Born to lead, empowered to make a difference. Meet Christina, Assistant Nurse Manager in the Emergency Department

Not everyone can say they were born to do what they do, except Christina Markesinis. From the beginning, she has always felt Northwell Health was the place for her, and her career path has proved that to be true. Today, Christina is an assistant nurse manager in the Emergency Department at Glen Cove Hospital.

Her career journey at Northwell began during the summer of 2007 while still in nursing school. That’s when she participated in our Nurse Externship program in the Emergency Department at Lenox Hill Hospital. Soon after graduating, she was employed at Northwell as a new graduate nurse, participating in our Emergency Department Nurse Fellowship program at Plainview Hospital.

From 2008 to 2018, she garnered a range of experience that would not only prove to be essential to her growth as a nursing professional, but would also help define the course of her rewarding career. She gained experience working at Long Island Jewish Medical Center’s Emergency Department and at Cohen’s Children’s Center in our FlexStaff Moonlighting program. When Christina wanted to expand her nursing skills, she was encouraged to spend a year working as a registered nurse at the newly opened Lenox Health Greenwich Village’s emergency room.

“Being part of the first freestanding emergency department in New York City was truly an innovative experience,” says Christina. “Each new day was a new opportunity to continue to improve successfully, while thinking strategically. Working with such a phenomenal team taught me that success is truly a collaborative effort.”

As a result of her knowledge and experience, Christina was able to see exactly where she belonged and used it as an opportunity to empower others following a similar career path. “In all three of my bedside nursing roles, I had the pleasure of orienting new staff and new graduate nurses that have participated in the same Emergency Department Nursing Fellowship program that I did. I look at it as my way of paying it forward for the exceptional experience I was once given,” she says. With an attitude like that, she was destined to emerge as a leader.

Christina’s thankful for the opportunity that Northwell provided her, both through development programs and tuition reimbursement. In 2016, she received her Master’s in Nursing Education and soon after, in 2017, she achieved her Certification in Emergency Nursing. Christina has also been a Clinical Ladder Program recipient – a program designed to empower Northwell Health employees through self-development. “Northwell strives to encourage professional growth and achievement, providing me with learning opportunities that helped me evolve my nursing career.”

Today, as an assistant nurse manager, she is able to use what she’s learned by developing her skills through the years. “I hope to make an impact on my team by leveraging my experiences, time and passion to help them become more successful and by providing support, resources, feedback and effective leadership.”

We are fortunate to have Christina as a part of our team. “If you’re interested in how you can lead a life-long journey as an Emergency Nursing professional at Northwell Health, join Christina and other talented healthcare leaders by applying today.

Are you Made for this? Click here to learn more about joining our nursing team.

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Developing clinical careers through learning and innovation

At Northwell Health, we understand our role in building stronger, healthier communities and the value of the dedicated experts our patients trust in delivering their care. Our biggest assets are our employees and we are committed to our team members’ growth as they contribute to ours.

Northwell’s Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI) serves our growing workforce of 72,000 employees and offers continuous learning and development programs to meet the needs of our changing health system. CLI has worked to contribute to the preparedness of our organization by helping to ensure our clinical and non-clinical team members have the skills they need to be successful.

The Center for Learning and Innovation uses hands-on, interactive approaches to help guide employees through educational classes and best practices, including games, reflective debriefing, interactive technology, and simulations that enhance their profession and the care they deliver. In 2019, CLI had a total of 61,888 learners in attendance, which equated to over 301,445 learner hours. Programs can vary in length from a few hours to a few months and span the personal, professional, and leadership domains.

With so many classes offered to our clinical and non-clinical team members, there’s a lot to highlight. Read below to learn about the programs CLI offers focusing on clinical growth and development. Stay tuned for our future blog highlighting the courses that foster non-clinical development!

The Clinical Skills Center

Providing a safe, structured, and standardized learning environment, The Clinical Skills Center allows healthcare professionals to reach beyond the clinical diagnosis and engage in a more humanistic way to care for patients. We use standardized patients (SPs), who are specially trained team members, for both clinical and non-clinical simulated encounters. The SPs are specifically educated to portray patient scenarios for the instruction and assessment of the clinical skills of medical professionals within our network.

Programs are customizable to meet the needs of our diverse community, and curriculum-specific goals are created to teach our team members while applying the industry’s best practices.

The Patient Safety Institute (PSI)

Outside of real patient simulation, we also incorporate high fidelity simulator training at the Patient Safety Institute (PSI). PSI is the simulation center for Northwell Health, the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies, and the Zucker School of Medicine. Its mission is to support the workforce by creating a realistic training environment where clinical teams can simulate real-life scenarios so individuals gain increased hands-on experience. This training makes use of advanced clinical mannequins which allow participants to develop an in-depth knowledge of patient care without practicing on human patients.

With the help of innovative technology, the PSI team can facilitate multiple patient care scenarios such as a multi-trauma simulation for a pediatric patient, the complicated birth of a preemie, and the cardiac arrest of an adult patient. The clinical team cares for the patient and then debriefs, discussing what went well and what can be improved so that the patients in our clinical care facilities can receive the best care possible.

Bioskills Center

The Bioskills Center’s purpose is to further medical research and development. As the first health system in the country to be accredited as a Network of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the SRC, Northwell stands firm in its commitment to advance the healthcare industry and the skills of its employees. This center functions as a fresh, frozen cadaver lab where physicians, residents, medical students, nurses, surgical technologists and others in the medical field can receive surgical training and continue their medical education while working with some of the most innovative, advanced technology around.

By helping sharpen clinical skills and equipping team members with the tools they need to develop as leaders, our organization can guide our employees down a path that transforms their careers. As a result, CLI is not only ensuring growth within our employees, but ensuring each patient that walks into any of our facilities receives the highest quality of care available.

Northwell is committed to investing in the professional growth and development of its employees. Remember to check back next month to learn about our non-clinical programs!

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Northwell’s Employee and Family Assistance Program: Taking care of our team members

At Northwell Health, we’re committed to creating benefits that are as unique as our team members. As New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, we have more than 72,000 team members working to ensure we deliver compassionate care to our patients and communities. Our benefits help us to deliver that same compassionate care back to our team and their families in and out of the workplace.

One of these unique benefits is the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP offers complimentary confidential counseling services to employees and their benefits-eligible family members. These services provide short-term, goal-directed coaching and counseling designed to help resolve problems that impact work and home life.

The EAP provides counseling through in-person services, both at their main office and through a dedicated EAP team member at each of our hospitals. These one-on-one sessions help guide team members through specific issues they may be facing, whether it’s dealing with a stressful professional or personal challenge. Phone and telehealth services are also available to help support our team members.

Working in healthcare also means the potential of working through critical times. As our healthcare heroes deliver care through the COVID-19 outbreak, the EAP is there for continuous support. Currently the EAP is offering emotional support and referral services to all employees. Through partnership with the Behavioral Health Service Line, Wellness, and Human Resources, they’re ensuring that all team members get the support, services, and information they need to navigate through this crisis.

“Problems are a part of life,” says Margaret Kuzminski, the EAP program manager. “But unresolved issues can lead to a crisis that may affect an employee’s health, home life and/or job performance. The EAP offers goal-directed assistance and sometimes all it takes is just a phone call to help them get back on track.”

And the benefits go beyond just one-on-one meetings. Team members can participate in educational programs at The Center for Learning and Innovation or customized programs on-site that provide guidance on a variety of topics. Additionally, the EAP offers Northwell supervisors and managers programs to help them mitigate potential stresses in the workplace, such as interpersonal workplace concerns, recognizing team members in need of help, and developing training strategies.

Are you Made for a career at Northwell Health? Explore jobs and apply today.

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Connecting with coronavirus patients, and their families

Northwell Health is proud to spotlight our front line health care workers. See how Northwell clinicians – doctors and nurses – are responding and working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read their stories here.

Nicole Fishman, RN, isn’t just caring for COVID-19 patients at Huntington Hospital, she’s helping them communicate with their families too. Hear her story.

During the COVID-19 crisis, there’s been an even greater focus on caring for our patients as whole people in light of very limited visitation policies. They sometimes get scared having minimal contact with their friends and families. But my staff and I have been proactively calling family members and giving them updates on their loved one throughout the day. We are also using iPads and tablets to Facetime and Skype with families, so they can share their love with our patients.

When we are communicating with families through tablets, I think about my own parents and how I would want them to be treated if they were in this situation.

It’s been amazing getting so much support from throughout our hospital. All of the people are are caring for are either suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. So everyone is isolated and requires a higher level of care. We are managing this by working as a team, staying strong and supporting each other in any way that we can. As expected, we’re taking everything day by day.

Wearing all of this additional gear can make it harder to breathe, which is why we need more frequent breaks. I try to take advantage of any time away, going outside for fresh air and to clear my head.

All of Huntington Hospital’s employees have been so appreciative of the meals that we’ve received from community donations. It’s been very helpful to not have to worry about cooking or preparing food. We can focus on what matters most — our patients.

One thing I’ve been surprised about is that younger patients — people in their 40s, 50s and 60s — are deteriorating faster than I would have anticipated. Some don’t have a past medical history of pre-existing conditions.

I’m fortunate to have a very supportive boyfriend who’s at home cooking and taking care of things while I’m out fighting COVID-19. Many of the other nurses on my unit have supportive significant others who have been writing encouraging letters and packing food for us.

When I leave work, I take several precautions in an attempt to protect my boyfriend from this dangerous virus. I change my shoes before I get into the car and shower immediately when I get home. I take all of my clothes off right by the door and throw them straight into the washing machine on a hot water setting. I feel safer being on my unit versus out in the community because we’re all wearing the proper protective gear and the unit is constantly being cleaned.

As advice from someone who has witnessed the devastation COVID-19 causes, please listen to what everyone’s saying. Stay home. Only then can people hopefully stay out of the hospital. If you don’t have to go out, please don’t.

Even though the world seems on hold right now, for health care workers it’s more like business as usual. Caring for our patients in all circumstances is what we’re made for.

Nicole Fishman, RN, is a nurse manager at Huntington Hospital.

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Beyond the call of duty: answering the call to deliver care

When it comes to veterans finding careers at Northwell Health, during or after their service, the opportunities are limitless. Take Stephanie Leibman, a registered nurse at Northwell and a member of the Army Reserves. She began her journey here in 2016 and quickly discovered this was the place she was meant to be.

Starting as a patient care associate (PCA) at Glen Cove Hospital while in nursing school, Stephanie experienced an accommodating and supportive environment that encouraged her professional growth and helped her discover a different mission that she was more than ready to accept.

“My nurse manager was always very accommodating with my school schedule, and all of the nurses that I worked with were always willing to teach me what they knew,” she says. “Northwell was constantly holding career-related events which eventually helped me move from PCA to nurse.”

What she details is just an example of the programs we have available to help develop our talent. Following her transition from a PCA to a registered nurse, Stephanie first gained experience in pain management before accepting an RN position at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in the Labor and Delivery department.

Although still new to the labor and delivery team, she’s quickly made herself at home within a department she’s dreamed of since her first day of nursing school. “Even though I’ve just started in labor and delivery, I love it,” she says. “I love the friendly and helpful environment, and how there is constant learning opportunities. I love being a part of such an amazing process and assisting women and their families through it.”

Her time serving the country, functioning as a healthcare specialist, provided her with a unique skill set that easily transferred to the work we do every day at Northwell. “In the Army Reserves, I’ve received a great deal of fast-paced trauma training which I find useful every day of my career. It really helped teach me how to function in high-stress situations,” she says.

Everyone who joins our team with a passion for redefining healthcare will find many opportunities for development and career growth. Northwell’s culture has tremendous revere and admiration for our veterans and reservists who have sacrificed so much to protect and keep our country safe. As Stephanie knows, there is always a place on our team. “I’d definitely recommend other veterans and military members to work for Northwell. The organization appreciates the work we do, and is flexible to reserve/army schedules.”

Explore our careers and discover how to leverage your veteran experience at Northwell Health.

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Celebrating acts of kindness among our family of Northwell heroes

Though we span across 23 hospitals and more than 750 ambulatory locations, our Northwell Health team is one big family. And as a family, our team members are committed to not only delivering the best patient care, but caring for each other and our communities.

Check out these stories of our clinical and non-clinical team members alike working to bring moments of positivity, hope and support amid COVID-19.

Finding Connections Hospital to Hospital, Unit to Unit

Kindness is connecting our teams across Northwell through video messages, photos, cards and other countless examples of ongoing support and humanity. For example, Krista Griffin, a patient access team member at Southside Hospital, raised money with her family to have catered food delivered to overnight workers in the ED. Also, the NICU team at Cohen Children’s Medical Center created and delivered care packages to other Northwell hospitals, and our nutrition and dining services teams baked fresh cookies for workers to bring home after a long day.

Bringing the Grocery Stores to our Team Members

Hospitals across Northwell realized the need to help support our healthcare heroes get the necessities they need at home. Hospital cafes have turned into temporary grocery stores, where our nurses, environmental services workers, physicians, therapists, transporters, techs and others can safely shop to stock their pantry or choose a freshly prepared meal to take home.

Stitching for our Heroes

Gloria Medina, a booking clerk at one of Northwell’s endoscopy practices, posted a call to action for all stitchers to help create artwork for our heroes. These custom portraits are being delivered to our healthcare heroes on the front lines as a way to say thank you and make them smile.

Finding Inspiration at Glen Cove Hospital

The 1 South Rehab team at Glen Cove Hospital created an Inspiration Tree within the hospital to leave small tokens of wisdom and motivation for team members and patients. These messages help them to find optimism and the importance of what matters most.

Chalk Art Acts of Kindness

Throughout the health system, chalk art has been popping up outside our hospitals. Messages from team members and our communities are being drawn to thank our workers and give them something bright and cheery to look at as they walk in and out of work.

Take 5 for YourSELF Fridays

The Employee Wellness team collaborated with myHealthBody to start a weekly series to encourage team members to take five minutes to care for themselves with “Take 5 for YourSELF Fridays”. The weekly videos and printouts include guided stretches and exercises to help relieve tension and grant wellness benefits that last all day.

We are all filled with gratitude for our wonderful Truly Together team. Their passion, dedication and kindness inspires us daily. To all healthcare heroes here and everywhere – THANK YOU!

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The best healthcare careers for your personality type

When it comes to students deciding on what career to pursue, the amount of choices can seem daunting. With that in mind, psychologist Dr. John L. Holland invented a set of personality types. These types, known as Holland Codes, work under the belief that people work best in an environment where they enjoy their tasks and might provide some insight into the best career option for you.

As the largest private employer in New York State, Northwell Health has a diverse selection of careers for every path and personality type. We listed the different Holland Code personality types alongside the healthcare careers that might best fit each.

Take the Holland Code assessment and see which personality type you are by clicking here and then match your results to the careers below.

Realistic Holland Code: The Builders

Those who fall under the realistic interest profile are classified as builders. These individuals tend to be practical, sensible and mechanical, while enjoying hands-on tasks that are concrete or fixed such as building, repairing or using machines. Independent work is preferred and they tend to be action-based while focusing on solutions.

Healthcare careers for builders may include:

Environmental Services
Materials Management
Engineering and Mechanical Services
Security
Radiology

Investigative Holland Code: The Thinkers

If you have an investigative interest profile, you’re classified as a thinker. Thinkers are analytical and scientific, preferring to work with research, exploration and intellectual pursuits. These individuals may prefer to work with theories, enjoying gaining knowledge and exploring the possibilities in the world.

Healthcare careers for thinkers may include:

Medical Research
Clinical Laboratory
PeriOperative Services (Surgical Technologists, Operating Room Nurses and Surgeons)
Teleheath
Information Technology
Pharmacy
Clinical Informatics

Artistic Holland Code: The Creators

Those who identify with having an artistic interest profile are known as creators. Creators usually prefer to work in an unstructured environment where they have the freedom to come up with new ideas and expressive work. These individuals thrive in flexible jobs without much repetition or routine and they can use their imagination to influence their work.

Healthcare careers for creators may include:

Marketing and Communications
Video and Photography
Culinary
Music Therapy
Art Therapy

Social Holland Code: The Helpers

Individuals who identify as having a social interest profile are known as helpers. Helpers are supportive and healing in nature, enjoying teaching and working in collaborative work environments. They enjoy working with people and being helpful, whether it’s through service or education.

Healthcare careers for helpers may include:

Nursing and Nursing Support
Child Life Services
Social Work
Advanced Clinical Providers
Rehabilitation

Conventional Holland Code: The Organizers

If you identify as having a conventional interest profile, you’re known as an organizer. These individuals tend to thrive in methodical and procedural work where they find success with their accuracy and precision. They’re detail-oriented and enjoy working with data and numbers in a systemic approach.

Healthcare careers for organizers may include:

Finance
Administration
Human Resources
Revenue Cycle
Clerical

Enterprising Holland Code: The Persuaders

Those who find they relate to an enterprising interest profile are known as persuaders. Persuaders thrive in a competitive environment where they feel their work is able to influence process. They are ambitious and unafraid to take risks while enjoying strategizing and being in positions of leadership.

Healthcare careers for persuaders may include:

Management
Operations
Business Development
Law
Public Relations

While the Holland Codes are a great starting point for students to explore careers, it’s important to remember that you may be a combination of more than one interest profile. To further explore all the career opportunities that exist in healthcare, join our Student Talent Community today!

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Meet the winners of this year’s Spark! Challenge

Northwell Health’s Spark! Challenge is an annual program for high school students across the New York area that brings together educators, schools and lots of passionate Northwell team members. Students who participate in the Spark! Challenge have the opportunity to learn about careers directly from our team members, igniting their spark for healthcare careers. The Spark! Challenge plays a vital role in helping reach, engage and inspire tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.

With this year’s Spark! Challenge bigger than ever, approximately 1,000 students from more than 50 schools participated in hands-on site visits with Northwell team members across more than 81 departments, hospitals and facilities to have a immersive learning experience about healthcare careers. After their Northwell site visit, students are given the challenge to create a poster featuring one healthcare career they learned about and then present on that career as a team.

Meet the winners from this year’s poster competition below!

First Place: John F. Kennedy High School, Bellmore-Merrick

The students from John F. Kennedy High School, Bellmore-Merrick visited the trauma team at Cohen Children’s Medical Center and learned about an electroencephalogram (EEG) and how placement of sensors on the head produces outputs. They also met patients who have experienced head trauma, including one patient who has a 3-D printed skull. Students then visited the morgue to learn about the brain post-mortem.

After meeting with the team, the students chose to have their poster focus on the child life specialists who help make pediatric patients more comfortable during their hospital visit.

Second Place: Valley Stream South High School

When the students from Valley Stream South High School visited the Department of Family Medicine, they were presented with four simulated cases in Family Medicine. Working together as a team, students had to learn and decide how to care for patients such as a pediatric child in urgent care with a sore throat and an elderly patient who needed an ultrasound. Through these simulations, students left with a better understanding of the variety of cases a Family Medicine care team might see in one day.

These students chose to highlight doctors in their poster and showcase the diverse care they deliver to patients.

Third Place: Baldwin High School

Baldwin High School students spent the day with Northwell’s Corporate Business Development team to discover healthcare careers within business strategy. During the field trip, students were presented with the challenge to form a capital cost estimate for a physician practice based on an outline of a practice assessment. Using a previous example, the students worked through the capital process with a defined budget to discover how business strategy is used to improve the care our patients receive.

Their poster focused on the role of a practice transitioner who is using their knowledge to implement improvements in our practices.

Honorable Mention: Patchogue-Medford High School

Students at Patchogue-Medford High School learned that it takes talent to fill our health system with the right people in the right roles. After meeting with the Talent Acquisition team, they learned how to find candidates who embody the Northwell values from thousands of applicants through attracting, vetting and hiring candidates.

Choosing to highlight a healthcare recruiter, they wanted to showcase the integral role that Talent Acquisition plays in identifying top candidates who are “Made for this.”

Facebook Favorite: Great Neck South High School

Great Neck South High School students traveled to LIJ Forest Hills Hospital to learn about the innovation with healthcare. Arriving at the hospital, students took part in an interactive exercise with the Assistant Director of Environment of Care Compliance/Safety before being split into groups to learn about the different areas of care. The teams learned about safe patient handling, MRI Safety, Operating Room/Delivery Room, basic life support, and wound care. The day concluded through sharing the team’s career journeys.

For their poster, the students chose to highlight the career of an obstetrician and gynecologist. Winning the Facebook Favorite award means that their poster was voted on by hundreds of Northwell team members!

Rookie Poster Award: Plainedge High School

Plainview Hospital hosted the Plainedge High School students and taught them about all of the careers that exist within our Imaging Departments. After attending a lecture and receiving a tour, the students then scrubbed into a procedure in interventional radiology, where they used the ultrasound machines and spoke with team members.

Their poster showcased the role a nuclear radiologist plays within our hospital to help diagnose and treat patients.

Watch our video announcement of the winners below!

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northwell health best company to work for

In our employees’ own words. “Northwell is a Best Company to Work For because…”

We are honored to be named one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®”– the only health care provider in New York State to earn this recognition in 2020. However, achieving this milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication, passion and skills of our extended family of more than 72,000 Northwell employees.

We recently conducted an online poll of team members working in various roles throughout our system. Here are the top 10 reasons why they chose to build their careers with us:

1 – A wide network of opportunities and resources

Northwell Health has 23 hospitals and more than 700 ambulatory locations, plus research labs, medical and nursing schools, a graduate school of molecular medicine, and extensive residency and fellowship programs. Wherever your career takes you, we have the resources to help you continue to further your professional growth within the Northwell Health system.

“Northwell really cares and values their employees. They encourage growth and provide resources to ensure that it happens. Northwell says they are going to do something and they actually get it done. It’s a wonderful company to work for.”

Laura M.

“Northwell gives everyone the opportunity to develop and grow within themselves as well as within the health system.”

Iris O-G.

“Northwell provides an environment to grow professionally, encourages employees to take care of themselves and gives us tools that offer the best care for the patients.”

Alba A.

“Northwell is a great company that allows you to grow – no matter what area you work in.”

Amanda S.

“Northwell fosters professional development to not only benefit the health system and patient care but your personal dreams and goals.”

Laurie A.

2 – Extensive education and career development

At Northwell, the learning never stops. We provide multiple resources for continued education and development, including tuition reimbursement, scholarships, and mentorship programs along with professional development courses for both clinical and non-clinical team members at our Center of Learning and Innovation (CLI).

“I love that our company always supports continuing education and likes to see team members grow in their careers.”

LeighAnne B.

“From starting as a student nurse extern over 24 years ago to now working with administration, I’ve experienced tuition support through grad school, career advancement opportunities, lifelong friendships developed throughout the years, fun events and even enjoying a trip to Rome with my fellow Northwellian sister. These are just some reasons Northwell is an amazing workplace!”

Lulette I.

“The past five years have been an incredible journey, filled with learning, growth and development both personally and professionally thanks to Northwell Health. I’ve gone from nursing assistant to nurse educator.”

Teuta B.

“Northwell is the best place to work because it has so many opportunities to expand your career and helps you grow into a much better person. You can keep learning new and different types of things needed to better yourself in your field.”

Maria C.

3 – Leadership that truly cares

Northwell’s leadership is dedicated to supporting all the people who do extraordinary work on behalf of our patients every day. From the top down, we are committed to fostering a culture that invests in our employees’ well-being, builds trust and provides a sense of belonging.

“After 22 years at Northwell I can respectfully say each of my managers were committed to our unit. Each of my coworkers were different but came together as a team for patient care, which bonded us. I love the changes that have brought efforts to improve our own health and becoming mindful as well. I am truly a proud employee of Northwell Health.”

Debra A.

“I love our senior leadership and my amazing doctors and staff.”

Janet S.

“I love my fellow employees and supervisors. It’s a great place to work with excellent staff and doctors.”

Michael V.

4 – A focus on Diversity and Inclusion

Our team members are celebrated and championed for being Truly Ourselves, regardless of race, ethnicity, cultural background, language proficiency, literacy, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability or socioeconomic status. Our dedication to supporting our team members’ uniqueness is why Great Place to Work has recognized us on the ‘Best Workplaces for Diversity’ list three years in a row.

“It’s a great place to work and to be my authentic self!”

Renee S.

“Northwell is a great place to work because of the care for employees as well as patients. Northwell helps employees grow and see their path for success. They aid with resources such as BERG groups and mentorship. Northwell strives for diversity and respect! I feel heard.”

Francesca S.

“Northwell is a multifaceted community that applauds diversity, provides comprehensive services and specialties to our neighbors and offers diverse career opportunities for its employees!”

Debbie D-C.

“Northwell is a great place to work because they give me the opportunity to be my best self.”

Merav D.

5 – “Northwell is a family”

As New York State’s largest employer, when it comes to our employees, we think and act like family. We are always there for each other and united in our common goal to give our best to patients, their loved ones and each other. Our team is Truly Together.

“At Northwell, you don’t just have a career but you build a second family. It’s a home away from home.”

Lauren V.

“We get to treat patients with the same care that you give your own family members!”

Emely P-D.

“It’s not just a place to work, it’s a home with a family by your side.”

Elyse K.

“We sometimes spend more time with our ‘work family’ than our own families so it’s great to work for a place where you have each other’s backs and you feel welcomed and respected.”

Colleen S.

“At Northwell, we are a family working toward a greater cause, something larger than oneself for the greater good. It is all about service and helping others!”

Anthony I.

6 – Support for every team member

At Northwell you will always have the support – and the empowerment – to be your best. We encourage others to share ideas and let your voice be heard.

“Northwell gave me the ability to be a strong single mother – first they gave me a job I could stand on my own and support my child with, and now a position I can work from home so that I can ‘wear both hats’ and never miss a beat! I am so grateful for the life Northwell has helped me create for us.”

Tara M.

“There is support from administration to help individuals do our very best!”

Kathleen D.

“I love having the ability and support to take my ideas all the way in providing patient-centric care.”

Jessica R.

7 – A commitment to providing the best, most advanced care.

We are Made for redefining the future of healthcare and that demands a passion for innovation. We seek those who are never satisfied, who aren’t afraid to question assumptions, and always strive to be innovative in delivering patient care.

“I’m proud to work for an organization that is a leader in clinical studies, research and development and education!”

Michele H.

“I love the commitment our organization has to improving the lives of our patients and employees!”

Gabrielle R.

“Northwell provides personal attention and genuine dedication from all toward our patients. From security to registrars to MDs to environmental services – we all care.”

Robinson V.

“Northwell puts our patients first and it shows. Every time I see a Northwell commercial it makes me PROUD to be a part of the team.”

Kaydee F.

“No matter where we are in this tremendous health system, we all work as a team and have the same goal at the end of the day–to stay connected, aware, respectful and empathetic while caring for our patients.”

Kristen B.

8 – A passion for ongoing improvement

All of us feel a sense of belonging and understand that every patient interaction is an opportunity to make a positive impression. No matter what our specific role or responsibilities, we are always looking for every opportunity to raise the bar.

“Northwell is committed to making changes to culture for the workforce and communities. We are family near and far! I take pride in seeing a Northwell employee at the supermarket or on the road and love to chat. I love bumping into people who have visited our sites and express how happy they are with their patient experience. We are all made for this!”

Neela J.

“Northwell is the best place to work because we are constantly improving. You always feel as though you have a voice and can make a change.”

Kay S.

“What makes Northwell a great place to work? Its vision, mission and culture. What’s more? The organizational promise and values – Made For This, a promise we all made to one another by delivering the best care possible for the patients, customers and communities it serves.”

Julie K.

9 – Collaboration and teamwork

At Northwell every department, site and person is interdependent but united in a mission to be there for our patients – and each other – first and foremost. We are stronger when we understand how all the pieces of our organization are connected, when every person knows their work is important and the how working together makes the impossible, possible.

“I love the teamwork and collaboration between different departments to give patients the best care.”

Faina N.

“Northwell is all about teamwork! Northwell has such wonderful people coming together for a common cause— the health and safety of our patients and coworkers. The culture of collaboration is TRULY unmatched!”

Hannah N.

“There’s unity in the workplace. The sincerity, compassion and kindness of the staff, not just for our patients but for each other as well.”

Corine B.

“I love our ‘we are all in this together’ approach. Truly makes you feel like all things are possible!”

Nancy R.

10 – Employee wellness and work/life balance

We work hard to support employee work/life balance, helping people enjoy their work, as well as their time away from the job. We offer special services that provide back-up child and elder care, financial assistance for adoption and home buying, and banking. National and local discounts are offered on a rotating basis lowering the cost of gym memberships, entertainment, car purchasing and repairs, and so much more.

“I love the effort that Northwell puts into its employee engagement and wellness. They’re taking care of those who take care of others.”

Ellie B.

“Northwell takes care of your physical, emotional and mental needs so you can bring the best of yourself to work every day. We have honest leadership, filled with passionate people in a great environment.”

Queen-Marlyn B.

“Northwell is full of awesome people and supportive leadership that encourage me to have work life balance and wellness!”

Melissa D.

And finally, our people

The more than 72,000 Northwell team members are what makes us strong. We make sure their contributions are recognized and their accomplishments are celebrated so everyone feels their careers are meaningful, dynamic and rewarding.

“I pass many hospitals on my way to work, and when people ask why I don’t work closer to home, it’s because of the people I work with!”

Bridget T.

“All of the patients who put their trust in us, the caring doctors and PAs, the wonderful coworkers, and the supportive managers – all of our people contribute to making Northwell a wonderful place to work.”

Rosemarie M.

“Where else in the nation are 70,000+ people more united in their common believe that, together, we can change the world?”

Joshua L.

Are you Made for a career with Northwell Health? Search jobs here!

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Five tips to ace your next virtual interview

As times change the needs of the companies do as well. In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in companies relying on online platforms to conduct candidate interviews. Recruiters actively utilize video conferencing now more than ever to engage and reach a more diverse, global group of prospective hires. For you, the prospective hire, it can give you an advantage if and only if you take it as seriously as you would an actual in-person interview. Northwell Health has prepared a number of tips to help you master the virtual interview so you’re confident and prepared to take on the next step in your professional career.

First things first, considering virtual interviews happen online, it is essential that your online connection is strong. There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of explaining why you’re the perfect candidate and the recruiter is met with grainy, pixelated images of you, or worst case, a dropped call. To avoid this, test your equipment beforehand. It may even be helpful to have a friend try a mock interview just so you’re aware of what the person on the other end of the call experiences throughout the process.

Now that you’re all set with your technology, what do you wear? It’s best to dress as if you’re walking into an actual office to conduct your interview. Dressing professionally isn’t only expected, but it also shows the recruiter that though you are home, you made an extra effort to make sure you made a quality first impression. Trust us, that goes a long way.

On to where you take the call. Most interviewees prefer to take the call from home, that way they are able to have more control of their environment than if they were at a coffee shop or even a library. If you do field the call from someplace else outside of your home, be sure it’s someplace quiet. You would hate to repeat yourself for your recruiter because they couldn’t hear you over a coffee grinder or the latest music from your second favorite band playing in the background.

Find the perfect spot. As much as it may be tempting to be as comfortable as possible seeing as most likely you’ll be taking this call from home, sitting at a desk or a table is much better than sitting on your bed. A tabletop provides the feel as if you’re sitting across from the person asking you questions and even helps keep your posture focused and your mindset on what’s in front of you.

Now that you’ve tested your equipment, figured out what to wear, where to go, and where to sit, it’s time to make sure you’re prepared. And though this process may be a bit different from what you may or may not be used to, it’s important you treat this the same as you would a regular interview. Come into the interview with questions you may have about the organization, a brief elevator pitch about your experience, how you feel you can add value to the team, and what you’re hoping to get out of your experience altogether. The more you’ve prepared, the more relaxed and confident you’ll be.

Follow these tips and set yourself up for success on your next call on others in the future. And if you’re interested in redefining health, Northwell Health has plenty of opportunities. Be sure to take a look at careers by clicking here.

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Meet Truly Ambitious Director of Physician Assistant Services Thomas Bily

This blog is part of a series highlighting Northwell Health’s Advanced Clinical Providers (ACP). Each Northwell Health employee was nominated by their leadership as an individual who exemplifies a Northwell Health value.

Throughout his career with Northwell, Thomas has participated in many ACP system initiatives and covered for other clinical services wherever there was a need. While working as a critical care PA at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC), he began to volunteer for both clinical and non-clinical responsibilities including becoming a PA clinical preceptor. This was his first opportunity to have an administrative role within the department and it provided him with skills he needed to help him succeed such as coordination, effective communication and organization.

Along with being a PA clinical preceptor, Thomas participated in a critical care microsystem workgroup at LIJMC. These workgroups help improve quality of patient care alongside collaborative workflow. The opportunity helped him further mold his communication skills while building on his ability to take ownership of group projects.

Most recently he’s led the re-design of the Northwell Health ACP Surgical System Orientation. The new orientation was designed to provide a surgical ACP or registered nurse first assistant with the skills and knowledge needed to enter the periOperative environment. “Leading this redesign gave me my first opportunity to lead and collaborate with other ACP leaders in the health system outside my building,” says Thomas.

As Director, Thomas was proud to work with the surgical PAs to develop a 24/7 surgical PA service at Plainview Hospital. “This was a measurable change in culture within the department of surgery at Plainview Hospital. There is more collaboration and education within the department as well as improvement in the quality of care we bring to our patients.”

Alongside his work at Plainview, he has the opportunity to be a part of an excellent surgical and orthopedic team at Syosset Hospital. He enjoys working with each ACP individually to lead them through their careers in any way possible, believing it’s an essential leadership trait to mentor and support your team.

The advice he gives them? “There was a quote that was told to me once that I truly believe in, ‘if you’re always comfortable in what you are doing you will never grow.’ This is what I live my career by and share it with others whenever I can.”

An avid gym go-er, and photographer, Thomas stays just as active and well-rounded in his life outside of Northwell. For him, success is all about finding new ways to inspire himself and others to achieve their best. “Northwell Health has provided me and many other ACPs with opportunities for growth in our careers. Work hard, never be complacent, place yourself in unfamiliar situations, and look for opportunities to be visible throughout Northwell. Believe in yourself and the opportunities will follow.”

If you’re Made for working with a team of exceptional ACPs, explore our opportunities here.

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Year of the Nurse: Why I became an Oncology nurse

Written by: Melissa Black, BSN, RN

My name is Melissa Black and I have worked in Oncology since I started working at Northwell’s Huntington Hospital in 2008.

When I was 15 years old, my mother lost her battle with lung cancer. Since then, becoming a nurse had always been my mission. I was truly touched by how much my mom loved and cherished her nurses – nurses who cared for her when she was a patient on the same Oncology unit where I now work all these years later. It’s like my life came full circle and I ended up exactly where I was meant to be.

My career journey with Northwell started when I was hired as a CNA. I became a unit secretary in 2010, a position I held for seven years up until I became an Oncology RN in March 2018. I consider myself so lucky to have been able to spend all 12 years growing my skills on the same unit at Huntington Hospital. Being surrounded by the Oncology teammates and managers who have been with me from the start has made my career transitions that much easier. Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program helped to lighten the financial burden as I obtained my nursing degree. The support of my colleagues and leaders throughout school was a tremendous part of my success.

I feel my experiences give me insight when I’m caring for our cancer patients since I can relate to what they are going through. By helping my patients and their families heal and cope with how cancer has affected their lives, I’ve been simultaneously helping heal myself as well.

I became a nurse because I wanted to be that sunshine in a patient’s life while they are in the hospital dealing with some of their darkest days. I wanted to be that someone the patient looked forward to seeing walk through their door, because they know I will try my best to support them through their pain, their sadness, and their fears. This has to be one of my favorite things about my job, knowing that sometimes just my mere presence plays a part in a patient’s healing. I feel lucky to be a part of a patient’s journey.

Becoming a nurse and caring for patients with cancer has made me better able to appreciate how beautiful and fragile life is. It’s a career I chose because I wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of my patients, but it’s the impact they make on MY LIFE that truly reinforces that I am exactly who I am meant to be – a nurse!

Are you Made for a nursing career? Learn more about nursing at Northwell Health.

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northwell health golden ticket nursing showcase

Nursing Students get a Golden Ticket to Northwell’s Nursing Showcase

The future of nursing is golden at the Northwell’s Golden Ticket Nursing Showcase! This year, more than 630 junior and senior nursing students from 50+ colleges attended to learn about Northwell’s nursing careers and culture. Our invitation-only event at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY is an important way to identify and engage with nursing students for New York State’s largest health system.

At the Golden Ticket Nursing Showcase, students attended presentations from Northwell’s nursing leadership to hear about our careers including our externships and fellowships, advanced careers such as becoming a nurse practitioner and the future of nursing at Northwell . Panel sessions were also held featuring previous nurse externs and current team members to allow students to ask questions and hear about their experiences.

In addition to the panels and presentations, students explored the Nursing Careers Expo and Culture Center where they could meet and interact with our registered nurses and nursing leaders and learn what makes Northwell’s culture and careers so unique. Here students also had the chance to learn about more than 23 specialties in nursing such as PeriOperative, Emergency, Critical Care, Pediatrics, Home Care, Case Management, TeleHealth, Mother/Baby and many more.

Don’t miss this inside look at what it’s like to attend the Northwell Golden Ticket Nursing Showcase in our video recap:

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Combining clinical and business skills as an RN case manager

Comprehensive. Complex. Holistic. Empathetic. These are some of the words that best capture how RN case managers approach their roles as care providers at Northwell Health. As an RN case manager your responsibility is to understand and create a care plan for patients from admission through discharge that best accounts for their clinical and psychological needs.

Get to know the thoughts and experiences of two of our case managers who exemplify the kinds of career journey our clinicians can pursue here at Northwell Health. Jennifer Taglich, RN MSN MPH CPN, is an RN Case Manager at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Initially hired as a bedside nurse, Jennifer was attracted to her current role for its diversity and cross discipline impact.

Heather Gordon, RN BSN CCM, serves as the Director of the Case Management Department at Staten Island University Hospital. Her career here began at North Shore University Hospital as a neonatal ICU nurse and, then she went on to work in pediatric oncology. When she was offered the position as a pediatric home care discharge planner, she embraced it for the autonomy it provided her in coordinating complex discharge activities for the pediatric specialty population.

Both Jennifer and Heather place a high value on the way that their roles helped them broaden and develop their knowledge by introducing them to new business planning, communications and patient management responsibilities.

Heather says, “I chose to work in case management because it required nursing skills along with incorporating business process into discharge planning. I had to develop business management skills and learn to strategize plans for my unique case load.”

The same was true for Jennifer who told us, “I compare it to learning a new language. While the patients remained the same, my role was completely different. It’s given me the opportunity to learn about more aspects of nursing and grow as a nurse, as well as work with intelligent and passionate nurses who I view as role models.”

Both feel that the ability to communicate and lead a team effort is essential as they collaborate care with other disciplines, remove unpredictable barriers and help the patient be ready for discharge once they receive medical clearance. Heather says “In my role I am responsible for creating plans that involve an interdisciplinary team to support our pediatric patients. It gave me the incentive to expand my knowledge, take on more challenges and complexities, and also work with a great team.”

“This role has given me the opportunity to improve my communication and teamwork skills,” says Jennifer. “You see the big picture, including how every member of the healthcare team plays a role in helping the patients feel better so that they can go home.”

Jennifer and Heather have grown their careers and made an impact on so many in the process. If you’re Made for working with an exceptional team, explore our opportunities at Northwell Health.

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Photo: Mark Compas and Child Life team members with some Cohen Children’s patients.

Something about child’s play

Mark Compas brings a distinctive mix of technical skills, a child psychology background and passion for both fields to his work as a per diem certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS). “It’s like I dreamed this job up and then it found me,” he said.

Mark divides his time between North Shore University Hospital (NSUH), including its Dorothy and Alvin Schwartz Ambulatory Surgery Center, and Cohen Children’s Medical Center (CCMC). As a CCLS, he educates patients about procedures and helps them to have a positive experience in the hospital setting. “In simple terms,” he says about his Child Life team, “we are basically teachers, coaches, and companions that help patients and families have an easier time at the hospital.”

How Mark came to be at Northwell is a roundabout story, where every twist has led him to exactly where he is thrilled to be. “Every day, I can’t believe how lucky I am,” he said.

He began his studies in electrical engineering and computer science, always honing his skills with hobbies like building computers and websites. He learned graphic design and video editing to promote a band he performed in. While attending college, Mark also taught swimming part-time, and that changed everything. “As much as I like building things, I realized that I love working with kids. It never felt like work and helping kids overcome obstacles and succeed was so meaningful to me.”

Mark finished his Bachelor of Science degree at Stonybrook University, pivoting from electrical engineering to psychology with a focus on child studies. He learned of the Child Life field, began volunteering at a hospital and attained his certification. Now he spends his days managing the technical needs of the Child Life and Creative Arts team. Among his projects is MeTV, a closed-circuit TV channel hosted by Child Life team members that children who are patients at CCMC can watch and play along, live. Games are aimed to teach children about hospitals and procedures, and Pictionary, which is purely for fun. Children can also co-host on MeTV. “It empowers them to be able to speak to other children and educate them about being in the hospital,” Mark said.

One of Mark’s favorite activities during his two years at Northwell has been the WeCraft event. Combining forces with Microsoft and the Extra Life Gaming Guild of NYC, Mark’s team hosted the WeCraft event that allowed all hospital-wide patients to play MineCraft together. He also loves to share his knowledge with children who are interested in technology. “Kids might be stuck in a room all day and I can drop in and show them a cool project I’m working on.”

Mark is always dreaming up new projects for the children at NSUH and CCMC and says that his colleagues’ dedication fuels his inspiration. Currently he is working on a virtual reality headset called Smileyscope for children to use during procedures like IV starts or injections. Smileyscope was developed in Australia and brought to CCMC for trial and research. CCMC is one of the first facilities in the United States to implement it and training is underway.

Mark networks with Child Life Specialists in similar roles as his, collaborates with children’s charities and keeps his ear to the ground for new opportunities. After his telephone interview, he followed up with a long email outlining novel ways that technology can help children cope with their hospital experiences. He hopes to create apps and video games to educate children and connect them socially, so that they can support each other. He sees great potential in using video games therapeutically and has been in touch with clinical psychologists who use games in their practices. Mark plans to study game design, play therapy and, eventually, to obtain a PhD in neuropsychology to further these goals. He has bigger ideas for MeTV and WeCraft, as well, and would also like to host regular classes and events for patients who are interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.

Using technology to help children is a job that fits Mark Compas as if it were designed for him.

Are you Made for this? Explore jobs at Cohen Children’s Medical Center.

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#EachforEqual: Northwell Health celebrates International Women’s Day 2020

March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate women while also reinforcing equality everywhere. At Northwell Health, we’re committed to championing our team members regardless of gender or gender identity by celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness against bias, and taking action for equality.

In celebration, hear from some of Northwell’s amazing women on how they are helping empower women.

international women's day each for equal

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From delivering care in the US Army to Zucker Hillside Hospital

Before Laren Lamonaca delivered care as an assistant nurse manager at Zucker Hillside Hospital (ZHH), he delivered care in the U.S. Army.

In the U.S. Army, Laren served as a combat medic with an LPN identifier from 2005 until 2011. It was there where his medical skills grew, exposing him to experience in the ICU/CCU. As part of the 1 First Surgical Team, Laren worked under the leadership of two doctors who work at Northwell Health.

But his time in the Army provided Laren with much more than just technical skills. “The Army taught me leadership and the importance of duty to my country, my unit and my peers,” says Laren. “It taught me that giving respect is as important as getting respect.”

After he returned from deployment, Laren went back to school to become a registered nurse to further his healthcare career. Upon graduation, he accepted a nursing position that was a mixture of emergency and behavioral health nursing.

“Behavioral health nursing found me,” says Laren. “I fell in love with the behavioral health portion of my job and was then offered a job at Zucker Hillside Hospital. The rest is history.”

Laren started his ZHH career as a staff nurse in the acute geriatric psych unit and it’s a population he still loves working with today. “The stories they share of their lives are amazing. It’s very rewarding work,” he says. “Seeing a patient go from depression back to themselves after treatment is very heart warming.”

It was while he was working as a registered nurse at ZHH that Laren’s leadership saw his potential. He was promoted to an assistant nurse manager position where he continues to deliver compassionate care while helping lead his unit, a position he’s comfortable in after being in charge of new recruits in the army.

“I would highly recommend other veterans look for positions at Northwell,” says Laren. “I love working here, the environment is great. My coworkers really care for the patients we see on a day-to-day basis and the administration team is very supportive and engaging. I cannot say enough great things about working for Northwell.”

Find your next mission at Northwell Health.

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Northwell Health Labs provides career growth for lab technologists

When Nathan Howell first started working at Northwell Health Labs in 2016, he accepted a position as a lab support associate after graduating college. Since then he’s grown his career working in our automated lab, becoming a lab technologist and specializing in Chemistry, Special Chemistry, and Serology.

For Nathan, Northwell Health Labs was the perfect start to his career to get the well-rounded experience he needed to grow as a lab technologist. “I’m glad that I made the leap to work in the automated lab straight from school because it’s an opportunity to work alongside an incredibly skilled and knowledgeable staff and to grow exponentially as a younger technologist,” says Nathan.

And working in the automated lab, Nathan enjoyed being able to continue learning thanks to the diversity of departments there. “I’ve had the opportunity to gain experience in everything from specimen processing and accessioning, to quality control validation and assay correlation, as well as extensive instrument maintenance and troubleshooting,” says Nathan. “The scale and depth of which I have learned these skills is something that can only be obtained here at Northwell.”

Northwell’s automated laboratory is a 101,000 square-foot facility with the largest Roche automated line of its kind in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world. This provides our clinical laboratory team access to the state-of-the-art equipment they need to help physicians deliver life-saving results to our patients.

With over 30 million tests performed at our 23 hospital-based labs and centralized laboratories, Nathan is able to gain experience with a variety of cases he might not see anywhere else. “Abnormalities or diseases that are typically very rare – such as 1 in 100,000 or 1 in 500,000 to even 1 in 1,000,000 – become more common. There’s something new to be seen and to learn on an almost day-to-day basis working at Northwell.”

Beyond developing his own career, working behind the scenes as one of healthcare’s “unsung heroes” is also extremely rewarding. “I take a lot of pride in knowing the work that I do and the care I put into the instruments that run our specimens has a direct impact on this lab’s ability to provide quick and accurate patient care,” says Nathan. “The level of detail and care that goes into our process to ensure we’re providing the best patient care possible is something that is unmatched anywhere else.”

Are you Made for making a big impact on a microscopic level? Join our clinical laboratory team today.

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Meet Truly Innovative Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Diana Bernier

This post is part of a blog series highlighting Northwell Health’s Advanced Clinical Providers (ACP). Each Northwell Health employee was nominated by their manager as an individual who exemplifies a Northwell Health value.

This month, we’re proud to introduce to you Diana Bernier who currently works as a pediatric nurse practitioner for Northwell Glen Cove Physician’s Partners.

Diana started her career at Northwell Health in 1994 as a staff nurse working in the pediatric intensive care unit. From the start, she had a clear vision for her career and knew exactly how she would achieve it. While working in acute care, she was also working to complete her bachelor’s degree in nursing in the RN to BSN program at Stony Brook University – a move that would help set her up for success in the future.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Diana would push herself beyond her job description to learn about other roles within our organization. Her curiosity would lead her to the Division of Allergy and Immunology, where she would learn the ambulatory nursing side of pediatrics. Before she realized, she had spent 10 years in the department and was now a Certified Asthma Educator, working within the community and having a hand in coordinating the startup of the Pediatric Asthma Center.

Diana credits Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program for playing a huge role in her growth. “In 2012, I was accepted into the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program at Stony Brook University. The program made it possible for me to achieve this goal,” she says. “The Pediatric Pulmonary Division encouraged my interest in asthma and helped me fulfill the majority of my specialty clinical requirements.”

Proving herself to be not only versatile but a strong asset to the organization, Diana would be asked to take a role as a pediatric nurse practitioner for Northwell Glen Cove Physician’s Partners, a role she’s been in since 2017. “Though I had only considered specialty nursing, I was intrigued by the diversity of primary care and eventually became their first NP in the practice. It was a huge learning curve to shift from specialty to primary care, but my colleagues were very patient and supportive, and I am pleased to say I have been with this amazing team for three years now and feel like I am part of a family.”

Now, the mom of three continues to forge ahead in her career and in her personal life. “I have always had the drive to continuously learn and challenge myself. Challenges have sometimes felt terrifying, but I have learned to push through as experience has taught me that ultimately the rewards make temporary discomfort and sacrifice worthwhile.” This kind of attitude has helped her not only reach her patients in more authentic ways, but it has also helped her demonstrate the role her health plays in the overall picture. Approaching her 18th running marathon, she states, “It’s all about having a plan, working into your life, being flexible but committing to it even when it gets unbelievably hard. Once the goal is achieved, celebrate, and make a new one.”

A model NP at Northwell Health, Diana urges anyone who wants to achieve great things within their field that Northwell is the place to do it. “I am an example of an NP who has the opportunity to practice to the full extent of her professional license every day.” Thank you, Diana, for setting the tone and being a perfect example of what’s possible for NPs at Northwell Health.

If you’re Made for working with a team of exceptional ACPs, explore our opportunities here.

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Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program offers endless opportunities for team members

At Northwell Health, we don’t just support our team members, we invest in their careers. Our team members are the heart of everything we do, and by helping them grow, we’re helping our organization grow.

With endless opportunities to expand their careers, many of our team members benefit from our tuition reimbursement program to take their career in a different direction with a new degree or expanding their skills with continued education.

Meet two of our nurses who have made a difference in their career by going back to school with help from our tuition reimbursement program.

From Patient Care Associate to Registered Nurse: Terrance Duncan

Terrance Duncan, RN, first started his Northwell career as a patient care associate (PCA) at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in 2014. As a PCA, Terrance quickly developed his clinical skills, becoming a champion on his units to help promote best practices in rounding and mobility and a patient experience ambassador. His passion for patient care even earned him a Northwell Health Caring Heart Award.

Though he loved being a PCA, Terrance knew that he wanted to continue his work with patients while expanding his own knowledge. “I wanted to become a nurse because I love that as a nurse I could work in many different career specialties.”

With the support of Northwell’s tuition reimbursement, Terrance went back to school and earned his BSN while continuing to work as a PCA. “Northwell has supported me tremendously throughout my nursing career,” says Terrance. “My nurse manager was very supportive working with my school schedule while the tuition reimbursement program helped me financially.”

Terrance graduated from nursing school in 2019 and accepted a position as a Medical/Surgical nurse at North Shore University Hospital where he continues to deliver compassionate care to his patients.

From Nurse Extern to Senior Clinical Appeals RN: Mariel Hughes

Since starting her nursing career as a nurse extern at Zucker Hillside Hospital in 2014, Mariel Hughes, MSN, RN-BC, has grown her passion for nursing. After graduating from nursing school, Mariel started as a Medical/Surgical registered nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC). In 2018, she was promoted to become a Medical/Surgical assistant nurse manager at LIJMC.

As a nurse, Mariel joined the Collaborative Care Council at LIJMC and eventually became co-chair. The Collaborative Care Council builds interdisciplinary relationships among care teams and lets nurses like Mariel have a voice in the decision-making of the hospital. It was in those years as co-chair that Mariel discovered where she wanted her career to grow. “While in this role I really found a love for leadership–being able to advocate for my fellow colleagues and finding fun and interesting ways to improve our overall work environment as a team,” says Mariel. “Once becoming an assistant nurse manager, I had the foundation I needed to continue my education in order to become a great leader.”

Mariel returned to school and graduated in 2019 from Capella University with her Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Administration and Leadership. “Through Northwell I was able to utilize tuition reimbursement which covered 95% of my entire master’s program! I definitely would have not been able to further my education due to the financial burden if it was not for Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program!”

Using her newly developed skillset, Mariel is able to deliver a different kind of care as a senior clinical appeals RN in the Centralized Denial Office. Working within the Centralized Denial Office means Mariel’s job includes writing appeal letters to insurance companies who deny medical coverage for patients who required a hospital admission.

“My favorite thing about being a nurse is being someone’s support system, whether it be physically, emotionally, mentally or even financially now that I work in appeals,” says Mariel. “It is one of the greatest feelings in the world when you make the slightest difference in someone’s day or life that they can carry on with them.”

Are you Made for a nursing career with continued growth and development? Explore nursing opportunities today.

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northwell health gives back to communities

Northwell Health teams give back to their communities

As the largest healthcare provider and private employer in New York State, Northwell Health is committed to giving back to the communities it serves across the greater New York area. Throughout the year, different team members at Northwell Health will dedicate time to volunteer for the local communities we serve. From service projects and fundraising to soup kitchens and clothing drives, our Northwell family is giving back in a rewarding way.

Two recent teams who spent time giving back to our communities were our Center for Emergency Medical Services (CEMS) team and our Talent Acquisition (TA) team.

CEMS team launches Packages of Hope initiative

The CEMS team, through the launch of Packages of Hope, created care packages for homeless men and women to help take care of them during winter months. The Packages of Hope are distributed throughout NYC, Nassau and Suffolk Counties by our CEMS crews. The team donated items and their time to put together the care packages which included feminine products, warm socks, blankets, water, hand warmers and snacks.

Members from all over the department including EMTs, paramedics, the medical director and even children of team members came together to help make over 100 packages for initial distribution. The first event was such a success that there is already another day scheduled.

Seeing the difference volunteering makes has strongly impacted the team members. “I had the opportunity to hand out one of the packages,” says one CEMS team member. “His response to a small token of items was tears in his eyes and thank you as he walked away. What an awesome idea!”

“Giving back is a part of who this department is,” says Bernard Robinson, MHA, regional director at CEMS. “Not only does teamwork increase every time we volunteer, we’ve also seen an increase in new ideas and suggestions from our staff and occurrences of them taking the initiative to go above and beyond to serve our communities.”

Talent Acquisition volunteers with Long Island Cares

TA’s leadership team also recently gave back to our community volunteering with Long Island Cares during a recent team building initiative. The TA team prepared bags of groceries for the senior population in the Long Beach area who Long Island Care serves. The groceries are then delivered to seniors who can’t drive, leave their homes, or can only drive limited distances.

Working together, the team was able to prepare over 300 bags of groceries in just one afternoon! It was such a rewarding experience to give back to our community that the team is already planning to make volunteering a routine event.

“Volunteering at Long Island Cares was an honor and it offered the leadership team an opportunity to fulfill the Northwell employee promise and contribute to something greater than ourselves,” says Patricia Brown, Assistant Vice President of TA. “It gave us a great sense of achievement to be able to play our part in contributing to the well-being of the community Northwell serves. The opportunity to give our time and to be in service of others does wonders for team bonding on an emotional level and helps us grow as a group on a personal level.”

Are you Made for caring and giving back to our patients and communities? Explore jobs.

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What it’s like to interview at Northwell Health

When it comes to looking for a new job, interviewing can be the most intimidating part of the process. But interviewing doesn’t have to be nerve-inducing. It’s a great opportunity to let your experience shine and a major step in your career.

Get to know Northwell’s interview process and hear from our recruiters about their best advice to help your next interview be a success.

What is the Northwell Health interview process?

While our most common steps are outlined above, the process may vary given the variety of positions at Northwell. Our Talent Acquisition team is also always looking to improve the candidate experience with innovative technology. This means that candidates aren’t limited to traditional phone screens and in-person interviews. Text message screening and on-demand or live video interviews are common to make interviewing as convenient as possible for the candidates. It is important to note that Northwell recruiters will always have an @northwell.edu email address and our communications will always be clear that they are from Northwell Health.

Phone interviews are usually the first opportunity for candidates to leave an impression with our recruiters. “A phone interview should be taken just as seriously as an in-person interview. The same rules apply: professionalism and proper articulation,” says Marisol Antunez, a senior recruiter with our Talent Acquisition team. “Make sure you have good service so there is no static or a chance the call would drop.”

Beyond one-on-one interviews, candidates may also be asked to come on-site for a panel interview. “Northwell is an extremely collaborative culture, meaning panel interviews may be common for clinical roles,” advises Robin Moreno, senior recruiter. But she sees panel interviews as a benefit for our candidates. “Don’t be intimidated. Look at it as an opportunity to network with several people that you may potentially be working with one day.”

How can a candidate prepare for an interview?

When it comes to preparing for an interview, our recruiters all had the same advice: come prepared!

“Be on time, and do your research,” suggests Shannon Skaee, senior recruiter. “Often times doing your research can be what sets you apart from other candidates which may help drive decisions in the end.”

Recruiter Jennifer LaPolla agrees, “Familiarize yourself with the job description for the role. You should be ready to answer, ‘why do you want this job?’ and reading the description will help you answer that question.”

Other advice? Be confident about your skills. Review your own resume ahead of time so you can provide short, organized examples of your experience as well as transferrable skills. At Northwell, we value being Truly Ourselves so letting your personality shine in your interview can also help leave a positive and memorable impression on the interviewer.

Looking at Glassdoor can be another great resource for candidates. Previous candidates share their interview experience and give insight into what can be expected. While each interview is different, candidates can also leave examples of questions they were asked during their Northwell interview. Here are some of the most common:

What’s your experience in the medical field?
What are some ways you can help improve patient experience?
Tell us about a time when you were faced with a difficult or upset patient. How did you handle it?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What qualities do you have that would help you succeed in a stressful and busy environment?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?

After your interview, don’t forget to send a thank you note to your everyone you interviewed with along the way while you wait for your recruiter to reach out regarding next steps.

Now that you know what it’s like to interview at Northwell, it’s time to apply! Explore jobs today.

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The Role of a Home Care Registered Nurse Liaison

When it comes to delivering care at home, there are several career opportunities available. In addition to providing clinical home care visits, nurses can also work as home care registered nurse liaisons, which is a vital role that helps our patients understand how to prepare for their path to recovery before they leave the hospital.

What does a career as a home care RN liaison entail?

These nurses meet with patients and their families to explain the different types of care and services Northwell offers to help patients recover once they leave the hospital. They also coordinate with the facilities and Northwell Health at Home to schedule visits and to ensure the patient has a smooth transition from care in our hospitals to care at home.

This unique nursing position lets nurses enjoy autonomy while still getting a lot of time with patients. “I’ve been with Northwell since 2012 and have flourished in this position ever since,” says Madeleine Cotroneo, a home care RN liaison with Northwell Health at Home. “With over 15 years of home care experience, I was looking to utilize my experience to help influence and evolve the patient’s transition from the hospital to their home and step away from bedside care.”

And as a home care RN liaison, nurses like Madeleine are able to do just that. Some of their day-to-day responsibilities include:

Assessing the patient to recommend the appropriate services
Communicating with doctors, therapy staff, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to better understand the patient’s needs
Explaining the options for services to the patient and family
Speaking to the physician to ensure continuity of care

“Speaking with the patients and their families is my favorite part of the job,” says Candie Decker, home care RN liaison. “Transitioning home after a hospital and rehab stay can be scary for the patients and their families. I like to think I assist with a smooth transition and put their minds at ease.”

Other advantages of the job? Home care RN liaisons work at multiple locations within a region, allowing them to meet and connect with different people. Following a traditional work week also guarantees them weekends off to spend time with their family and friends.

As a registered nurse for 25 years, Candie has found working in home care to be the most rewarding, especially her current position: “I highly recommend a RN liaison position to any nurse who enjoys working directly with people and who wants to make a difference in the lives of their patients.”

Are you Made for this? Join Northwell Health as a home care registered nurse liaison.

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How to strive and thrive on alternate work schedules

From more time spent with your family during the day to running errands without the crowds, there are a lot of advantages to working nights and weekends. We asked some of our Northwell Health team members who work shifts other than days about how they make the most of their alternate schedules.

Their tips? Technology, helpful neighbors and flexible spouses are just some of the things helping our team members manage their social lives and family time, including childcare.

Anacleto Bristol
Ward Clerk, Emergency Services, Plainview Hospital
“I let [friends] know my time constraints and I reconcile my calendar with them. My phone’s calendar app is invaluable for this. I color code it with colors for work, night/social life and ‘me time.’”

Lucy Grant
Administrative Supervisor, Northern Westchester Hospital
“I have been doing this for 29 years. When the kids were young, my husband was there. I also was lucky enough to have a neighbor who babysat.”

When it comes to adjusting to a new shift, getting adequate sleep and shifting from work to family/social time and back, our team members suggested blackout curtains, preparing meals ahead of time and being organized about scheduling. Here are their tips and tricks for staying healthy:

Patrick Wang
ED Technician, Emergency Department, LIJ Medical Center
“Power nap on your breaks. Keep in touch with your friends and family but understand that you also need time to yourself to decompress. Everyone needs some alone time to ease their mind.”

Caitlin Vega
Registered Nurse, Brain Injury Unit, Glen Cove Hospital
“Avoid coffee after a certain time during the night and eat fruits instead. Work out, try to eat right and drink a lot of water.”

No matter what one’s work hours may be, balancing multiple priorities is a universal goal. We asked our shift workers how they make the most of their time off. Several said that doing chores and running errands when most people are at work frees up the rest of their time for what matters most: family, friends and healthy activities.

Amanda Zilnicki
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, Peconic Bay Medical Center
“I sleep, clean, do yardwork, do homework, or go to the beach or gym. Great time because no one is home to bother you and public places aren’t as crowded.”

Natasha Vasquez
Registered Nurse, Labor & Delivery, Southside Hospital
“I plan once a month group mommy dates and once a month date night with the hubby.”

Denise Walker
Supervisor, Patient Access Services, Emergency Department, Peconic Bay Medical Center
“I love riding my motorcycle, and during the day and during the week I get the most time in. When it’s a weekend, my husband and I will go for a ride and stop different places and enjoy the island. I also get the shopping done.”

Overall, we learned that our team members have impressive goals, are incredibly organized with their schedules, and are focused on healthy habits. With these helpful tips, they’re able to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle outside of their alternate work schedule.

Are you Made for delivering care on an alternate schedule? Apply today!

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Black History Month: Celebrating our differences in healthcare

At Northwell, we stand united together, celebrating our differences and respecting each other being Truly Ourselves. February is Black History Month, and we sat down with Kaye-Lani Brissett, Project Manager at the Katz Institute for Women’s Health and Bernard Robinson, MHA, Regional Director at the Center for Emergency Medical Services to learn about their background, leadership journey, inspirations and the importance of reigniting humanism in healthcare.

What is your ethnic background and family origin?

BERNARD: I am African American. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY. My family can be traced to Harlem, Mississippi and Virginia.
KAYE-LANI: I was born in Jamaica, Montego Bay and came to America when I was six years old to live with my father. Both parents were born and raised in Jamaica, Montego Bay.

When did you know wanted to work in healthcare?

BERNARD: I have always been drawn to the medical field. My father is a retired FDNY EMS Lieutenant. I remember him telling me stories of operating at the emergency scene. I knew then that I wanted to do the same.
KAYE-LANI: Growing up I was surrounded by family members working in the healthcare field. Through their influence I knew I wanted to be in healthcare as well. Although I thought nursing was my route, I still have a passion to help and care for others. I soon discovered the option of obtaining my Masters in Health Administration and having the option to help and care for people.

What’s the best part of your job?

BERNARD: For me, the best part is being able to affect change that impacts the entire organization. When I was a paramedic, my decisions would impact one patient at a time. As a director, I’m able to develop polices, and make decisions that will impact every one of our EMTs, paramedics and the patients.
KAYE-LANI: The best part of my job is that I have the pleasure of being a part of a faith-based initiative called Bridging Communities of Faith and Health. This enables me to practice my passion for helping clergy. leaders by coordinating educational programs, lectures and training for their congregations and surrounding community.

What do you think about when you hear “Black History Month”?

BERNARD: It makes me reflect on the contributions that black people have made to this country. It’s a chance for all Americans to celebrate and remember what black people have been able to accomplish and contribute, in spite of the circumstances we’ve faced.
KAYE-LANI: When I think about “Black History Month” I think about the triumphs, resiliency and people putting their life on the line to enable change for their community and country. I think about change makers and like-minded people coming together and hearing the stories of people who have paved the way for the people.

Is there a specific leader from history and/or present day that inspires you?

BERNARD: Rev. Jesse Jackson is an inspiration to me. I was a teenager when he ran for President and I remember how he would encourage everyone, young and old, when he spoke. He inspired me to believe, “I am somebody.” My current day inspiration is Robert F. Smith. For a black man to return to a historically black college/university and wipe out the debt of the graduating class stands as a reminder of how far we’ve come.
KAYE-LANI: There are quite a few inspiring and fearless leaders that I look up to, especially Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ella Baker and Maya Angelou.

Why, more than ever, do we need to reignite humanism in healthcare?

BERNARD: It is important that we not only conduct business but that we are an active part of the communities we serve. My department has been establishing relationships in many communities through various projects. We have been operating as an Explorers Post in Hempstead Village for eight years, helping to introduce high school students to the world of EMS through training and mentoring by our EMTs and paramedics. We just started a second program at Lenox Hill Hospital and a third will be starting in Queens. We also hold food and clothing drives and other great community-based projects, such as our Packages of Hope initiative where our staff hands out care packages to homeless men and women who they encounter while working. We have great relationships with the communities we serve, and that’s what healthcare should be about.
KAYE-LANI: Reigniting humanism in healthcare is essential because human beings are at the core of everything healthcare related. It is imperative that the people we care for and employ are protected. As Ella Baker said “Give light and people will find the way.” At the Katz Institute for Women’s Health I do this by coordinating educational lectures and trainings for houses of worships to educate and empower them to make healthy lifestyle choices.

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Born to lead, empowered to make a difference. Meet Christina, Assistant Nurse Manager in the Emergency Department

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Connecting with coronavirus patients, and their families

Nicole Fishman, RN, isn’t just caring for COVID-19 patients at Huntington Hospital, she’s helping them communicate with their families too. Hear her story.

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