When we decide about a career move, isn’t it ironic that we can only connect the dots between events by looking backward instead of forward?
Starting a new job in nursing can be scary, not knowing what to expect or how our decisions today will shape who we become.
To more fully understand the culture of nursing at Hillcrest Medical Center, I recently rounded with graduate and experienced nurses to hear firsthand what makes their work meaningful. The following exchanges provide a glimpse of what nurses can expect they are contemplating a nursing career.
Jillian, a charge nurse on 10 Tower, participated in the OU nursing cohort prior to working at Hillcrest Medical Center. She discovered that by learning systems and processes unique to Hillcrest Medical Center, it helped her better manage her transition to practice. When a nurse needs help, she says support is readily available from other nurses throughout the hospital, noting that, “Support from teammates is vibrant within the culture, not just words on a wall.”
Amelia, a nursing leader, was surprised to see leaders rounding. She had not connected how visibility and accessibility of leaders, like during the recent town hall meeting in the cafeteria, increases her satisfaction with the important work she does.
Kristi, a NICU nurse, says when she looks back, she feels immense gratitude for the incredible teamwork from teammates like Edi, a NICU nurse practitioner. Their collaboration and the availability of up-to-date technology, like the Giraffes, help them deliver specialized care to vulnerable newborns.
Samantha, a labor and delivery nurse, finds the flexibility in self-scheduling and competitive pay and benefits to be an essential part of nursing at Hillcrest Medical Center. But she says she stays because “the people here are my family,” who, in turn, are family to a wide range of patients. "Sometimes the patients need you to be their mom or friend,” she says.
No one knows with any certainty how the decisions we make today will impact us in the future. My hope going forward is that Jillian's, Amelia’s, Kristi’s and Samantha’s lived experiences will help inspire other nurses, like you, to become part of the inclusive and collaborative culture at Hillcrest Medical Center. And that having done so, that you, too, will look upon your decision to join our team with a sense of pride and fulfillment.
Carla Yost
CNO