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). 

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?

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.

What are some of the ways LIJFH has been supporting their nurses and other team members throughout the COVID-19 recovery?

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.

How does LIJFH support their team in growth and development?

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.

What exciting nursing initiatives are in the works at LIJFH?

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.
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?

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!
Interested in joining the nursing team at LIJFH? Apply today!