center in recognition of nursing excellence); and all the health system sites are on a journey to obtain the Magnet designation or re-designation. Meeting the Magnet criteria for Nursing Research and EBP are essential for this designation; the research team continues to prepare and partner with the sites to meet the criteria.
Gaining the appropriate knowledge and experience for nursing research will help in preparing for the role. That may include joining research teams as research nurses to becoming a nurse researcher/scientist, an EBP mentor or research faculty. My recommendation is to start participating in research-related activities as soon as your interest arises. At Northwell, this can be done by reaching out to site nursing research and EBP council members or nurse scientists/researchers. Nursing students can seek the mentorship of their faculty as well. Participating in research activities will give you an opportunity to understand research and assess if the role is right for you. Along with the experience it is essential to complete doctoral preparation for nurse researcher/scientist roles.
Northwell Health provides limitless opportunities for a rewarding career and personal and professional growth. The culture at Northwell is inspiring and empowering with unlimited opportunities for career changes or advancement. There are tremendous learning opportunities at Northwell provided through our IFN, Center for Learning and Innovation, and support for obtaining academic degrees through tuition reimbursement or for mentorship from nursing peers and leaders. My career is an exemplar —in 2013, I was inducted as a Fellow to the American Academy of Nursing because the work at Northwell qualified me to obtain this honor.
Follow your heart! It is important to find meaning in your work and enjoy what you do. Identify what you want and the preparation you would need to reach your goal. Your dream will help you stay the course. Seek mentorship and create a plan to work toward your goal; however, be open to different paths that could lead you there. Learn to persevere! Never lose sight of your goal and celebrate what you achieve!
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This March marked one year since Northwell treated the first case of COVID-19. While it has been a challenging year for all of us, the perseverance of our frontline heroes, the power of science, and the hope of ongoing vaccinations and innovative treatment plans brings us comfort for the path ahead.
The most difficult challenge has been coping with the grief associated with the loss of our colleagues, friends, family members and those in our communities. From March 9 to March 14, Northwell held remembrance activities to “spread the light” for our fallen team members and those who we have lost due to COVID-19. New York City – the epicenter of this pandemic – has also declared Sunday, March 14, as a Day of Remembrance to honor everyone we’ve lost.
To spread the light throughout our remembrance week, team members were encouraged to wear blue in memory of those who worked at Northwell and as a show of solidarity for our Northwell community. On site, our chaplains hosted moments of silence and remembrance circles to help our team members find meaning, hope, connection and comfort through togetherness regardless of religious affiliation. Spread the light activities were also available at our facilities, allowing team members to reflect by writing messages on remembrance boards, prayer cards, and lighting luminary bags to symbolize fallen team members.
Team members and their families also continued to spread the light in our communities over the past week as they organized light parades in their neighborhoods, created luminary bags and took a moment to pause to reflect with their loved ones.
During our remembrance week, Northwell also held an organization-wide Town Hall featuring our President and CEO, Michael Dowling, and other senior leaders, to connect our 75,000 team members and speak about the strength and sacrifice of our healthcare heroes. In addition to honoring those we have lost, it also recognized the efforts and unwavering dedication of our team members throughout the pandemic. From March 12 to March 14, our corporate headquarters in New Hyde Park, New York was illuminated in blue to honor our fallen team members and recognize the enduring courage and spirit of our Northwell community.
Throughout these challenging times, Northwell has also supported our team members by expanding benefits, offering prayer groups and providing well-being resources from our Team Lavender, a program at Northwell that provides staff with an opportunity for timely emotional, spiritual and physical support. These resources, such as Tranquility Tents, which offered areas of respite for our hospital workers during their shifts, and opportunities for 1:1 counseling through our Employee Assistance Program, have allowed for us to care for our team members as they delivered care to our communities. A 24/7, free and confidential, emotional support call center for all team members and their families also provided emotional well-being experts to answer their questions, provide additional resources, or just listen.
At Northwell Health, we will continue to battle this pandemic, look forward to brighter days, and support our team members.
We will always remember our brave fallen team members and their families. Join us as we spread the light.
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South Shore University Hospital (SSUH), formerly Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, NY, has delivered award-winning heart care for years. And they didn’t become one of the best by maintaining the status quo. By investing in their facilities, recruiting top talent, and delivering innovative treatments to their patients, they’ve become the best through transformation—and it was all for the community where we live, love and belong.
With the growth our cardiac program, that means more opportunities for registered nurses and techs to grow their career at Northwell as part of a team that “mends broken hearts.” Currently we are recruiting for team members in the Cath Lab to join the South Shore family.
Why should you join us? Here are eight reasons:
At SSUH, we know the way to provide the best programs and care to our patients is to develop and invest in our team members. Along with offering benefits such as our tuition reimbursement program and training (including at our Center for Learning and Innovation), our team members have the opportunity to grow within our team.
See the growth that Rachael Haddock, MSN, RN, CVRN-BC, and director of Patient Care Services in Cardiology/Interventional Radiology at SSUH, has grown at Northwell.
Along with being a Level 2 trauma center, SSUH is proud to have two Cath Labs, two EP labs and one Hybrid lab that is shared by Cath, Neuro and Peripheral Vascular teams. Additionally, we have a 17-bedded holding space located adjacent to the labs that helps to improve the patient and team member experience.
SSUH is proud to have been ranked by Healthgrades as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery for the past three years, recognizing our superior clinical outcomes in heart bypass surgery and heart valve surgery.
Mission: Lifeline is the American Heart Association’s national initiative to advance the system of care for patients with high-risk, time sensitive diseases that could be life threatening, such as severe heart attacks. SSUH achieved this distinction for its fast response time in consistently getting patients to the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab where blood flow can be restored.
SSUH was ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s High Performing Hospitals in Bypass and Heart Failure, scoring significantly better than the national average based on criterion including patient outcomes, volume, advanced heart programs and more.
SSUH has not only been nationally recognized for our heart valve repair and replacement surgeries, but also our surgeons have been ranked among the best in New York.
The accolades aren’t the only reason our team members love working at SSUH–they love our culture as well. At Northwell, we foster an environment where our teams feel supported and encouraged to be Truly Ourselves. Our BERGs allow team members to network across our entire organization in groups with specific business priorities that interest them, helping them discover new ways to have a major impact on the communities we serve.
There are many benefits to being part of New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer for Northwell’s vast cardiac network of doctors, registered nurses, techs and more. That includes opportunity for career movement across our many hospitals and physician practices who are all working together with the same mission: to Raise Heath.
Discover a career well cared for among the award-winning cardiac team at South Shore University Hospital. Explore our openings today!
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For Brian Uster, a medical/surgical registered nurse at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH), nursing was the perfect next step after serving as a U.S. Marine.
“I always felt the urge to help others,” says Brian. “That is why I first joined the Marine Corps and volunteered with the Fire Department. Healthcare allows you the opportunity to directly affect other people in a good way.”
Brian served six years in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) as a foreign security force adviser where he helped train and educate foreign militaries while working through interpreters when necessary. He also served as an anti-tank missile-man before being honorably discharged as a Sergeant.
After his service with the Marines, Brian knew that nursing was the next way he could continue to help and protect his community. For Brian, Northwell Health was also the perfect place to pursue this next mission. “I chose Northwell because of the reputation this system has. Northwell has high standards and expects nothing but the best from their employees,” says Brian. “It’s also very veteran friendly. At Northwell, I’ve found a comfortable environment with many different career paths and opportunities.”
And Brian’s experience in the Marines taught him many lessons that he takes with him every day to the hospital. Beyond the reinforcement of the importance of teamwork and commitment, being responsible for creating, managing, and implementing training also provided Brian with leadership skills he uses today as a nurse. But for Brian, one of the most important abilities he gained was the knowledge of how to work in any situation, with anyone. “In the Marines, I learned to work under pressure and in extreme environments,” says Brian. “Working as a foreign security force adviser also taught me how to work with people with all different backgrounds.”
Today, the teamwork Brian experienced in the Marines is something he still feels within his team at NSUH. “I love the environment and the people I work with,” says Brian. “Whenever one of us falls behind, the other nurses help out right away.”
Discover your next mission at Northwell Health. Learn about our commitment to veterans here.
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Cardiovascular professionals at Northwell Health work diligently every day to keep our patients’ hearts healthy and strong. Whether they are technologists, EKG or monitor technicians, supervisors, registered nurses or another role, their hard work provides outstanding patient care that creates a positive impact in our community.
Meet some of our cardiovascular professionals:
As a nurse in a Cath Lab, Maryann assists in performing diagnostic and interventional procedures through continuous patient monitoring, and administration of medications, and patient education. “My absolute favorite aspect of working as a cardiovascular professional at Northwell is how we are as a team,” says Maryann. “We are cohesive, committed to one purpose with a bond that enables us to always optimize our patient outcomes. In addition, we serve our community by providing emergency care 24 hours a day, to prevent life-changing, long-lasting heart disease.”
Suvada has grown into her role as a registered nurse in both the Cath Lab and the Recovery Suite for eight and a half years at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. In her role, she works in the lab for scheduled and emergent procedures and works in recovery for the pre- and post-patient experience. “Working in the lab can be very exciting,” says Suvada. “Professionally, there is instant gratification when we are in the lab, a vessel is opened, and the patient is no longer having severe chest pain. I am always learning and growing as a professional. It is so rewarding to contribute to the health and wellness of our patients both acutely in the lab and by teaching in the recovery room.”
As a supervisor in Cardiac Services, Michael’s role consists of the day-to-day operation and staffing of the technologists in the Cath Lab, along with scheduling, training, and maintaining equipment quality. “My favorite thing about working as a cardiovascular professional is being able to help people and make a difference in their lives,” says Michael. “Working in healthcare can be one of the most rewarding career choices there is. I consider myself very fortunate to work in a field that is always changing and growing with new technologies, capabilities and ideas.” Michael feels the impact of cardiovascular professionals on the community is indescribable. “The service we provide to the community is second to none. Not only do we help during their procedure, but we can often help post procedure.”
As an invasive cardiovascular technologist, Leslie helps greet patients, set them up in the room and explain procedures. His role includes operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting a variety of diagnostic and invasive equipment. Cardiovascular technologists are tasked with maintaining a sterile field while preparing the table and equipment before and during procedures. “I feel the work we do in the Cath Lab can change our patients’ outlook on their health,” says Leslie. “We have seen patients take that mindset back to their family and friends and become the foundation for them to want to be aware of their cardiac health as well.”
Working as an invasive cardiovascular technologist in the Cath Lab, Kathi works closely with physicians to examine and treat patients with cardiac diseases. She circulates, supports, and assists all aspects of invasive cardiology. “My favorite thing about working as a CVT is being a part of a talented team of individuals who can literally fix a broken heart. The satisfaction that comes along with helping someone get through a nerve-wracking experience is immeasurable,” says Kathi.
Recently opening in September 2020, the Cardiac Cath/EP Lab in Northern Westchester Hospital is a great addition to Northwell. Patricia was initially tasked with opening the lab and developing all aspects related to operations. “The impact on our community has been significant in that our patients can now obtain this care closer to home,” says Patricia. “Additionally, with the implementation of our STEMI program, they can receive emergent treatment at their doorstep, saving time and cardiac muscle.” Patricia explained that her team’s favorite thing about working as a cardiovascular professional is the ability to deliver quality cardiac care utilizing advanced technology to patients and achieving great outcomes.
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When Vanessa Baral, BSN, RN, and Herwyn Silva, BSN, RN, CEN, first met over a decade ago, their shared nursing experience helped them to bond. Today, their love for nursing—now as Northwell employees—continues to complement their love for each other as they begin their married life together.
Though they work in separate Northwell hospitals and units, Vanessa in the ICU at LIJ Forest Hills and Herwyn in the Emergency Department at Lenox Hill Hospital, they appreciate how their shared profession helps them to understand each other on a different level. This unique insight became especially valued as they both cared for COVID-19 patients at their hospitals at the start of the pandemic last March.
“Both of us being RNs is very comforting, especially in these different times. In the ICU and ED, we work with some of the sickest patients and see things most people don’t see or go through,” says Herwyn. “Having that support person at home who knows what you go through at work is very comforting.” Vanessa agrees adding, “We can support each other whenever we have a rough day at work or at home knowing that we have been there and that we are doing it together.”
And while they delivered care to our patients during this unprecedented time, Vanessa and Herwyn also made the difficult decision to put their wedding plans, originally scheduled for May 17, 2020, on hold to ensure the safety of their family and loved ones. Life, however, had other plans in store for them. In a celebration of their work as healthcare heroes on the front-lines, Vanessa and Herwyn were given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their wedding ceremony live on the Today Show on June 25th, 2020, ordained by Hoda Kotb herself.
After their wedding, they continued to deliver compassionate patient care and today they also serve in another role as nurses: working at our vaccination sites. Distributing vaccines allows them to deliver hope to patients in the form of a brighter tomorrow while working side-by-side.
“Distributing vaccines is an upbeat and happy moment we share with the community and a break from the difficult situations we sometimes deal with in the ICU and ED,” says Herwyn. “We vaccinated people who were looking forward to finally being able to see grandchildren, to essential workers and group home residents. These moments, full with nerves for some, are also filled with moments of hope and happiness.”
“The past year has been rough for everyone but being a duo has made it easier,” says Vanessa. “From working the frontlines as nurses, getting married live on tv during a pandemic, and now vaccinating our communities, we are happy to share our story with people to just spread joy in times when it feels more needed than ever.”
Discover a career well cared for in the community where you live, love and belong. Apply to Northwell Health today!
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When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit New York, nurses from around the country came to New York to fight on the front-lines alongside our healthcare heroes. Now as the pandemic surges in other states, the nurses at Northwell are returning that same support.
Recently Northwell Health sent 12 intensive care and medical-surgical nurses to Michigan-based Henry Ford Health System to help the clinicians as they cared for a rising number of patients in their system suffering from COVID. This staff-sharing initiative occurred as part of a newly formed strategic alliance between the health systems. In addition to staff-sharing, this alliance allows for collaborative emergency planning and an exchange of best practices, all in an effort to strengthen our ability to fight the new coronavirus and support the health and well-being of our communities.
Northwell’s intensive care and medical-surgical nurses are the first to participate in staff-sharing under this alliance, volunteering for the program to share their knowledge, skills, and provide a boost of morale and support to the nurses currently delivering care during a resurgence of COVID-19.
Fritz-Gerald Lochard, executive program director with the HR Office of the Chief People Officer, first saw the benefits of staff-sharing when he became directly involved with the clinicians who came to support our health system last spring from University of Rochester Medical Center and Intermountain Health in Utah. When he was offered the opportunity to lead the group of nurses on deployment to Michigan, he accepted immediately.
“I felt it was my duty to ensure that our Northwell nurses would have everything they needed while they were leaving their own families behind for a couple of weeks to help save lives,” says Fritz-Gerald. “The entire experience for me personally was a remarkable one for a number of reasons. The individuals at Henry Ford were spectacular and made sure that the nurses and myself had everything we needed to be successful while we were there. The administrative team and staff we all encountered were welcoming and supportive.”
The importance of strategic alliances has only become more apparent throughout the pandemic. As the disease spread, many health systems were severely impacted by staff shortages to support their clinical needs. Staff-sharing not only provides a way to increase staffing in a crisis quickly and efficiently, but provides vital knowledge sharing in an unprecedented time and a boost of morale for both teams.
“Deploying to Henry Ford Health System was extremely rewarding,” says Gina Zinzi, BSN, RN-BC, an ICU nurse at Northern Westchester Hospital. “It felt great to assist a fellow healthcare team who needed an extra set of hands. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“I was so excited to be asked to go to Michigan and help out fellow nurses, knowing how much it meant to my ICU when we had nurses from out of state volunteer to come help us,” says Marisa Allen, a registered nurse in Interventional Radiology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center who was asked to deploy due to her ICU background. “The staff at Henry Ford Hospital was so welcoming and it was a great experience getting to work at their facility.”
To Fritz-Gerald, strategic alliances like this only serve as proof that our organization is willing to exhaust all options to ensure those on the front-lines had the support they needed day in and day out. “I think in the environment that we are in now with COVID, it can only assist us in how we deliver care to our respective communities while making our organizations innovative and agile,” says Fritz-Gerald. “I truly learned a lot and I would recommend anyone who has the opportunity to visit another health system to take it!”
Discover a career well cared for at Northwell Health. Apply today!
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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) are an invaluable part of our patient care teams, safely administering anesthetics to patients in our operating rooms. Whether they’re delivering anesthesia inside hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, obstetric units, or outpatient clinics, CRNAs enjoy autonomy and an abundance of opportunity in their professional roles at Northwell Health.
One of our incredible CRNAs is Arlene del Mundo, senior nurse anesthetist at Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH) & Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital (MEETH). Arlene was inspired to pursue nursing at a young age.
“My desire to pursue a career in nursing was influenced by my younger brother’s turbulent battle with leukemia. At the time, my youth prevented me from understanding the extent of his illness. However, I was able to recognize the impact of the nursing team that supported him throughout his treatment,” says Arlene. “The commitment of the nursing team serves as my inspiration to continuously improve healthcare.”
After seven years of oncology and critical care nursing, Arlene pursued a career as a CRNA, seeking a higher degree and more autonomy. Her Northwell journey started in 2019 as a nurse anesthetist at LHH and MEETH where she provided an impactful anesthetic experience to patients during their most vulnerable moments. Now in her current role as senior nurse anesthetist, she enjoys being in a position to leverage the lessons learned throughout her career to provide quality patient care and innovative change in healthcare.
This opportunity came sooner than anticipated with the COVID-19 pandemic surging in New York City shortly after her promotion. To help with the new needs, Arlene transitioned her usual responsibilities to lead the CRNA COVID-19 intubation team and otherCRNAs, and to collaborate with intensive care units to provide advance clinical care at LHH.
“Numerous challenges were faced as we had never seen a pandemic of this magnitude,” says Arlene. “Fortunately, teamwork and dedication permitted beneficial improvisations and the process of resolving these challenges has provided greater insight into the fundamentals of effective leadership.” The experience of pandemic and her role of leadership throughout impacted Arlene, inspiring her to begin the venture of earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 2021 with the support of Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program.
Working at the largest private employer and healthcare provider in New York State, Arlene has found ample opportunity and resources to support her desire to continue to grow professionally and she encourages others to do the same. “Our CRNAs provide anesthetic care between LHH and MEETH which are both renowned for premier patient care and innovative medicine. I’m proud to work at these Magnet® facilities that offer a wide diversity of procedures,” says Arlene. “It is an exciting time to join our rapidly expanding CRNA team as we strive to provide high quality patient care driven by innovation and best practices.”
Get moving with a CRNA career at Northwell Health. Apply today!
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Though this year’s Northwell Health Golden Ticket Nursing Showcase may have looked different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our commitment to educating and impacting future nursing careers was stronger than ever.
To ensure the safety of our team members, students and communities, the 2021 Nursing Showcase pivoted from our traditional in-person format to an exciting and engaging virtual event. But this wasn’t your typical zoom meeting – the more than 730 junior and senior nursing students from 50+ schools had a full day of interactive events to choose from!
The morning started in our auditoriums where students heard from senior leadership, including Northwell’s President and CEO Michael Dowling who had a candid conversation with four of Northwell’s nurse heroes. After learning about our culture of nursing excellence and discovering how they could prepare for their own career journeys, students attended panels to learn about our Nurse Externship Program and new graduate nursing careers including our Nurse Fellowship Program with live Q&A. Depending on their year of study, panels connected students with fellow nurses who had worked as externs over the summer or new nurses who had been in their shoes not long ago.
After the morning sessions, students had the opportunity to explore our virtual Careers Expo and Culture Center. In the Careers Expo, students could virtually chat one-on-one with nurses across 24 specialties at our booths. It was a unique opportunity to learn about specialties that aren’t taught in nursing school, such as Perioperative, Teleheath and Home Care, or to discover what it is like to work in areas such as Emergency, Critical Care, Pediatrics, Float, Case Management, Women’s Health, and many more.
But at Northwell, we know a great nursing career goes beyond just specialty. In the Culture Center, students could see what makes Northwell Health unique – and why we’ve been ranked on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list. Here nursing students could explore 13 booths, connecting with Northwell team members to learn about the offerings of our Institute for Nursing, our commitment to diversity, inclusion and health equity, employee wellness, our Magnet© journey and more through presentations, live interactive trivia, videos and more.
And that’s not all! Throughout the afternoon, students were able to attend 11 Breakout Sessions. These optional sessions offered an in-depth look at some of our specialties such as the Perioperative Information Session, informed students how to optimize their resume and interview tips from our recruiters, or explored nursing career journeys from bedside nurse to leadership and more. Our final Breakout Sessions of the day also gave students the unique chance to earn Contact Hours. Through a partnership with our Institute for Nursing team, juniors and seniors alike could earn credits for attending the Navigating as a New Graduate Nurse or Caring through COVID-19 including Emergencies and Codes sessions.
Throughout the day students could also interact with other elements in within the platform. Whether it was visiting our robust video library to watch our team members talk about what it is like to work at Northwell or bringing Northwell leadership directly into their home through augmented reality, there were so many ways to explore nursing within our event. And every action helped students earn points as they competed to win prizes, including gift cards. Additionally, students could submit their photo to our virtual mosaic of attendees – a way to be together despite the unprecedented circumstances.
No matter what the next year holds, at Northwell Health we know the future of nursing shines bright!
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Meet Vincent Thorpe, nurse manager of the operating room unit at Glen Cove Hospital. Vincent’s career growth within Northwell Health highlights the amazing opportunities for personal and professional development possible within our health system.
In 2012, Vincent started his career as a registered nurse in the operating room at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). He was hired for the overnight shift, where he gained tremendous experience and worked for five years. During his tenure, he continued to grow and became a charge nurse from 2014 to 2017. In 2017, he was promoted to assistant nurse manager to cover weekend shifts before he transferred to Glen Cove Hospital in 2018 to work as a nurse manager in their operating room unit, where he works today.
“What I appreciate about Northwell is that I’ve been able to grow within the organization. Northwell provided me with the skills to accept a leadership role and help staff members grow to their potential,” says Vincent.
Vincent’s role as a nurse manager for the operating room consists of supervising nursing staff and overseeing patient care. He assists with interviewing applicants for open positions within the department, coaching new and junior staff, conducting performance evaluations, and coordinating staff schedules. Additionally, Vincent has the important role of ensuring that the operating room is clean, sanitary and properly equipped for surgeries.
For Vincent, his love of the operating room comes from how unique it is in its fast-paced and ever-changing environment. “My favorite thing about the operating room is that it is both challenging and rewarding. I particularly enjoy the detailed nature of the unit, learning about new procedures and seeing firsthand how technology in healthcare continues to transform the way we approach medical treatment. Currently, Glen Cove Hospital is expanding its surgical procedural offerings and I’m excited to be a part of the OR’s evolution.”
Within his current role, Vincent also assists in the professional development of his team. His role allows him to train, challenge, coach and connect with his colleagues to support their professional growth and goals. “Nursing is my calling, it’s a dream of mine to inspire others.” His own experiences as a nurse has allowed him to grow into a leadership position and to help others follow in his footsteps.
“My career has taught me to expect the unexpected. The key to staying grounded is to think critically, communicate effectively and trust in your team’s abilities,” says Vincent. “I am able to plan ahead and emphasize a positive, solutions-oriented mindset. My advice is to always touch base with team members regularly, ensure everyone knows what is expected of them, see the plan of action through and circle back, after-the-fact, to recap in team meetings.” His leadership has helped the operating room at Glen Cove Hospital be recognized on our employee engagement survey as a Tier 1 highly engaged unit in both 2019 and 2020. Also, during the pandemic, the Office of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve recognized Vincent as a Patriotic Employer for his support of employee participation in America’s National Guard and reserve force.
His tireless commitment to improving the operating room and to his team has cultivated a supportive environment to deliver care that is as compassionate as it is innovative. “As the OR nurse manager, I’m proud of the hard work and dedication that my colleagues and I have shown in our professions and our commitment to patient advocacy. As a unit, we come together to provide the best patient care possible.”
Interested in joining the OR team at Glen Cove Hospital? Apply today!
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Our home care professionals at Northwell Health provide a comfortable and healing space for our patients and their families. We’re proud to recognize our amazing team of nurses, therapists, aides, social workers and more, who are making a difference.
Meet some of our team members in home care and learn their favorite thing about their career below:
As a registered nurse, Danielle provides a full range of care to her patients from educating them on their disease, providing treatment to their wounds and offering emotional support. “I love being able to provide a sense of security and calmness to a patient and their families,” says Danielle. “We provide an “extra set of eyes” and ears for the doctors so that we can continue to provide the care that they need as they return to their home.”
Working as a registered nurse and coordinator of care, Steven performs initial admission visits to patients for the home care program. In this role he works with physicians and colleagues in the home care interdisciplinary team, such as physical and occupation therapists and social workers to plan the patient’s course of care. “Helping patients to recover from sickness brings the most satisfaction to my work,” Steve says. “I like to assist physicians in treating patients with chronic and complex wounds. Northwell Health has helped me in becoming a certified wound care specialist.”
As a physical therapist, Thomas plays a vital role in providing evaluations of function, teaching exercises and skills to better improve movement and activity performance for his patients. “Providing physical therapy in the home is fantastic because of the one-on-one time we spend with patients,” says Thomas. “We see directly the environment with which patients must interact and can make meaningful recommendations to facilitate successful completion of their daily tasks. We work with patients to develop flexibility, strength, balance, endurance and coordination and suggest movement strategies and environmental adaptations to help them achieve what is most important to them.”
Working as a registered nurse, Yvonne facilitates a safe transition from the hospital and rehab to the community. She ensures the patient is safe in the home, taking medications correctly, and educates them on their disease and symptoms. “My goal is for all my patients to achieve their maximum independence in a timely fashion,” says Yvonne. “My favorite part of home care is the variety. No two days are ever the same and I have time to develop a relationship with patients and their families. It is extremely satisfying to discharge a patient from home care, and they are able to resume their previous lifestyle.”
Join our team of compassionate home care professionals. Apply today!
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The Magnet Recognition Program® by the American Nurses Credentialing Center designates organizations around the world as nursing leaders in education and development and in exceptional care delivered to patients. Often considered the gold standard for nursing excellence, many of Northwell Health’s hospitals are on the journey to earning this elite status.
We’re proud to announce that as of this month, Northwell now has eight Magnet-designated hospitals in our system. The road to Magnet isn’t easy, it takes a lot of work, dedication, preparation and leadership. It’s an accomplishment that wouldn’t be possible without the nurses and nurse leaders at all of our facilities.
Starting as a registered nurse in the Emergency Department (ED), Andrew Wong, MS, RN, AGACNP-BC, CEN, CPEN, CCRN-K, has grown his nursing career at Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH). After becoming an ED nurse educator for LHH and Lenox Health Greenwich Village, Andrew’s career continued to grow. Today, he’s a Clinical Impact nurse practitioner with the Critical Care team – a role he helped create himself. When LHH started its journey toward earning the prestigious designation, Andrew’s work played a vital role.
As part of the designation, Andrew’s evidence-based practice project to create a new Clinical Impact NP role earned an exemplar by the Magnet Commission. For Andrew, it was a true culmination of the hard work throughout the last couple of years, as well as a reflection of the support Northwell provides in investing in their team members. This project was a dream for Andrew, who had felt this role was a vital addition to provide resources to his team while improving patient outcomes.
Since the creation of the Clinical Impact NP role, LHH has seen evidence of increased collaboration within the multidisciplinary team and increased standard of critical care to patients who require it. Today, LHH now has two Clinical Impact NPs.
“When I was watching the designation call and heard about the Clinical Impact Nurse Practitioner program being named one of the five exemplars, I immediately reflected on how we got there,” says Andrew. “Through mentorship, scholarship, and transformational leadership, our program was able to be successful and highlighted.”
Tameka Wallace, MSN-RN, CPAN, CCRN-K started her career at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) as a lobby service representative and then as a nursing assistant at NSUH where she was first inspired to pursue becoming a nurse. Tameka embraced her ambition and leadership ability and today is a nurse manager in the PACU at NSUH. As part of NSUH’s Magnet journey, Tameka was proud to serve as a Magnet Champion and Magnet Ambassador.
Both roles played a key importance in NSUH’s designation. As a champion, Tameka acted as a driving force of the Magnet Program at the hospital, utilizing the pillars of the process and implementing them within her units. And as an ambassador, Tameka and her team members networked with leaders from around the country to share best practices from other hospitals.. During the appraisal, Tameka also escorted a member from the appraisal team to different units, helping to showcase the hard work and accomplishments that the units prepared, a big honor during the Magnet review session.
It was these opportunities that helped Tameka to further develop her leadership skills and played a part in her promotion to nurse manager. Now as nurse manager, Tameka believes firmly in transformational leadership for her nurses. “Believing in the vision of the hospital and instilling it in your unit and your team inspires them to embrace it and work for it,” says Tameka. “This journey has taught me that involving clinical nurses at every opportunity is very important. In addition to support and nurse empowerment, as leaders we must ensure agility and the ability to facilitate innovations throughout an organization.”
Now as part of the re-designation team, Tameka is part of NSUH’s team, working to ensure re-designation. “I learned that Magnet is not something you get, but something you are. It’s something to be proud of and recognizes your nursing excellence. That is what makes the journey worthwhile.”
Join the nursing teams committed to delivering excellence at our hospitals. Apply today!
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Lisa Peters, MBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, CCRN, started her registered nurse career at Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH) with a passion in caring for others and a drive for making a difference. Today, decades later, her passion and drive are alive as ever.
Gaining valuable experience at each step of her career, Lisa began as a clinical registered nurse in medical/surgical, step-down, and the ICU departments, and grew in her role to nurse manager for the surgical stepdown/ICU. Her ambition was welcomed because at Northwell we are championed to think beyond our jobs and envision a long career path ahead of us. That’s just one reason why the health system has been named a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®.
Northwell takes pride in its employees by equipping them with the resources and support they need to reach their fullest potential, including continuing their education. For Lisa, that was a dream come true. Since starting with Northwell, she has benefitted from our tuition reimbursement and paid certification programs. “I love my career here at Northwell because it has afforded me many opportunities to grow personally and professionally,” says Lisa. “I have been able to complete my BSN and my MBA in addition to my NE-BC and CCRN through programs offered or supported by Northwell.”
As compassionate as she is ambitious, Lisa finds these opportunities are the perfect way to help give even more to her patients. Along with a commitment to growth, she values that Northwell encourages interdisciplinary collaboration that results in positive patient outcomes. She says, “Northwell supports us in being our best selves and this in turn allows us to be our best for our patients.” Being our best and true selves is a core value at Northwell and it goes beyond who you are as a professional. Named Best Health System for Diversity by DiversityInc., Northwell’s mission is to create an environment where employees feel embraced regardless of their backgrounds or identities. This in effect impacts the greater community because our workforce is representative of it.
Lisa’s work in helping to transform care, optimize patient satisfaction, and create better patient outcomes through teamwork and service excellence, has not gone unnoticed throughout our organization. Lisa received the Distinction in Nursing Leadership Award. Now as nurse manager in the surgical stepdown/ICU at LHH, Lisa is leading and guiding other registered nurses through their own career journeys. “I have a passion for nursing at Northwell because of my own growth, but also because Northwell supports my ability to foster the same growth in others. Anyone who has the desire to grow is nurtured.”
When asked why she loves Northwell Health, her answer was simple. “Our values are not just words on a banner; we actually live by them,” she says.
Find a nursing career well cared for at Northwell Health. Apply today!
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Photo: Mary Curran meets with Dora Kakurieva (patient care associate), Gerty Lahens (clerical support associate) and Nadine Simmons-Ziegler, RN, (director of Patient Care Services) at LIJFH (left to right). LIJFH was at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic and our team embraced this challenge to care for our community in its darkest time of need. Moreover, 2020 was also the Year of the Nurse – a year that became truly defined by the bravery, courage, and empathy of our teams, with the nurses and teams of LIJFH on the front line. Our nurses and teams truly transformed to become superheroes who provided exceptional, compassionate care for the mind, body, and souls of our community through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Utilizing science, teamwork, best practices and empathy, they care for our patients from the beginning of life, through the continuum of life, and assure dignity and respect at the end of life. I am extraordinarily proud and humbled to work beside this team of extraordinary nurses. The support our team was provided during COVID and COVID recovery was multifaceted. To begin, our teams were assured proper PPE and resources to keep them safe, their patients safe, and subsequently our community safe. Partnering with the Institute for Nursing and FlexStaff, we brought in traveler and per diem nurses to assist with the care needed for the influx of patients. Next, via our partnership with Human Resources and Employee Health Services, team members were afforded mental health resources onsite, during and after the peak of the pandemic. In addition, we employed leadership rounding to thank our teams, accepted food donations for our teams from our community, were inspired by 7 p.m. daily clap outs from the neighborhood, and participated in team wellness activities, such as rock painting and therapeutic cafés. LIJFH continually supports the growth and development and lifelong learning of our nurses. Professional development is supported and encouraged through certification preparation courses and monetary compensation for certification, tuition reimbursement, nurse residency programs, flexible scheduling to accommodate higher learning, continuing education opportunities and comprehensive orientation programs. We are in the process of our Pathway to Excellence Journey which began several years ago. Pathway to Excellence is the American Nurses Credentialing Center accreditation that globally recognizes positive practice environments that are committed to nursing workplace excellence. Our submission for this accreditation will be April 2021. We are incredibly proud of the clinical outcomes, shared governance structure and professional practices of our nursing teams and are looking forward to gaining this accreditation. Two top thoughts come to mind: growth opportunities and employee engagement via shared governance. The growth opportunities that Northwell offers are endless. Many nursing team members here will tell you that their leaders and mentors facilitated their growth, spirit of inquiry, and passion for the profession of nursing. Growth and mentorship are foundational to Northwell and many career pathways demonstrate that. In addition, employee engagement is facilitated via shared governance councils and structures. Here, team members at all levels of the organization have a voice in hospital decision making. Fundamentally, the teams are able to create and drive processes at the front line, for the front line. Northwell Health truly is a great place to work!
CNO Corner – A conversation with Mary Curran
Mary Curran, EdD, MSN, RN-BC decided to join Northwell Health while taking classes for her master’s degree where she was inspired by her professor, Maureen White, executive vice president and chief nurse executive at Northwell.
“The class was amazing,” says Mary. “I was so inspired by her leadership, passion for the profession of nursing, and the brand of Northwell, that I made the decision to work for this amazing leader and this progressive health system.”
Since starting at Northwell as a nurse educator at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) in 2011, Mary has built a career that is inspiring nurses with her passion and leadership the same way Maureen inspired her. She grew her career from assistant director of Nursing Education to Magnet program director and director of Patient Care Services at LIJMC. In 2015 she was ready for the next step in her career and transitioned to become chief nursing officer at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills (LIJFH) where she continues to lead her nurses and inspire growth, passion and development.
Read more in this CNO Corner interview with Mary.How have the nurses at LIJFH delivered exceptional and compassionate care during the COVID-19 outbreak?
What are some of the ways LIJFH has been supporting their nurses and other team members throughout the COVID-19 recovery?
How does LIJFH support their team in growth and development?
What exciting nursing initiatives are in the works at LIJFH?
We’re also proud to announce that we have successfully achieved the GOLD-level American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Beacon Award for Excellence. A Gold-Level Designation is the top honor of its kind nationally and recognizes the culture and accomplishments of the entire inter-professional team (including the critical care unit’s registered nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, PCAs, clerks, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, social workers, case managers, nutritionists and environmental services aides). Our GOLD-Level achievement is a phenomenal testament to the culture and outcomes of the ICU team and only 18 other hospitals in New York State have earned this designation.What makes Northwell a great place to work?
Interested in joining the nursing team at LIJFH? Apply today!
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Meet Patrick Barnes, a registered nurse in the Emergency Department (ED) Nurse Fellowship at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). Beginning his nursing career in October just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial months of his fellowship provided Patrick with the essential emergency nursing skills to work in a high-acuity, fast-paced emergency department- a unique start to his career.
The ED Nurse Fellowship helps new graduate and registered nurses who may be entering a new specialty gain invaluable skills before working on their own in the ED. As a fellow, Patrick spent the first 10-weeks of his career at Northwell’s Institute for Nursing with classroom education and simulation trainings to teach him the basics of working in the ED and prepare him to start working 12-hour shifts in December.
As our emergency rooms saw a temporary increase in patient volume as the pandemic peaked in March, Patrick found strength from the experienced team around him in the ED. “Our preceptors and the other nurses in our unit have helped the nurse fellows and other new hires prepare for increased patient flow during COVID-19,” says Patrick. “Though demands in our ED would change daily, myself and the fellows I started with were able to adapt tremendously thanks to their support. We would have daily briefs and education to reinforce skills that would keep us and our patients safe.”
While his fellowship continues, the format has changed to keep our team members safe while complying with COVID-19 restrictions. Trainings and certifications are now taught through virtual platforms or while practicing social distancing in small classroom settings. Throughout the unprecedented circumstances, Patrick has never felt the guidance from Northwell and his leadership waver.
With his fellowship now nearly over, Patrick feels prepared to start the next stages of his RN career at Northwell. “Within my first year as a nurse, Northwell has given me opportunities and training that I feel I may not have been offered elsewhere,” says Patrick. “It feels like a family once you begin to work with the team in the ED.”
Patrick’s passion for emergency nursing is the foundation for growing his career at Northwell. Working in the ED, he’s seen firsthand how our nurses have moved onto educator and management roles within the system. “It is exciting to see many of our team members move on to earn their MSN and have the support of the ED behind them,” says Patrick. “I am excited to see what the future holds at Northwell.”
Start your nursing career with Northwell Health. Learn more about our nurse fellowship programs.
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As COVID-19 peaked throughout New York, Northwell Health took the initiative to create a Reassignment Reserve team. This team was comprised of healthcare heroes from a variety of clinical and non-clinical backgrounds who were temporarily reassigned to other facilities that needed extra assistance.
Meet Rebecca Reinold, a practice registered nurse at Family Medicine of Lindenhurst, Long Island, who was redeployed as a nurse practicing bedside patient care for six weeks at Plainview Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a change from her day-to-day activities as a practice nurse but a role she embraced. “I felt an obligation to help as many people as I could—staff and patients alike,” says Rebecca.
Rebecca started her career at Northwell as a practice office associate at General Pediatrics of Garden City in 2014. After graduating college as a registered nurse, she started working at Lenox Hill Hospital on the Orthopedic Unit. She then transferred to North Shore University Hospital to the Orthopedic Trauma Unit and has since left bedside nursing to be a practice nurse at one of our many physician practices. She is also currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, at the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies with the assistance of Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program.
During a pandemic, learning opportunities and professional skills development is not top of mind, yet Rebecca’s growth came in many ways at this critical time. Before going back to bedside care, Rebecca attended a refresher course that Northwell provided for those who wanted to brush up on their in-patient skills. Rebecca says, “My fellow nurses were very supportive if I had any questions regarding current protocols and practices.”
To ensure our team members and patients were safely cared for, all team members were fit tested and Northwell had ample personal protection equipment (PPE) available. Because of this, Rebecca stated that she never felt that her safety was compromised whenever she was at work. This created a safe work environment that allowed team members to feel comfortable.
During her reassignment, Rebecca held many duties but one stood out in particular. “One of the most significant roles that I held during my reassignment at Plainview Hospital was being able to help patients communicate with their families through video on an iPad,” says Rebecca. She felt a strong connection to her patients in this role because she also had a family member hospitalized at Northwell due to COVID. Rebecca was extremely grateful knowing her family member was provided the utmost care and that she was able to connect with them in the same way she connected her patients to their families to ensure they were not alone.
Once her reassignment at Plainview Hospital ended, Rebecca was temporarily reassigned to another internal medicine office in Woodbury, Long Island. Once again she had to adapt to a new location and policies due to the pandemic. She was grateful to be supported by leadership and her new team was very welcoming. Her role resumed as a practice registered nurse where she worked alongside the lead nurse and together they completed daily tasks such as medication refills, hospital follow-up calls, immunizations and assisting patients in the practice and by phone.
On the last day of her reassignment, Rebecca was surprised with balloons and treats for a sweet goodbye. “During my last day at Woodbury, the staff thanked me with a beautiful card and balloons.” This was an experience that Rebecca will never forget. “I would highly recommend joining the Reassignment Reserve team. It is a great way for healthcare providers to show how dynamic and versatile they are.”
Northwell is an organization that offers endless opportunities to its employees for pursing personal and professional development. Rebecca says, “I cannot say enough about how this organization has given me every opportunity to be the best version of myself.”
Get moving with an exceptional nursing career like Rebecca’s. Learn more about nursing at Northwell Health.
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Overcoming his own adversities, veteran and registered nurse Andy is now giving back and caring for those who need it most.
Antranik “Andy” Garabedian, RN, BSN, is a registered nurse at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital (LIJVS) who uses his compassion to not only deliver care to our patients, but to our communities.
Prior to becoming a registered nurse, Andy first served in the U.S. Marines as a Private. “I think that people often forget that military missions are usually based off humanitarian issues first and that is why many military members join healthcare teams,” says Andy. “It’s a common thread, that leads to a common goal and the delivery method is embedded as a team. Northwell has been great to everyone I know who is a veteran across many different facilities because of the inclusivity. It is a feeling of belonging and that you matter at Northwell.”
After receiving a medical discharge from the Marines in the early 2000s, Andy later decided to find a new way to serve people as a nurse. “Nursing is a passion of mine because of my grandmother,” says Andy. “My grandmother became ill in 2004 and passed away. I took care of her for the last few weeks of her life and every patient interaction reminds me of her and why I am here. I came into nursing with her in my heart, the drive of a warrior and the passion for being there for those who need us.”
Today Andy still uses the vital experience he gained in the Marines while working as a nurse. “In the Marines I learned the ability to adapt to almost any situation and to press ahead and complete the tasks ahead – skills that have been invaluable to me as a nurse. What makes me a better team member is that I will jump in and help anyone who is struggling or needs that extra hand.”
Giving back beyond the bedside
On top of working at LIJVS as a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic, Andy was inspired in another way to help those struggling in our communities. “One random April day, I went into Manhattan to see how empty the city was at the height of the pandemic. Nobody was there except the homeless and hungry. I was homeless myself in my early twenties for about three years and I know how tough it is on a regular day, but add in a pandemic and the homeless people I encountered were really struggling.”
Doing what he could that day, Andy purchased meals, water bottles, drinks, socks and more, for the individuals he encountered but he knew there was more that could be done to help take care of our communities. Within 24 hours, Aggregate Hearts was born – a charity created to focus on supporting the sick, hungry and homeless during the pandemic.
Andy co-founded Aggregate Hearts with Dawna Scheich, a registered nurse with FlexStaff, and since their start they’ve felt support at Northwell. “Leadership has really been great,” says Andy. “In addition to helping me raise money, donating clothing and items, several members of the management team have physically joined us and came to deliver food and items with me. The overwhelming support of my colleagues and coworkers has been tremendous, from ideas of how to serve these individuals, to raising money.”
In addition to helping those in need, Andy and Aggregate Hearts have been sourcing food from several local businesses regularly to help support local and small businesses in our communities as well.
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Shanell Blanchard MPH, RN-OCN, started her nursing career in 2014 at Huntington Hospital as an oncology registered nurse. Throughout her career at Northwell she has achieved many accomplishments that have helped her to grow personally and professionally including winning the 2020 Nurse Excellence Award at her hospital. Get to know Shanell, why she achieved this prestigious award and how she is a Truly Ambitious Northwell team member.
In her role as an oncology nurse, Shanell embraces the connection she makes with her patients. “I get to go on a journey with them, and however happy or sad it may be, I would not want to do anything else,” she says. Shanell is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure they are well taken care of on that journey. Her role as an oncology nurse also allows her to be a preceptor and lecturer for nursing students in the Oncology Nursing Fellowship. In this capacity, she acts as a role model to new nurse graduates to help them achieve their career and clinical education goals.
Whether teaching or giving back in other ways, she is willing to help anyone in need and get involved with communities near and far. Shanell was offered the opportunity to travel to Texas after Hurricane Harvey with fellow Northwell team members to aid in their clinical efforts. She has also presented at the American Nursing Association conference in Orlando and she is a member of the Huntington Hospital’s Human Trafficking Task Force. “This experience really showed me how much teamwork, community and support means to Northwell,” she says.
While working at Northwell Shanell was motivated to pursue her dreams and obtain a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. With the help and encouragement of her managers she partnered with them to have a flexible work schedule so she could complete her studies successfully. Shanell has now taken her dedication to education a step further. She is currently enrolled in law school and looking toward continued growth within her career at Northwell. “I would like to work in leadership and hopefully work for corporate once I have my law degree,” she says.
Shanell’s career journey and who she is as a nurse, leader and individual is best exemplified with the Nurse Excellence Award that she received this year.
The award, which is peer and leadership-nominated, recognizes a nurse who inspires other nurses to provide the highest level of quality care and supports them in their development. Other areas considered for this prestigious achievement include, exemplary patient care, a positive image, community involvement, and committee contributions.
Shanell goes above and beyond for her unit and patients, as well as her community, and we are proud to call her a Northwell nurse hero. At Northwell we’re dedicated to patient care, teamwork and we are committed to our employees’ future by providing them with the resources to help them excel like Shanell.
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Kezia Varughese, a registered nurse, was thrilled to get the call that she was accepted into the Perioperative Nurse Fellowship Program at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH), especially given her interest in learning more about working in an operating room.
Kezia felt a strong connection with the OR when she had the opportunity to shadow a nurse during surgery at nursing school. The patient expressed to Kezia that she was anxious about the procedure, even though her surgery was low risk. She tried to comfort the patient by talking about good memories and laughing about stories of her children. “She told me how she hadn’t laughed like this in a very long time, and how grateful she was that I was there for her during this vulnerable time,” says Kezia.
That was the moment Kezia realized how it takes a special kind of person and team to be with those who are admitted for surgery. She knew this was a great opportunity to expand her knowledge and nursing skills into the operating room.
Kezia began the fellowship program during the COVID pandemic. She was told by the educators how the fellowship was conducted before COVID which typically included lectures one day and the following day would be a “skills” day in the hospital. The skills day is where fellows simulate what they learned the previous day during their lectures.
Then due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an entirely different approach to the program had to be taken—an approach that required a setting outside of the hospital. This took some creative thinking and teamwork to simulate real-life patient care scenarios using a makeshift operating room.
“Despite all the stress and hardships COVID-19 created, our educators exemplified the true meaning of dedication, resilience, and perseverance,” says Kezia. “The constant desire to serve as a resource and attend to everyone’s needs, especially in such a troubling time, is one of the main factors that helped me feel comfortable in a not-so comfortable time.”
The support and collaboration among the leadership team and other team members during the program was extraordinary. Not only were the nurse educators welcoming, but they encouraged the team to communicate freely and offer feedback when needed. Most of Kezia’s trainings was conducted with Microsoft Teams and various in-person simulation days that included socially distanced groups of four who collaborated in a makeshift operating room. Despite the non-traditional approach, Kezia explained that the COVID pandemic did not affect their ability to be well prepared.
In fact, Kezia gained insight as to what it’s like to work in a fast-paced environment, develop critical thinking skills, organizational and interpersonal skills, and how to work with a team to deliver exceptional patient care. The most important concept Kezia learned was how to fully understand and provide the upmost quality of care for her patient, while ensuring the patient’s safety. “The compassion and advocacy my educators demonstrated for us illustrated the care that their patients receive. This was the most eye-opening and inspiring aspect of the Perioperative Fellowship,” Kezia says.
“An OR nursing career is one of the most rewarding careers,” says Kezia. She encourages new graduates and nurses to participate in the fellowship. “It allows one to develop the professional nursing skills that textbooks and nursing school could never teach.”
No matter what our team members are facing, their priority is to deliver compassionate care for our patients. Kezia and her team at NSUH exemplify Northwell’s value of Truly Innovative!
The next step in your career is up to you! To learn more about being a part of our fellowship programs, click here.
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As COVID-19 restricted hospital visitations across the world, healthcare professionals at Northwell Health worked tirelessly to ensure patients knew they were never alone. With compassion as their motivation, our Northwell heroes on the frontlines quickly developed new ways to help keep patients connected with their families.
Nicole Ciccione, a nurse manager in the Pediatric Emergency Department at Cohen’s Children Medical Center, was moved by one of her colleague’s emails about the work being done at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Inspired to act, Nicole and her team brainstormed different ways that they could help their fellow Northwell team members while improving the patient experience. “I reached out to my surrounding community to ask for toiletries to help our patients look, feel and smell fresh, and for different devices to assist with making virtual connections,” she says. The overwhelming response of donations was a refreshing reminder to her of the impact Northwell has made on the community it serves. With the donation of toiletries, iPads and other electronic devices, team members volunteered to not only connect patients with their families, but to spend time connecting with the patients themselves.
“There have been difficult times, sitting with a patient and their family on FaceTime, while the patient takes their last breath, to happier moments of connecting a patient with their family soon after extubation. For team members, it has been very humbling and rewarding to be able to help out not only patients, but also our LIJ colleagues. It’s connected our teams,” Nicole says, “I am proud to be the nurse manager of an extraordinary team that is willing and ready to help when called on.”
Debra Clifford, director of patient care services at Plainview Hospital, worked remotely during COVID where she found new ways to support her nursing staff and connect with patient families. She says, “The COVID-19 pandemic offered me the opportunity to get back at the bedside and help patients and their families in a different way than my current role. Working from home, I started to make calls to families to alleviate the frontline staff of the overwhelming calls that they were receiving from families. I gave daily updates, connected them with other disciplines in an attempt to stay connected to their loved one in light of a unique situation that echoed ‘no visitors.’” It was these moments on the phone delivering comfort to patients’ families that helped her feel connected even as she herself was away from the hospital. “My inspiration for working remotely soon came from the families that I had the pleasure of talking to each day.”
Marcy Hohorst, a family liaison at Plainview Hospital, also found new ways to deliver care as her Perioperative Unit was temporarily converted into an Intensive Care Unit. Having had experience working as a registered nurse in past mission trips, Marcy was uniquely prepared to deliver comfort and compassion as she helped patients connect to their families virtually. “It was and always will be my honor to have been able to connect families with their loved ones during their brightest moments or their darkest hours. This position was simultaneously meaningful, rewarding and heartbreaking. Someday, when COVID-19 is a distant memory, I will be proud to say, ‘I was the nurse with the iPad.’”
A commitment to health never stops and these individuals, as well as other team members across our organization, have demonstrated that nothing can stop them from providing the care patients and their families need and deserve.
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When Margaret Duffy, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, started her Northwell Health career, it was as the senior administrative director for Nursing Education of Professional Development and Research at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). It was there where her skills and responsibilities grew as she also served as senior leadership for obstetrics and perinatal services.
In 2019, she was selected as the Chief Nursing Officer and Associate Executive Director of Patient Care Services at Cohen Children’s Medical Center (CCMC). Margaret leads her team with the same compassion that they deliver to Northwell’s smallest patients at CCMC.
Read more in this CNO Corner interview with Margaret.
The nursing team at Cohen’s has the opportunity to practice in a setting that is dedicated to solely meeting the needs of children and their families. Outstanding care is delivered with compassion and innovation. The entire interdisciplinary team is focused on the child and their loved ones while providing care in a technologically advanced environment.
I am so proud of the dedication and professionalism exhibited by the CCMC nurses throughout this ongoing pandemic. In response to the pandemic, several units within Cohen’s were converted to the care of adult patients. While caring for our own pediatric COVID population, many of our nurses supported their LIJ Medical Center (LIJMC) colleagues in the care of adult patients either here at Cohen’s or by taking assignments at LIJMC, LIJ Valley Stream Hospital and LIJ Forest Hills Hospital. In fact, some nurses volunteered to be completely redeployed at the height of the surge, working outside of their comfort zone and selflessly meeting the need for nursing care that they observed firsthand in these adult critical care units.
Since 2016, CCMC has been a Magnet recognized facility and we are currently on our journey to redesignation. We are proud to share that our written document scored in the excellence category and we are going straight to a “virtual” site visit! We hope to be celebrating our Magnet redesignation by the end of the year.
In early 2021, CCMC will be entering a new era with the opening of eight brand new operating rooms and a 27 bay pre-op and post-op combined recovery unit. As a Level 1 pediatric trauma center verified by the American College of Surgeons and ranking nine out of 10 specialties nationally by U.S. News & World Report, this expansion will give Cohen’s the opportunity to focus on the perioperative needs of children within the footprint of the children’s hospital. With this expansion, we have career opportunities in all areas of perioperative services for nurses interested in joining our pediatric surgical team. Operating Room fellowships are planned throughout the year for those interested candidates without perioperative experience.
Here at Cohen’s we are committed to creating an environment where our nurses can thrive professionally. Our master’s-prepared pediatric/neonatal educators are dedicated to providing frontline nurses with the education they need to excel in their roles. Professional development is encouraged and supported through programs that include a Clinical Ladder program, which recognizes nurses for professional growth, on-site academic progression programs, certification preparation, a nurse residency program for new graduate nurses, and nursing mentorships.
For me that’s simple – it’s the people! Northwell excels at identifying the best and the brightest to join our teams. The strength of Northwell as a health system was never more apparent than during the COVID-19 pandemic. The depth and breadth of the support for the healthcare team at every level was awe inspiring. On my daily rounds, many team members routinely expressed gratitude for having what they needed during this very challenging time. It was no surprise that Northwell was named as one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.”
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During COVID-19 there were many changes at each hospital to accommodate the increasing needs for patients. Many healthcare workers also went above and beyond to treat patients by leveraging their skills in different ways.
Vicki Weyhreter, a Northwell nurse for 27 years, and her team members at Huntington Hospital began to see changes on their PACU floor. Typically, the PACU floor is where the patients go to recover temporarily from anesthesia after surgery. With the pandemic and temporary suspension of many surgeries, the PACU floor was transformed into a COVID critical care unit and Vicki and her team members were there to help in new ways.
As a seasoned healthcare professional, Vicki has impacted many lives during her career at Northwell and began her career as a Registered Nurse at Huntington Hospital in 1993. Throughout her career, she spent 13 years in the Intensive Care unit, eight years in the Recovery unit, and recently spent time in the Interventional Radiology unit. She has been fortunate to have many opportunities during her career to learn new skills and develop professionally. Vicki looked at her newest assignment during COVID as another opportunity to grow and help care for the patients in the community.
This assignment could not be accomplished alone—it required a team effort. Vicki and other PACU nurses were joined by anesthesia and trauma surgeons and physician assistants. Everyone worked collaboratively to optimize their skills, learn new tactics, and go above and beyond for their patients. Their strength came from the compassion they felt for their patients, which is what kept them going during this difficult time.
Vicki described seeing their patients giving a thumbs up or sitting in a chair as “the best feeling of our day.” When a patient is discharged from their unit, the team comes together to cheer and clap as they transition out of critical care.
Although the PACU unit will never be the same to most of the team members at Huntington Hospital, saving lives and embracing teamwork to provide the greatest care for the patient remains the same.
Vicki and her team members are truly Made for This, exemplifying the importance of their role in helping others fight the virus, and giving hope to their patients. Are you Made for a nursing career at Northwell? Learn more about nursing at Northwell Health.
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Lulette Infante and Antonella Farrell, registered nurses at Northwell Health and lifelong friends, came together during the COVID pandemic to identify a solution for our clinical team members so they could maintain that personal connection during patient care. These two incredible nurses wanted to ensure that our patients would still be able to see the identities of our healthcare heroes, whose faces were covered by their personal protection equipment (PPE), so they created photo badges for our clinical staff to wear over their PPE.
The idea was prompted after reading a New York Times article featuring Cohen Children’s Medical Center’s Senior Vice President Dr. Schlein who acknowledged his gratitude to the frontline workers who saved his life from COVID, but he had no idea who they were because of their PPE. Thus, Project Unseen Heroes was formed so patients would be able to see the smiling, caring faces of our frontline workers.
A career journey that surpasses two decades
Both Lulette Infante, MSN, RN, CPON, and Antonella Farrell, BSN, RN, began their careers more than two decades ago as a student nurse intern from Adelphi University at CCMC in 1996. They advanced their careers at Northwell throughout their journey, holding a variety of roles and responsibilities along the way. Today, Lulette is an ambulatory nurse specialist and ambulatory administrator at Northwell where she focuses on quality and optimization for pediatric practices, and Antonella Farrellis is a pediatric Hematology/Oncology, pediatric sickle cell nurse coordinator at CCMC.
One small idea leads to big results
Lulette and Antonella first introduced the large photo badges at CCMC and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, receiving numerous positive responses from leadership, staff and patients. Lulette notes patients even commented, “so that’s what you look like!” Eventually they were able to guide other hospitals, including Northern Westchester, Lenox Hill, Huntington Hospital and even external hospitals such as Elmhurst Hospital, to develop photo badges for their team members.
“The staff is reporting back that they felt it is truly helping their patients now that they can see the smile behind the mask,” Antonella says. The staff has been sending Lulette and Antonella pictures of themselves in the PPE with their badges. Having the large picture badges enabled our frontline workers to maintain that personal connection while caring for their patients while being fully secured under their PPE at the same time.
“We could not even start without the incredible support we have received from our leadership and their commitment to continually enhance patient experience and promote compassionate care,” Lulette says.
Project Unseen Heroes was a success due to Lulette and Antonella’s teamwork. Patients feel more comfortable in the hospital seeing the badges on the nurses and doctors, knowing who is taking care of them.
Lulette and Antonella are true examples of Northwell Heroes. Are you ready to become a Northwell Hero? Join our team.
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