Northwell Health has recently opened a state-of-the-art Surgical/Trauma and Transplant Intensive Care Unit at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). The new 13,000 square feet unit cost nearly $24 million and is an important step as NSUH prepares to launch Long Island’s first liver transplant program.
The new unit is not only an example of Northwell’s commitment to its patients but also to its employees through investment in the latest technology that will make it even easier for employees to provide top quality patient care 24/7.
“The unit is very nice. It’s more up-to-date and we have more resources. Everything is accessible within the patient room, you don’t have to move equipment in and out. Meds, charting, supplies – it’s all already in there,” says Jessie Dominique, respiratory therapist at NSUH. Her fellow respiratory therapist Margarette Timothee agrees, “It really makes our work easier.”
With 18 private rooms for its patients, the unit will focus on delivering care for trauma, liver transplants, colorectal surgeries, pancreatic islet cell surgeries and other complex surgeries. It will also work to support NSUH’s Level I trauma center.
“I can already see the benefits of the new and updated technology for the patients,” says Jaclyn Gomez, registered nurse at NSUH. “The bigger rooms are nice and having things like wireless technology and medicine securely available in the room really helps the patient experience.”
The new unit uses innovative technology that enhances the patient’s experience, while also ensuring that staff members have access to advanced equipment and technology to ensure they can provide priority patient care with ease. A few examples include ground-breaking eICU systems, which provide immediate access to telehealth support and around-the-clock patient monitoring. Other innovative enhancements include advanced lighting, glass privacy windows instead of curtains to reduce the spread of germs, an infrared badge system that shows when a patient is being attended to and by who, and a new patient lift technology for safe patient handling.
Are you Made for delivering exceptional care with state-of-the-art technology? Explore jobs at North Shore University Hospital.
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With 16,000+ nurses across Long Island, New York City, Staten Island and Westchester, there were thousands of reasons to celebrate Nurses Week at Northwell Health. Nurses Week is a time for nurses to reflect on the countless lives they’ve touched throughout the year and honor the differences they’re making for patients, families and coworkers. Celebrations across the organization recognized the dedication, skill and compassion that RNs provide 365 days a year. Nurses Week is not only a celebration but a true representation of Northwell’s culture and commitment to our nurses. See below for only 10 of the many ways we celebrated Nurses Week. Also, explore job opportunities and apply to join our creative, fun and compassionate nursing team.
To kick off the week, many of our locations gave our nurses the celebrity treatment. Rolling out the red carpet let each nurse take center stage as they arrived to work.
Our nurses are Made for delivering outstanding care and there are countless records of nurses going above and beyond for their patients. Sites across the system honored some of their brightest stars at their Center of Excellence Ceremonies with various awards from Rookie Awards to Humanism Awards to the prestigious Zuckerberg Award. Hearing the amazing stories about the nominees and winners recognized their compassionate care while inspiring other nurses.
From ice cream sundaes to hot breakfasts, nurses were spoiled with sweet and savory treats. Hospitals and ambulatory locations brought in every type of food imaginable throughout both the day and night shifts. Not only did it keep our nurses well-fed but it provided them with an opportunity to celebrate and bond with their fellow nurses.
Just as our nurses are committed to caring for their patients, Northwell is committed to the wellbeing of our team members! Nurses were able to take time to relax and unwind in a variety of ways–from relaxing with our pet therapy dogs to enjoying Reiki and massage therapy. Some sites also hosted lessons on stress management techniques and self-care workshops to empower our nurses throughout the year.
In between rounds, nurses were able to have fun in photo booths and take pictures with coworkers to create photographic memories of all the fun they had throughout the week.
Hospitals and locations throughout Northwell hosted a crazy scrub week, a favorite sports team day, college swag night, and more, to let nurses share their interests beyond scrubs. Some even dressed up in their best Florence Nightingale costume in celebration of one of the most famous nurses!
The basket raffles during Nurses Week are legendary across Northwell for not only their big prizes but the creativity and teamwork that goes into them. Many sites hosted themes for their basket raffles and the enthusiastic nursing teams worked together to fill and decorate their baskets. After voting and announcing a winner, the prizes then went home with lucky nurses from each unit who won.
Northwell’s Phyllis Quinlan PhD, RN-BC spoke to nurses at Peconic Bay Medical Center, Northern Westchester Hospital, and Cohen Children’s Medical Center to help teach them self-care practices and to develop their emotional intelligence. “Nurses are among the most generous people on the planet,” says Phyllis. “Their ability to turn their compassionate nature into the action we call caregiving is a precious gift that they are willing share. It is vital to make time to reconnect,, refresh, celebrate and rejuvenate.”
The Blessing of the Hands is a voluntary non-denominational tradition that recognizes and unites nurses around the world who use their hands daily in the caring of patients. During this special ceremony, warm water is gently poured over the nurses’ hands to refresh and renew their spirit and help their hands continue to heal those that they touch.
And most importantly, our nurses were able to spend time Truly Together! Throughout all our activities, nurses reflected on the results of their teamwork and hard work the past year and energized them for the year ahead. At Northwell, our nursing units aren’t just coworkers, they’re family.
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When Winnie Mack started her career as an OB registered nurse, she never expected where her career would take her. Since joining Northwell Health in 2002 as associate executive director at LIJ Valley Stream Hospital, her journey has led her to becoming associate executive director at two Northwell facilities, chief operating officer and nurse executive at Southside Hospital, executive director at Southside Hospital, and into regional executive director positions.
Today, Winnie is senior vice president of health system operations. In her role, Winnie is responsible for system periOperative services, the development and implementation of policy and procedure, senior leader adviser to Human Resources for Labor Relations, oversees Community Relations, and works with strategic planning on different programs. Up next, Winnie will become interim president and CEO of Nassau University Medical Center as part of their multiyear agreement with Northwell Health. “In all of the things that I have done in my career, the only thing I’ve ever really wanted to do was make a difference,” says Winnie, “I want to have a positive impact on patient care, on employees and on the community. I think this new position will afford me again the opportunity to help a distressed hospital and help stabilize it.”
We sat down with Winnie to hear about her impressive healthcare career and what’s still to come.
The mission at Southside Hospital was always to provide exemplary medical care with compassion and expertise to all in need. When I came to Southside as both chief operating officer and nurse executive, it already offered many services but they needed to be improved and upgraded. Holding both jobs allowed me to really familiarize myself with the staff. To go in and make the right organizational changes to positively impact the hospital, you have to get to know the staff.
One of the major accomplishments Winnie was a part of was starting an open heart program, opening and a large part of that was thanks to the support of the community. To gain that community backing, we started building out a community relations team. Our community relations team went out everywhere we could to talk about Southside, to talk about the changes we were making and to talk about the direction we were going
Along with getting the open heart program, we were able to get CARF accreditation for our extensive rehabilitation services, improved our medicine and surgery programs, received the Gold Stroke Award, built one of the busiest orthopedic programs in the system, and achieved a zero infection rate! We also brought in new trauma surgeons and became a level II trauma center and became the most eastern Northwell tertiary hospital.
I started my healthcare career as a registered nurse in OB and went through several specialties that gave me a well-rounded clinical background. This clinical experience helped me to understand as an administrator in a hospital what issues could evolve and what needed to be done about them. I understood where clinical team members were coming from and was able to listen and relate to them. Having been a nurse in dialysis, medical/surgical, transplant, and critical care among other specialties, also allows me to utilize my clinical expertise to develop protocols. Understanding clinical operations, for me, has become an important piece of how I am able to be successful in administration.
I was given the opportunity to develop the new program called Ideas at Northwell that’s built to help drive innovation among Northwell’s team members. This is a tremendous program that’s taken a year in the making. As an employee engagement program, Ideas at Northwell creates a platform for team members to share their ideas in a challenge-based format to help improve efficiency and potentially save the health system money in operations. These ideas are first crowd sourced, then put to an employee vote and then go through expert review. Our goal is to help employees in their respective places of work within the organization to do their job better. Ideas at Northwell gives them a venue to share their ideas for improvements in processes to help us help them. Whether the ideas are for a better management of conference room scheduling or to remove certain processes that are extraneous, we want our employees to have a space to have their ideas heard. Our launch for our first system-wide challenge is May 6th.
One of the things that is really important is to lead with your heart. What do I mean by that? Do the right thing. If you always have in the back of your head to do the right thing, you can never go wrong. When you’re in a leadership position, you also have the opportunity to work with your team to energize them and inspire them to move up in their careers. Don’t micromanage – set the goal and let your people be creative and develop their own style to get you there.
It’s also important to always trust and champion your boss and to create the environment that your team is always on the same page. You may disagree, and that’s okay, but you want to remain a united team. Part of that unity is that I don’t say work for me, I say work with me. From the house cleaner to an associate executive director – this is a team, we work together. I also encourage leaders to keep their doors open unless they’re on a call or in a meeting. It’s important for anyone to have access to you and you can help short circuit big problems with visibility. Be visible and be available and you get a whole lot more.
EDIT: Since this interview has been conducted, Winnie has moved into her position of overseeing Nassau University Medical Center as president and CEO of NuHealth.
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Located in Queens, LIJ Forest Hills Hospital offers a unique place to work within Northwell Health. This fast-paced hospital is deeply connected with its community. With exciting growth in clinical and non-clinical areas and a passionate team serving our diverse community, there’s never been a better time to work there.
We talked to the close-knit team to hear why they love working at LIJ Forest Hills and what makes them Made for Northwell Health.
"I‘m Made for making a difference. It’s very rewarding to me to help someone and see the positive changes in their lives."
"I‘m Made for teamwork. Any department or any position that needs my assistance, I don’t mind going out and helping because we are a team here at Northwell."
"I‘m Made for laughs because I like to see my patients smile even when they’re in tough situations."
"I‘m Made for smiling because I want to ensure that when the patient comes in, they’re always greeted with a smile. A smile goes a long way. It gives patients hope and comfort."
"I’m Made for helping people. I love for patients to be comfortable and to learn from me and the other staff on how to care for their new babies."
"I‘m Made for resiliency. Being in the operating room is an adventure every day. It’s a stressful place to be but at the same time, it‘s rewarding. You’re able to help the surgeon accomplish their mission.
"I’m Made for being a team player. I like to boost the morale of my coworkers and push them to the max of their capabilities."
"I’m Made for helping people at Forest Hills Hospital."
"I‘m Made for patient centered care. Every patient is unique and if you don’t look at patients as individuals, you won’t be able to do the best job you can in treating the patient as a whole."
"I‘m Made for helping. Helping is so much more than it sounds - it’s a skill. It’s seeing the big picture and filling in where needed.You have to know when to help, where to help, and how to help."
"I’m Made for advocating for my patients. A lot of the patients we see in New York might not have family with them and need someone to advocate for them."
"I‘m Made for preparing new moms. My job is to welcome mom into Labor and Delivery and explain to her all of the benefits of the care she’s going to receive while she’s in her labor process."
"I’m Made for communication. Communication is one of the most important aspects of working at a hospital.
"I‘m Made for staff development. Staff development is important to me because it’s essential for every nurse to do what they’re best at and what they love the most. I get to know all of my nurses and find out what their goals are because I love that collaboration in getting them to where they want and need to go."
"I’m Made for happiness. Whenever I enter a room, I make sure the patient has a smile on their face."
"I‘m Made for compassion. My compassion makes me able to put myself in the shoes of my patients and their family’s. This truly lets me provide the best care I can."
"I’m Made for teamwork. I want to ensure all my staff work as a team in taking care of patients to give the best quality care."
"I‘m Made for love and respect. I love people and respect people’s opinions and that is what LIJ Forest Hills Hospital is all about."
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Conducting more than 550,000 visits each year across Long Island, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island, our home care nurses at Northwell Health At Home are committed to bringing outstanding, innovative and award-winning care Northwell is known for right to the patient’s home. A commitment that has led our home care services to be recognized among the top 500 providers nationwide three years in a row by Homecare Elite and earning the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Heart Failure Certification – one of only a handful of organizations in New York State to achieve this distinction.
Serving as the link between patients with their physicians to ensure continuity of care, home care registered nurses help patients in the comfort of their own homes. Traveling to see their patients helps build a close bond between the nurse and patient while awarding greater flexibility and autonomy outside of the hospital setting.
Meet two of our team members and hear why they love being home care nurses at Northwell Health At Home.
Working as a Home Care nurse has given me the opportunity to see “behind the scenes” in my patient’s life. Many times, there are challenges at home that contribute toward a patient’s illness and access to healthcare, such as lack of transportation or the inability to read small print on medication bottles. Working in home care gives me the ability to prioritize my patients’ needs and provides flexibility in my day.
As a home care nurse for Northwell Health at Home, I have the opportunity to help my patients transition easier from hospital to home. Many patients have been away from home for weeks, sometimes months, and they are overwhelmed when they arrive home. Often, they have new medications or changes they don’t understand, wounds that have not healed and different types of equipment that are required. Returning home doesn’t always mean their skilled needs have ended. Patients and their families require support and education. I can help the patient prevent another hospitalization and have the best possible outcome.
When considering a career in home care, you must have flexibility as well as good communication and organizational skills. The home care nurse is responsible with coordinating all services the patient requires at home including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aide services and social work in conjunction with the patient’s physician. Timely follow up when changes are made in the patient’s plan of care, treatment or medications is crucial. The nurse is responsible for coordination with the multidisciplinary team on a regular basis to best meet the patient needs.
I’ve worked in a lot of different areas of nursing and for me, I feel that home care gives me the opportunity to really build a relationship with my patient and their families. It encompasses the whole picture which allows us as nurses to treat and help our patient heal better.
Patients heal better at home. Home care nurses provide the proper one-on-one education, therapy, and overall care to help patients remain home and more independent.
The beauty of nursing are the opportunities we are able to have in caring for patients, whether in a hospital or at home. Home care nursing is more than just medicine and diagnoses, it’s helping the patient live their best life in the place they feel the safest – home. If you enjoy a more personal relationship with your patients, it’s a great avenue.
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In her career, Irene Macyk, PhD, RN, NEA-BC has always aspired to do more, “when I get comfortable in a role, I feel compelled to change it. Although there was no premeditation to lead, I was always the person to raise my hand to try something new.”
This drive to take on new challenges has led to Irene’s impressive 10-year career at Northwell. Irene started as a director of nursing education at Cohen Children’s Medical Center (CCMC), and has held various leadership positions throughout the health system. The energy and enthusiasm that she experienced in that first interview at CCMC inspired her desire to be part of the Northwell team. Today, Irene is the chief nursing officer and associate executive director for patient care services at Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH), Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat (MEETH), and Lenox Hill Greenwich Village (LHGV). Read more from our CNO Corner interview with Irene.
In what areas are Lenox Hill Hospital, MEETH and Lenox Hill Greenwich Village experiencing the most growth in nursing?
Nursing at LHH, MEETH and LHGV are experiencing growth is so many ways. Looking at quality, safety, patient experience and nurse engagement, we are in the top half of the nation for the past two years. Our professional footprint is strong with BSN rates at 93% and RN professional certification rates at greater than 40%.
Could you talk to the exciting things happening in your surgical services departments?
Over the past few years our surgical services have grown and received national recognition for excellence. We have a very active cardiothoracic program, a comprehensive neuro surgical service and a mature and well-respected orthopedic presence. Additionally our general surgery and GYN programs are continuing to innovate and challenge the status quo by implementing our enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols.
What are some key nursing initiatives in 2019 at your hospitals?
Key nursing initiatives in 2019 for LHH, MEETH and LHGV all involve continuing our evolution as a culture of excellence. In its third year, our shared governance model continues to mature and nurses are the key decision maker in how nursing practice is conducted. We have nursing quality, evidence based practice and research, education, recruitment and retention and an advance practice council. In these councils, clinical RNs and leaders work together to create a healthy, professional work environment and drive the professional image of nursing. In 2018 alone, we had over 28 evidenced based, process-improvement projects that were completed and are in different stages of dissemination. With the desire to celebrate nursing accomplishments, we put in our application for ANCCs Magnet® recognition, and this year we are gathering the sources of evidence and documenting the stories to showcase.
How can nurses take advantage of growth and professional development opportunities at LHH, MEETH and LHGV?
As members of Northwell Health, we have an entire community of support for professional development. Clinical RNs can take advantage of guidance from clinical experts in the nursing education department at LHH, or seek professional development for the various programs offered at Northwell’s Institute for Nursing (IFN) and Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI). Nurses can also become a mentor or mentee in our mentorship program or take advantage of the generous tuition reimbursement by continuing their education at a master’s degree level.
What is the most important quality to have as a nurse?
Resilience. Nursing is hard work but we are privileged to work with people in a very vulnerable time in their lives. The ability to think critically, re-prioritize at a moment’s notice and stay calm under extreme pressure are key qualities of a nurse. In any given day we laugh, we cry, are a sounding board for the frustrated and a shoulder for someone grieving. This privilege can deplete one’s empathy banks and challenge one’s spirit. Resilience is the ability to maintain one’s core purpose and integrity among unforeseen shocks and surprises, the ability to bounce back, to regain strength and come back strong.
What is the best advice you’ve learned over the course of your career?
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau
Are you Made for a nursing career at Northwell Health? Apply today!
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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.
“Becoming certified has been one of the proudest achievements I’ve obtained in my career and also a necessary step in the continuum of my professional growth. It has allotted me a chance to be recognized for my knowledge and skills as a nurse and has enhanced my confidence when providing care.”
“Northwell Health at Huntington Hospital made it financially possible for me to obtain dual ANCC certifications by reimbursing me for the out of pocket costs. Without this assistance it may not have been feasible for me during these difficult times. Additionally, the continuing education programs including a medical surgical certification preparation course prepared me for success.”
Congratulations to all Northwell Health Certified Nurses!
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Surgical technologists have the unique opportunity to work with a nurse inside the operating room (OR) which can lead them to a career change like it did for Sypria Bernard, MSN, RN, CNOR. “Although I loved my career as a surgical technologist, there was that spark of ambition in me that always wanted to become a nurse.” With a passion for the OR guiding her, Sypria decided to become a registered nurse and North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) was there to lend support.
Through the help of Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program*, team members like Sypria can go back to school to continue their education and progress into fields such as nursing with financial assistance. Sypria did just that and NSUH worked with her and other surgical technologists who are seeking to become RNs to help develop their skills and grow professionally. The surgical technologist program at NSUH doesn’t just prepare surgical technologists for the opportunity to go into a nursing role, it also fosters their growth in their current roles. Sypria appreciated this dual approach to her career transition, “I became proficient in sterile technique, instrumentation, and procedures and I used my expertise as a surgical technologist to enable my smooth transition into OR nursing.”
After their training, surgical techs-turned-RNs can receive additional support by NSUH through an operating room fellowship. This fellowship builds on their skills to help develop well-rounded OR nurses. The support of NSUH helped Sypria get to where she is today, “I currently hold a position as a nurse manager in the Neurosurgery OR and just completed my master’s in nursing leadership. Without the support of Northwell and NSUH this would not have been possible.”
Explore our PeriOperative opportunities and discover the career path you’re Made for.
*Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program is for eligible non-union employees. Union employees receive benefits based on their CBA.
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Just as Northwell Health’s Medicine Service Line continues to grow so has Jaclyn’s career within the organization over the past 16 years. Today she serves as the clinical director of the Medicine Service Line, which includes more than 100 internal and family medicine practices across the New York metropolitan area..
Throughout her career, including her start as an RN patient education coordinator, Jaclyn has always felt encouraged to spread her wings by her senior nursing leaders. Nominated into the High Potential Program, she gained exposure to health care experts, skills and concepts that helped her develop professionally.
The experience Jaclyn gained throughout her tenure at Northwell has helped her lead tremendous growth in ambulatory care since 2017. Learn more from her about the Medicine Service Line and advantages of working in ambulatory practices.
Tell us about the growth of the Medicine Service Line.
Since I joined this team in 2017, the outpatient Medicine Service Line has grown in both size and scope, and today is spread geographically across Suffolk and Nassau counties, Queens and Manhattan, with partnerships in medical outpatient groups in Staten Island and Westchester.
We have doubled the amount of nursing staff, both registered nurses and nurse practitioners, as these roles have become essential to effective patient management and facilitation of access to care.
Our team is highly structured to provide support to individuals and keep everyone connected. Communication is valued and opinions are sought from all. Talent is welcomed from all areas, and existing team members are encouraged to grow through opportunities for promotion.
Could you talk about the various types of Medicine Service Line practices and locations?
The majority of Medicine Service Line practices are centered on primary care in internal and family medicine. Many specialties exist within the service line, including: endocrinology, rheumatology, GI, pulmonology, gerontology, hepatology, nephrology, infectious disease, and occupational health.
Services include preventive health measures, annual assessments, treatment of acute illness, and overall health promotion. Scope has expanded during the past decade as the focus of medicine has shifted to promoting wellness rather than solely treating illness. More care is delivered out of the hospital, and attention given to lifestyle changes and holistic measures.
A portion of our practices support academic partnerships. Medical residents treat patients in supervised clinics and participate in ongoing grant and research activity.
Thus, Medicine is the largest and most diverse service line within Northwell Health!
What types of positions are available within the Medicine Service Line?
The ambulatory team is centered around the office site, whether a two-person or 30-person practice.
The team is typically led by a practice manager, with physicians and advanced care providers (NP, PA, CNM) treating patients. Other positions include medical office assistants, licensed practical nurses, practice office associates, front desk staff, billers, and other support functions. On-site teams may also include registered dietitians, certified diabetes educators, pharmacists, and behavioral health coaches.
The role of the registered nurse is shaped in ambulatory locations to add value to the patient visit and facilitate achievement of health care goals. RNs practice at the top of their license; they administer medication, provide patient counseling, and enable care through medication/treatment renewals, referrals, and preventive care services. Patients may also have “Nurse Visits” which capitalize on expertise in nursing science and allow enhanced access to provider appointments. These visits allow patients to receive care directly from nurses and may include Coumadin management, blood pressure checks, vaccination, and diagnosis-specific education.
And, there is a huge amount of behind the scenes support in the areas of project management, finance, leadership, quality review, and business development.
What are some of the advantages of working in an ambulatory practice?
Ambulatory is an exciting and rewarding opportunity for career and skill development.
Advantages include:
Do you have any advice for people looking to get into internal medicine?
Understand the environment. Visit a practice if you can and note what you think works or does not work. We are always looking for new solutions.
Nurses can check out the Ambulatory Nurses’ Association (AAACN) website. Ask colleagues or interviewers to describe the differences between inpatient and outpatient settings. If you are looking for a supportive role, achieve certification if offered, such as for a medical assistant.
We look for individuals who have a passion for people, and demonstrate creative thinking, excellent customer service, and the ability to work well with team members.
Are you Made for delivering care in ambulatory setting? Explore practice RN positions here.
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Exciting things are happening inside LIJ Forest Hills Hospital! We have brought several major programmatic expansion and facility modernization projects to our community and the patients we serve over the last couple of years. This means more career opportunities in a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical areas. Check back often for the latest openings.
Here are some of our newest developments:
Breast Health and Mammography Program
Our brand new revolutionary mammography program led by Dr. Daniel Settle, board-certified radiologist, and mammographer, provides quality breast imaging to our community. Designed with our partners in Northwell Health’s Imaging Service Line, we’re working Truly Together from referral to mammography reading (completed by board-certified radiologists, fellowship trained in mammography) with additional procedures including Ultrasound and/or MRI if necessary. Our mammography suite is equipped with state-of-the-art mammography equipment and our entire program will soon be accredited by the American College of Radiology. Our director of breast surgery, Dr. Susan Lee, is available for immediate consultation and/or surgery, should that be recommended.
New Life Center (Labor & Delivery, NICU, Post-Partum Unit)
Our already Baby-Friendly designated hospital has recently undergone a total renovation. We’ve built a brand new post-partum unit, creating an amazing environment for patients and families, and renovated our well-baby nursery and Level 2 neonatal intensive care unit.
Telehealth and telestroke programs
Telestroke is a telemedicine technology that utilizes a computer screen and video camera to allow our board-certified, fellowship trained stroke neurologists to quickly evaluate patients presenting with stroke symptoms, even though those stroke neurologists may not be on-site. Through this technology, patients, families, and our health care teams in the Emergency Department can speak to Northwell Health specialists via the computer screen/camera, who can readily evaluate a patient with stroke symptoms to determine the best course of care. This is just one part of our continuous goal to renovate our Emergency Department to be on the forefront of medical advancements.
Meditation Center
In 2019, LIJFH opened its non-denominational meditation center with the input and help of chaplains from our community. This quiet space in the hospital provides an area for staff, visitors, and patients to reflect. This meditation center will also offer services from different community-based spiritual leaders who dedicate their time at the hospital.
If you’d like to part of this kind of exciting growth, explore openings at LIJ Forest Hills Hospital.
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Throughout 2018, Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital (MEETH) worked hard to increase the efficiency and quality of care in our ambulatory OR in New York City.
As part of this effort, MEETH had the exciting addition of robotic surgery in November, making us the first Northwell Health ambulatory center to perform robotic surgery. The program launched with Robotic Assisted Hernia Repair and Robotic Assisted Cholecystectomy cases to great success. The addition of robotic cases within MEETH empowers our team to deliver state of the art and highest quality care to our patients.
By allowing surgeons greater precision, dexterity, control, and visualization, robotics have proven to contribute to less post-operative pain and discomfort, minimal scarring and improved patient recover times. The OR team here at MEETH is very excited and proud to be able to offer this great service to our patients!
The OR Team at MEETH has also started doing ambulatory Total Shoulder Replacement Cases. We’ve also increased our ENT, GU, General Surgery, and GYN case volume to help better serve patients. This increase in volume has come along with a steady increase of our on time start times for the first cases of the day – with a 10% improvement over 2017.
Our collaborative care council has been revitalized to help improve our work environment with collaborative feedback from our team. Employees also participated in the MEETH Career Day Panel which helped introduce high school students to different healthcare opportunities and help excite them about joining the industry.
Not to mention, there’s always something to celebrate! One of our surgical technicians presented in-service focusing on the history of surgical technologists and the proud moments from MEETH during Surgical Technologist Week. In celebration of Perioperative Nurses Week, MEETH hosted our very own fashion show in which the staff created designs from unused OR supplies. During the holiday season, we hosted an International Holiday Breakfast/Lunch during which our team could bring in and share their traditional food to celebrate our diverse heritages.
Check out the photos below!
Are you Made for delivering exceptional care from an ambulatory location? Join our team at MEETH!
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CRNAs are invaluable members of our patient care teams. Every year, they safely administer more than 45 million anesthetics to patients in the U.S. through a safe and cost-effective way. Explore this fact sheet and learn more about this noble profession:
What is a CRNA?
CRNAs are advanced practice nurses who’ve earned the credential of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist after passing a certification exam. They have over 2000 hours of advanced clinical training. CRNAs work with healthcare providers, ranging from surgeons and anesthesiologists to dentists and podiatrists and administer anesthesia to all surgical cases.
Where do CRNAs practice?
Wherever anesthesia is being delivered, CRNAs are there, caring for patients. Inside private practices, surgical suites, specialty offices, Obstetrics and U.S. military sites, CRNAs are caring for millions of people around the world each day.
What makes CRNAs so important to health care?
CRNAs are also a cost-effective alternative to anesthesiologists, making a huge difference for patients and insurance companies fighting against rising healthcare costs. CRNAs aren’t just important to save on healthcare costs, in many rural communities of the U.S., they’re vital as they are the primary anesthesia care provider. In many states, nearly 100% of rural hospitals rely on CRNAs as the sole providers for anesthesia care, meaning that without CRNAs, surgeries would be impossible.
What education is required to become a CRNA?
The minimum education and experience required to become a CRNA include:
● Baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing or other applicable major
● Valid registered professional nursing license and/or APRN
● Minimum of one-year full-time work experience, or its part-time equivalent, as a registered nurse in a critical care setting within the United States, its territories, or a U.S. military hospital outside of the United States.
● Graduation with a minimum of a master’s degree from a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
What is a CRNA program like?
Depending on the university, nurse anesthesia programs can vary from 24-51 months. Most programs have gone or are in the process of offering the DNP as the entry to practice terminal degree. After 7-8.5 years of study, professionals leave fully prepared for their position, graduating with immense clinical experience that averages to 9,369 clinical hours. All of this work culminates in a master’s or doctoral degree from a program that’s accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
As an acknowledgment of CRNAs’ growing importance and educational expectations, by 2025 all CRNAs will receive a doctoral degree. Once they receive a degree, a CRNA graduate they must also pass the National Certification Examination before they can start practicing on their own.
What are the career opportunities for CRNAs?
CRNAs are highly regarded advanced practice professionals who enjoy real autonomy and incredible professional respect in their roles. Since they’re are solely responsible for the anesthetic care of their patients, their compensation reflects that immense responsibility. Beyond their degrees, some CRNAs utilize their fellowships to specialize in areas of anesthesiology like chronic pain management.
How do I become recertified as a CRNA?
We’re excited that you want to become recertified as a CRNA! You can enroll in the Continued Professional Certification Program, an eight-year program that’s dividing into two four-year cycles. Administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists, the CPC is based on four components: traditional continuing education, professional development, core content modules, and a comprehensive exam.
Are you Made for a career as a CRNA? Learn more about CRNA opportunities at Northwell Health.
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It’s Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) week and at Northwell Health, we’re celebrating all week long. CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses who provide anesthesia care to patients. These hardworking advanced practice nurses are responsible for patient safety before, during, and after anesthesia.
To start off our celebrations, we spoke with Michael Greco, Ph.D., DNP, CRNA who is the director of the Nurse Anesthesia Services at Northwell Health. It’s noble work that he feels privileged to be a part of, “my favorite part of being a CRNA is that there’s no other profession where you’re going to meet your patient for the first time and that patient is going to give you all of their trust to maintain their care and keep them comfortable when they’re at that most vulnerable. I am lucky to get to develop that instant relationship, to make the patient and their family feel comfortable, and deliver the high-quality care that they deserve.”
Through Northwell’s collaboration with Columbia University, Michael was introduced to Northwell and then offered the opportunity to lead and expand the nurse anesthesia practice and direct the Northwell Health nurse anesthesia program as it is being developed. The position was directly in line with his professional values to develop his students, staff and himself professionally and clinically. Now, he’s pushing the anesthetics services and agenda even further. Michael says, “I’m a firm believer of risk-taking, so I took a risk to leave a job I was comfortable in because I saw that there was an opportunity to further my professional mission.”
Working toward a mission is a sentiment Michael learned in his over 10 years of service as a nurse anesthetist in the military. He served in Iraq, Italy, Germany, and throughout the continental US including West Point Military Academy. Michael says his military service was invaluable to his growth, “No school, no seminar, and no course could equip me with the skills that I gained from serving in the United States Army.” Now, he’s using those skills to lead four CRNA teams, two in Staten Island and two in Manhattan.
Leading four teams is a lot of work, and Michael’s dedication to the various responsibilities in his role makes him a truly inspiring asset to Northwell Health. As a director of the Nurse Anesthesia Services, he oversees the education of CRNAs, holds training seminars, accredited by the national association of Nurse Anesthesia, to help educate staff and grow their knowledge on certain anesthesia principles. He supervises CRNAs practicing within their scope and ensures standards are met. Michael works closely to make sure operating rooms have enough coverage to run fluidly and no cases are delayed. He performs clinical appraisals and hires CRNAs. He’s responsible for employee oversight and is in constant communication with the staff in regards to compliance and best practice, as well as any employee issues that may arise. Simply, Michael is a huge asset to CRNAs at Northwell Health.
Michael is working to develop a robust CRNA program and increase the numbers of staff while also building partnerships with other schools like Rutgers University and Columbia University to bring students into the operating room and train the next generation of CRNAs. “I live by the standard that if I’m not developing my staff, I’m not doing my job. A career in Nurse Anesthesia requires a commitment to life-long learning, each and every staff member is on a continuous journey to pursue education – if not to return to school the journey is to read and appraise the literature with a scholarly mindset. This allows my staff to deliver the most current and evidenced supported care in their practice” With that mindset, Michael plans to take his staff into the simulation lab to look at high-risk situations, so they’re equipped with the skills and experience to provide care when complications arise.
“It’s an exciting time because the practice of being a CRNA at Northwell is evolving. Where else would you want to be? As the program evolves, opportunities will present themselves to further grow your career. There’s no better time to be part of the nurse anesthesia profession in this department than now.”
CRNA week is a great time to get out there and educate not only our nurses but the public on the importance of CRNAs. We’ll be using this week to put nursing at the head of the table. Every breath, every beat, every second, CRNAs are there providing top-notch care to their patients. Learn more about our CRNA opportunities here.
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