MEETH the team at Manhattan Eye, Ear, & Throat Hospital revolutionizing perioperative ambulatory care
Throughout 2018, Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital (MEETH) worked hard to increase the efficiency and quality of care in our ambulatory OR in New York City.
As part of this effort, MEETH had the exciting addition of robotic surgery in November, making us the first Northwell Health ambulatory center to perform robotic surgery. The program launched with Robotic Assisted Hernia Repair and Robotic Assisted Cholecystectomy cases to great success. The addition of robotic cases within MEETH empowers our team to deliver state of the art and highest quality care to our patients.
By allowing surgeons greater precision, dexterity, control, and visualization, robotics have proven to contribute to less post-operative pain and discomfort, minimal scarring and improved patient recover times. The OR team here at MEETH is very excited and proud to be able to offer this great service to our patients!
The OR Team at MEETH has also started doing ambulatory Total Shoulder Replacement Cases. We’ve also increased our ENT, GU, General Surgery, and GYN case volume to help better serve patients. This increase in volume has come along with a steady increase of our on time start times for the first cases of the day – with a 10% improvement over 2017.
Our collaborative care council has been revitalized to help improve our work environment with collaborative feedback from our team. Employees also participated in the MEETH Career Day Panel which helped introduce high school students to different healthcare opportunities and help excite them about joining the industry.
Not to mention, there’s always something to celebrate! One of our surgical technicians presented in-service focusing on the history of surgical technologists and the proud moments from MEETH during Surgical Technologist Week. In celebration of Perioperative Nurses Week, MEETH hosted our very own fashion show in which the staff created designs from unused OR supplies. During the holiday season, we hosted an International Holiday Breakfast/Lunch during which our team could bring in and share their traditional food to celebrate our diverse heritages.
Check out the photos below!
Are you Made for delivering exceptional care from an ambulatory location? Join our team at MEETH!
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CRNAs go above and beyond while their patients are under. Learn more in Northwell Health’s CRNA Fact Sheet:
CRNAs are invaluable members of our patient care teams. Every year, they safely administer more than 45 million anesthetics to patients in the U.S. through a safe and cost-effective way. Explore this fact sheet and learn more about this noble profession:
What is a CRNA?
CRNAs are advanced practice nurses who’ve earned the credential of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist after passing a certification exam. They have over 2000 hours of advanced clinical training. CRNAs work with healthcare providers, ranging from surgeons and anesthesiologists to dentists and podiatrists and administer anesthesia to all surgical cases.
Where do CRNAs practice?
Wherever anesthesia is being delivered, CRNAs are there, caring for patients. Inside private practices, surgical suites, specialty offices, Obstetrics and U.S. military sites, CRNAs are caring for millions of people around the world each day.
What makes CRNAs so important to health care?
CRNAs are also a cost-effective alternative to anesthesiologists, making a huge difference for patients and insurance companies fighting against rising healthcare costs. CRNAs aren’t just important to save on healthcare costs, in many rural communities of the U.S., they’re vital as they are the primary anesthesia care provider. In many states, nearly 100% of rural hospitals rely on CRNAs as the sole providers for anesthesia care, meaning that without CRNAs, surgeries would be impossible.
What education is required to become a CRNA?
The minimum education and experience required to become a CRNA include:
● Baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing or other applicable major
● Valid registered professional nursing license and/or APRN
● Minimum of one-year full-time work experience, or its part-time equivalent, as a registered nurse in a critical care setting within the United States, its territories, or a U.S. military hospital outside of the United States.
● Graduation with a minimum of a master’s degree from a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
What is a CRNA program like?
Depending on the university, nurse anesthesia programs can vary from 24-51 months. Most programs have gone or are in the process of offering the DNP as the entry to practice terminal degree. After 7-8.5 years of study, professionals leave fully prepared for their position, graduating with immense clinical experience that averages to 9,369 clinical hours. All of this work culminates in a master’s or doctoral degree from a program that’s accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
As an acknowledgment of CRNAs’ growing importance and educational expectations, by 2025 all CRNAs will receive a doctoral degree. Once they receive a degree, a CRNA graduate they must also pass the National Certification Examination before they can start practicing on their own.
What are the career opportunities for CRNAs?
CRNAs are highly regarded advanced practice professionals who enjoy real autonomy and incredible professional respect in their roles. Since they’re are solely responsible for the anesthetic care of their patients, their compensation reflects that immense responsibility. Beyond their degrees, some CRNAs utilize their fellowships to specialize in areas of anesthesiology like chronic pain management.
How do I become recertified as a CRNA?
We’re excited that you want to become recertified as a CRNA! You can enroll in the Continued Professional Certification Program, an eight-year program that’s dividing into two four-year cycles. Administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists, the CPC is based on four components: traditional continuing education, professional development, core content modules, and a comprehensive exam.
Are you Made for a career as a CRNA? Learn more about CRNA opportunities at Northwell Health.
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Photo: Northwell Health supervising nurse practitioner Sheila Davies (pictured center) with her Follow Your Heart team members. Deciding to transition from a registered nurse (RN) to a nurse practitioner (NP) is a big decision. The commitment to obtain the additional education and training for this prestigious designation is significant. And while it may not be for every nursing professional, those who take the step to become an NP gain many new opportunities. For Sheila Davies, a Northwell Health supervising nurse practitioner, the decision to become a nurse practitioner was made early in her nursing career. She started her career with Northwell as a surgical intensive care trauma nurse but wanted to continue her education after receiving her bachelor’s degree. “I knew I wanted more,” says Sheila. “Health care is continuously changing, and I realized that becoming an NP would open up more doors for me and better prepare me for those ongoing changes.” She enrolled in day classes at Stony Brook University while continuing to work nights at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). She completed the NP master’s degree program in two years and immediately accepted a position in NSUH’s open heart intensive care unit. Like Sheila, Peggy McCormack also launched her healthcare career as a registered nurse. With an associate degree from Nassau Community College, Peggy continued to work full time while attending Columbia University for a dual BSN/MSN degree, and graduated as an adult NP. At the time of graduation, Peggy already was working on NSUH’s cardiothoracic service team, which was expanding. She interviewed for one of the open positions and was hired as a NP on the post operative cardiac surgery floor. For both Sheila and Peggy, mentors were very important to their career development, helping to orient them in their new roles. They knew that surrounding themselves with skilled and experienced professionals would help them achieve their own successes. “It was hard work but exciting, challenging and rewarding,” says Peggy. “I was fortunate to work with a team of dynamic practitioners who were clinically outstanding, took pride in the care they provided, had strong work ethics, and on top of all that, they were funny.” For Sheila and Peggy, their focus on education didn’t stop after they became NPs. Sheila continued her education by earning a doctorate in nursing practice. This has enabled her on her path of becoming a change agent in healthcare. She currently leads the Follow Your Heart team who were finalists for the 2018 President’s Award for Teamwork. The program is one of a kind and provides essential follow-up visits for cardiac surgery patients at their home or post-acute care location. Peggy’s pursuit for personal and professional growth led her to obtain a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Hofstra University with a subspecialty in quality management. The program helped her gain greater insights into the business side of health care. With her additional education, Peggy became a clinical liaison, helping with improvement projects. She advanced to the role of supervisor of medicine advanced clinical providers and helped to develop a structured orientation program for new hires at NSUH, which has resulted in improved employee engagement, recruitment and retention rates. For both employees, the support that Northwell provided was pivotal to their success.
Making a shift in your nursing career: How to become a nurse practitioner
Ongoing education
“I was given the flexibility I needed to pursue further education and achieve in my career,” says Sheila. “I’ve been able to constantly improve my skills and knowledge.”
Interested in joining our team of nurse practitioners? Explore our open positions.
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Nursing students gain invaluable experience in eight week Nurse Extern Program
Each summer, our Nurse Extern Program provides Junior BSN students with a rewarding 8-week paid preceptorship. These future nurses gain invaluable knowledge daily to build the strong foundation necessary to launch a great nursing career.
At Northwell, we’re dedicated to helping our nursing externs develop the skills they need to help deliver the best care possible to our patients. “I learned and practiced essential nursing skills but most importantly, I gained confidence in my ability to care for and advocate for my patients,” says Toni Barbarino, an extern at North Shore University Hospital this past summer. “I will carry the lessons I learned this summer with me throughout my entire nursing career.”
The education doesn’t stop at the bedside. Throughout the program, there are educational in-services presented by our nurse educators and leadership. “Nurse externs spend eight weeks of the summer working with the best nurse educators, RN preceptors and team members gaining knowledge and confidence as the begin their Senior year,” says Ellen Lorenz, RN, BSN and program manager of nursing fellowships and recruiting. And the externs agree! Mary Ellen Zarriello, an extern at Long Island Jewish Hospital, adds, “From the first day of the summer program through the last, the nurse educators made every effort to ensure that I, and my fellow externs, had exceptional opportunities for professional and personal growth.”
This isn’t just a summer externship, it’s a stepping stone. “Our goal is to hire our externs at Northwell when they graduate,” says Ellen. Students in the extern program not only develop a strong skill set while they’re still in school, but they’re building lasting relationships with future peers. Most importantly, their passion and commitment to patients is only strengthened as they gain unique experience in real life settings.
And the program’s only growing! This year’s 2018 program hosted over 70 nurse externs at 13 hospitals, more than 2017’s 60 externs and nearly double the number from 2015. As it continues to expand, our Nurse Extern Program is helping more and more nursing students achieve their full potential to start a great nursing career.
By investing in our students today, we’re helping to redefine health care for years to come. This program not only allows for externs to learn from nurses with years of experience but introduces them to settings they won’t see in their clinical rotations. Nursing students finish their summer with a better understanding of the full spectrum of nursing, and an ignited passion to finish becoming a registered nurse.
Are you Made for the future of nursing? Learn more about our Nurse Extern Program here!
Hear from 2018’s summer Nurse Externs on why they loved our Nurse Extern Program:
“Being a nurse extern at North Shore University Hospital was truly a once in a lifetime experience. My favorite program feature was working one on one with my preceptor. My preceptor was patient with me as I learned, took time to teach me all that she could, and helped me gain confidence in my skills and myself! At the Golden Ticket Event a statement was made that this program transforms you from a student to a nurse, and that is exactly what it did! Thanks to Northwell I know that I am made for this!”
“I was a nurse extern at North Shore University Hospital for the Summer of 2018 where I worked one on one with a nurse in the Operating Room. I truly got to see what it is like to work as a nurse by working three 12-hour shifts per week for the first time. I loved being in the operating room because this area is not a part of my clinical rotations in nursing school. Being placed one on one with a nurse made the experience feel so personal and gave me so much time to ask questions. The nurse educators always went out of their way to make sure we were getting the best experience possible. This was a learning experience unlike anything else I have ever had, and I cannot be more thankful for what it has done for me. Going into my senior year of college, I feel more prepared and motivated than ever before to finish nursing school with this background.”
“The Northwell Health Summer Nurse Externship was an invaluable experience that provided me with the opportunity to work alongside and learn from the most exceptional educators, preceptors, and staff. Each shift I was challenged to grow my bank of knowledge and skills, all of which will be imperative in my future career as a registered nurse. This externship gave me the opportunity to be a part of simulation experiences, as well as be a member of the healthcare team. I am so grateful for the confidence and practical experience this program provided me with.”
“This summer I had the opportunity to be a Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center Nurse Extern. This externship provided me the skills and confidence that no other opportunity would have given me. I made amazing memories, met incredible people and worked with some of the best pediatric health care providers. Being in the pediatric intensive care unit has always been a dream of mine and this externship experience has only reinforced my dreams of being a PICU nurse. I look forward to the amazing experiences Northwell has to offer and I am extremely grateful for this past summer.”
“This program helped me further prepare for the transition from a nursing student to an RN. I was truly submerged into the all-around patient care from team meetings with other health care professionals, to hands on nursing care working side by side with my RN, and independently communicating with patients and families. Entering my final semester of nursing school, I am feeling most confident about my skills and feeling that I have tied together everything I have learned in school from this externship.”
“The Northwell Health Summer Nurse Externship Program can only be described in one word…invaluable. Every moment of my summer was filled with experiences that cannot be matched by any other healthcare system or clinical site. My time in the Surgical ICU at Long Island Jewish Medical Center was transformative in my nursing education. I am excited for my last year of nursing school and for my career ahead knowing that I have been exposed to such a high standard of healthcare as a part of this program. This program has transformed me from a nursing student to a confident nurse professional.”
“The Nurse Extern program was a deeply rewarding experience that has not only helped me develop and strengthen clinical skills, but most importantly taught me the value and significance of patient and family centered care. Northwell Health, especially Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is filled with dedicated employees who were beyond supportive and welcoming throughout the duration of the program. As I move on within the nursing profession, I will always value the opportunities the externship has provided and treasure the memories it has created.”
“Northwell Health’s Summer Nurse Extern program is the perfect combination of education and on the job experience. I found myself applying prior knowledge learned in school, as well as new knowledge I acquired from my amazing preceptor in the clinical setting at Glen Cove Hospital. The training and education I received completely prepared me for my future endeavors as an RN. This Nurse Externship left me feeling like I really made a difference and contributed to the well being of the patients who I cared for. The best part about this program was the one on one collaboration it offered to each and every student! I feel super confident entering my final year of nursing school, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity with Northwell Health.”
“The Northwell Health Nurse Externship was truly a life changing experience. The program has changed me not only as a nursing student, but as a person as well. This past summer I gained skills, knowledge, and developed competency as a nursing student, but what I am most thankful for is the confidence this program afforded me. With the support of my preceptors, nurse managers and nurse educators I was able to conquer competencies that I never thought possible as a student. Thanks to the Northwell Health Nurse Externship I begin my senior year of nursing school confident in my skills and with an even more intense passion for the nursing profession. This program has left me both excited and eager to begin pursuing a career in nursing and has made me sure that I am made for this!”
“I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to work as a Northwell Health Summer Nurse Extern at Southside Hospital. The guidance and clinical expertise that I received from my preceptors and educators were invaluable. I truly enjoyed my experience and I look forward to using the knowledge and skills that I learned this summer in clinical this year.”
“At the beginning of the externship program, I thought that I knew what nursing was about. Being in the emergency room opened my eyes to a completely new side of nursing, and led me to having experiences that I had never imagined taking part in. I will be a better nurse because of this. Thank you Northwell health for this amazing opportunity.”
“I fell in love with this externship as well as Lenox Hill Hospital and Northwell Health and I hope to return as an RN. It was the most educational and enlightening experience I have received throughout nursing school and has strengthened my passion for the nursing profession.”
“The summer Nurse Externship program at Northwell was a wonderful experience. The program encouraged critical thinking skills and helped me advance my clinical nursing skills. My preceptor fostered a learning environment and helped me gain confidence in the clinical setting. I had many optimal learning opportunities and by the end of the program I felt like I had become part of the Northwell nursing team.”
“Being a Nurse Extern at LIJ Valley Stream was truly an experience I’ll never forget. Before the program, I remember feeling anxious about becoming a nurse and the high expectations that are required of nurses, but after the 8 weeks, I have definitely felt more confident and excited to be an RN in the Northwell System. The entire staff of LIJ Valley Stream were incredibly welcoming and as genuine, I felt like a part of their family very quickly. This experience had validated all the information I learned in nursing school and it was awesome to see what I learned put into practice. I am truly glad I got the opportunity to be a Summer Nurse Extern at LIJ Valley Stream.”
I entered this externship knowing I would learn, of course. I learned about the nursing career, witnessed interprofessional communication, performed and observed skills, and practiced speaking to patients and professionals. But what I am most grateful for are the relationships I made with everyone I encountered at Plainview Hopsital. I am also immensely grateful for the abundance of knowledge I’ve learned about myself through bedside nursing. I’ve realized it’s not always about what you can teach patients, but what patients can teach you. I’d like to specifically thank all of the wonderful people on the telemetry unit. The experience I’ve had with Northwell are memories and lessons I will never forget, and they are helping me become the nurse I strive to be. I am honored to have been part of this program, because now I truly know I am made for this.
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Happy Nursing Professional Development Week!
All week long, Northwell Health has been celebrating Nursing Professional Development Week! We’re celebrating the values that make our nurses Made for the great work they do every day. From sharing their knowledge in a Truly Ambitious way to seeking Truly Innovative opportunities and by working Truly Together, Nurse Educators and Nursing Professional Development (NPD) Practitioners lead the professional development of our health care team.
Did you know that Northwell Health offers nurses various personal and professional growth opportunities to continue to excel in our health system? Here are some of those opportunities:
#1: Summer Nursing Student Extern Program:
At Northwell, we’re always working toward delivering better care and that means developing the next generation of talented nurses. Our Nurse Educators coordinated 78 nursing students from schools across the U.S. to participate in the Northwell Health summer nurse extern program. After a formal orientation at the Institute for Nursing, students continued to a Northwell Health hospital site to work with a Registered Nurse in various specialties. We’re excited to see where these Truly Ambitious nursing students go with their career.
#2: Academic Progression Counseling:
Academic progression counseling is available to Northwell Health nurses seeking to continue their life-long academic goals and support in achieving specialty certifications. So how did they do it? There are over 60 nursing affiliation agreements to support clinical experiences at Northwell facilities and Northwell Health nurse educators serve as preceptors to nursing professionals furthering academic progress in BSN, MSN, Ph.D., and DNP programs. At Northwell, nurses have the opportunity to attend on-site classes at select locations where they get to work towards their BSN or MSN degree. We are proud to offer a Master of Science-Nurse Practitioner program with several specialty tracks to help our nurses continue their education and advance their practice at our Hofstra-Northwell Graduate School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies.
#3: Professional development:
We believe that nursing is never business as usual and we’ve built our professional development course to back that idea. Our Passport to Preceptorship e-learning module and courses are available to Northwell Nursing Professionals. And they’re popular! In 2017, 528 nurses completed the i-learn preceptor module and 191 nurses attended the in-person class. Our Nursing Leadership Basic courses offer a foundation for excellence within the organization for over 90 new and aspiring nursing leaders and the SOURCE learning lab for clinical staff enhances clinical skills and creates an individualized learning environment. Not to mention, specialty orientation classes attended by over 490 nurses including Cardiac Devices, Core Concepts of Mechanical Ventilation, and Basic and Advanced Neurologic Concepts.
#4: Orientation:
We want all of our team members to start off on the right foot. So we ensure that our nurses have the tools to do so! Nurse educators provided orientation across Northwell Health specialties for over 2,500 nurses and patient support staff in 2017. The knowledge, skills, and behavior in the orientation program provide the foundation to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), Clostridium difficile (C difficile), and other infections; pressure injury; and helped to increase team communication, humanism, and critical thinking.
We’re excited to spend the week celebrating Nurse Educators at Northwell Health! Learn more about our incredible nursing opportunities here.
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Meet the NICU nurses of Cohen Children’s Medical Center: A unit that’s unlike any other
It takes a special individual to have the passion to care for our smallest patients as a nurse in a unit that’s unlike any other. Registered Nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Cohen Children’s Medical Center are made for caring and protecting our patients and their families. It’s this commitment and heart of our nurses have bolstered Cohen’s reputation throughout the years.
“I had always heard Cohen’s had a great NICU and that it was the “ultimate” place to work,” says Gina Forlani, an RN who jumped at the chance to join the NICU team at Cohen. As a Magnet® hospital with a level 4 NICU, Cohen’s nurses are known for delivering the highest standard of care to its many patients.
Our nurses treat their patients with the individual attention they deserve, and this dedication that has earned Cohen a top 50 national ranking for exceptional care in eight pediatric specialties, according to US News & World Report’s 2018-19 Best Children’s Hospitals. Cohen has also recently reached a a major patient safety milestone – the hospital has maintained a zero infection rate for central-line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) in its 57-bed NICU for more than one year.
And while caring for our smallest patients can be hard, it’s also incredibly rewarding. “I take pride in taking care of our small patients and making the families feel comfortable while their child is in the NICU,” says Gina, “Unfortunately it isn’t ideal for families to be in the NICU in the first place, but building trust and a good rapport with these families helps and provides in balance their life inside and outside of the hospital.”
Brianna Tarulli, another RN in Cohen’s NICU agrees, “Many of our babies are here for weeks and months. It is so rewarding when you can help a mother who is afraid to touch their baby transform into an empowered caregiver. It is amazing to see babies who are so small or sick get better and come back running down the hallway! It is a privilege to be a part of that!”
Support can also be found in Northwell’s Truly Together team. The nurses of the NICU are close-knit and help each other deliver the best care possible. “I love my co-workers,” says Gina, “This group of nurses works very well under tense and stressful situations. We are truly a team that sticks together.” Brianna feels the same way about this hardworking team of nurses, “As a nurse at CCMC, I am part of a fabulous team! I know no matter what I am walking into at the beginning of my shift that I have coworkers that will anticipate my needs before I can even verbalize them.”
This spirit of teamwork is only furthered by great leaders. “Our nurse leaders are compassionate, caring and go above and beyond for patients and families,” says Brianna. Having leaders who empower their nurses helps them develop the skills they need to grow with their team. Gina also flourished under her mentors when she began her career with Northwell, “I was assigned to work with two amazing RN’s when I first started my career in the NICU at Cohen’s. They taught me patience and accuracy and how to best handle the sense of urgency and importance of our career.”
Great leaders are just one of the reasons that a career in Cohen’s NICU is a career that grows with you. “It’s a great place to work in regards to work/life balance, furthering your education, and getting your voice heard,” says Brianna. Nurses within Cohen’s NICU gain gain invaluable experience and leadership skills, along with continued learning opportunities.
And continued learning is a must in the NICU! Our nurses are constantly pushing Northwell’s value of being Truly Innovative. “We’re a Magnet hospital so there are always ways to be involved in improving care and making changes,” says Brianna, “It’s also important to keep an open mind and be willing to learn and discover. This is a rapidly advancing field and what we do today may be different tomorrow. Knowing the science behind your care helps to keep you informed!” By keeping our nurses trained on the latest technologies, such as a stabilization unit in the L&D, Northwell empowers them to redefine health care.
Join the passionate and powerful team in the NICU at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Explore job opportunities today!
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Top 10 reasons to work as a Registered Nurse in ambulatory practices
When it comes to making the switch from a hospital setting to ambulatory or outpatient practices, there’s a lot to consider. From improved work/life balance to close-knit teams, ambulatory practices offer many benefits to Registered Nurses. Hear from Practice RNs from our 650+ ambulatory locations to discover why they love working in physician practices!
1. Bond with patients long-term
Practice RNs working in an ambulatory or outpatient offices have the unique opportunity to bond with their patients long-term. Having regular appointments lets nurses and patients connect and get to know each other outside of a hospital setting.
“I love being a practice nurse because I get to build a rapport with my patients during their obstetric care, they feel like family”
– Mary Rogala, Practice RN
“I enjoy working at Northwell Physician Partners because it gives me an opportunity to develop more long term relationships with our patients.”
– Brandi Celmer, Practice RN
2. Work/Life balance
Working in a physician practice also offers greater work/life balance for our RNs. Shorter business hours and no night shift means as a practice RN you can enjoy your nights at home. No or limited working weekends means more time together with your friends and family.
3. Work in your own backyard
With 650+ locations throughout the Tri-state area, Northwell Health gives you the opportunity to work in your own backyard. Find your perfect work commute when you choose a location from our physician practices across Long Island, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Staten Island and Westchester.
4. Different paces in work environments
More locations means more choices! Find the right fit for you when you choose from Northwell’s dynamic range of work environments. With 650+ locations, it’s easy to find a site that matches your speed no matter your preferred pace. There’s also never a need to worry about getting stuck in one place. With limitless opportunities, our nurses have the potential to move between practices and locations.
5. Growing ambulatory industry
Within the last two years, Northwell Health has doubled our number of physician practices. As our hospital services continuously expand, we’re acquiring more and more practices to support our services. This means good news for our practice RNs – our ambulatory practices only continue to grow alongside our health system!
6. Flexible shifts
With typical business hours of 8am-6pm, practice RNs can also enjoy the perk of flexible shifts! Having shifts with various hours gives you the chance to choose a schedule that works best with your lifestyle. Enjoy shifts from 9am-5pm, 8am-4pm, and 10am-6pm, so you can plan your day around the needs of your family.
“Working in an office practice has allowed me to continue my nursing care to adapt to my changing needs of my family.”
– Alison Kachianos, Practice RN
7. Preventative care opportunities
Preventative care also helps make practice RN careers especially rewarding. Being able to bond with your patients allows our nurses to not only treat patients when they’re in need, but help educate them on how to prevent them from needing future care. The encouragement and knowledge our nurses share with patients helps patients develop healthy routines and habits that make a huge difference in their lives.
“Practice nursing allows me to do a lot of patient teaching”
– Karla Motis, Practice RN
“I love the continuity of patient care”
– Joan Strong, Practice RN
8. Close working relationships with your physicians
Another advantage of working as a Registered Nurse in a Physician Practice means creating strong bonds with your physicians. Working at in an ambulatory setting means more collaborative care with the physicians as you work as a team to provide your patients with the best care possible.
“We love working in the ambulatory setting because we are able to form close bonds with our physicians so collaboratively we can take better care of our patients”
– Diane Rago and Nancy Daly, Practice RNs
9. No or limited holidays working
There’s no better place to spend the holidays than with your family and friends. No or limited holidays working means you get to spend invaluable time with your loved ones.
10. Close-knit team environment
With a smaller group of RNs and physicians, the workplace in ambulatory or outpatient settings is a close one that’s Truly Together. Build a strong with your team to create an atmosphere that’s more like family!
“I love getting to work with great nurses every day.”
– Mary Rogala, Practice RN
Are you Made for nursing? We’re hiring nurses at our physician practices now.
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Igniting change across Women’s Health one nurse at a time
If you asked JoAnn Marzouk the secret to her successful nursing career in Women’s Health at Northwell, the answer is simple: great leadership. JoAnn started at Northwell in 2004 as a per diem Clinical Nurse Project Manager. Four titles and two degrees later, JoAnn has just been promoted to Nurse Manager at Islandia OB/GYN Contemporary Care, and she credits this accomplishment to her leaders who pushed her along the way. This progression led her to her current specialty in Women’s Health where JoAnn is helping to redefine health care with each nurse she mentors.
Transitioning to Women’s Health has JoAnn ready to take on new challenges. JoAnn’s been working in Women’s Health since 2016 when Donata Megaro hired JoAnn as a Nurse Supervisor at Women’s Comprehensive Health Center. This provided her with an opportunity to explore and learn another nursing discipline, which catapulted her career in Women’s health. This experience at WCHC has prepared JoAnn for the next step in her career.
“I am very privileged and excited to take on another new challenge in the OBGYN service line with a recent promotion to nurse manager at Contemporary Women’s Care in Islandia. Nurses have to understand that ambulatory nursing is significantly different than working in a hospital and that the responsibilities for nurses can at times be underestimated.” This is an underestimation that JoAnn is working hard to change. During her managerial time at Northwell, she hopes to be able to give new nurses the necessary skills tailored for physician practices, starting with developing strong telephone triage skills.
Starting her nursing career at Northwell
Starting her career with Northwell back in 2004 was an easy decision for JoAnn. “I could foresee the growth of the system even then,” she says, “I knew that this was a health system to be reckoned with and that they were doing things the right way.” Working per diem also provided her the flexibility to be at home with her kids.
From there, JoAnn went fulltime before she was recognized by her leader Wendy Carnel, VP, Revenue Integrity Ops, to do more project work in the hospital. Next, she was approached by her mentor, Winnie Mack, SVP, Health Systems Ops, to become the Nurse Manager at Southside for Wound Care.
“There was always that leader there to push me to the next step,” JoAnn says, “and they gave me the support and confidence that I needed to succeed.”
Continuing nursing education
Desiring to continue growing as a nurse, JoAnn enrolled in a Southside cohort to get her BSN onsite at Southside through Farmingdale University. She went on to graduate with Leadership Honors, receiving a nursing leadership award and giving the speech at graduation.
Her education didn’t stop there. JoAnn was provided an opportunity to return to school again. In another cohort environment, set up once again by Southside Hospital, JoAnn earned her Master’s Degree in Nursing through Stony Brook University in two years while still working fulltime. JoAnn feels very indebted to Tricia Lewis, Director of Nursing Education & Research at Southside Hospital for providing such an incredible opportunity for her to further her education.
As her career progressed, JoAnn was able to take her experience and education to inspire new nurses in our health system. “I take pride in identifying staff and pushing them to further their education. The reason I’m able to do that now is because someone did it for me. I’ve been able to take on new positions to continue to ignite change for new nurses
And it’s not just new nurses that JoAnn is inspiring – her own daughter has started her career with Northwell and is an assistant coordinator in Research at Zucker Hillside Hospital.
Part of building a great nursing team, means to keep learning herself. This October marks JoAnn’s next return to school. This time she’ll be working towards Doctorate in Nursing Practice, receiving tuition reimbursement from Northwell.
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Top 10 reasons to work as a nurse at Staten Island University Hospital
Thinking about working as a nurse at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH)? Let our nurses convince you why that’s the right move for your career! Here are just 10 of their many reasons to join the nursing team at Staten Island University Hospital.
1. Working in your own backyard
Located in the heart of Staten Island, nurses at SIUH enjoy an easy commute that gives them more time at home and less time on the roads!
2. Giving back to the Staten Island community
One of the most popular responses we heard was the ability to contribute back to the Staten Island community. There is a deep connection between the nurses and their patients due to the unique nature of working in the same community that you live in.
“Working at SIUH has been very rewarding for me and I have literally spent my entire adult life here. I have made lifelong friends, delivered my children here, had multiple family members here as patients over the years. It is a great feeling to live on Staten Island and care for your community.”
– Laura Wenzel, Senior Director of Maternal Child Nursing
3. Access to good benefits
Being part of a large health system like Northwell Health means access to benefits that are as unique as you are! Between health coverage, life insurance, generous paid time off, and more, we’ll make sure your life at work and away from work are fulfilling your needs.
4. Promise of delivering quality care
At Staten Island University Hospital, our nurses pride themselves on delivering the best possible care to patients. There’s an importance placed on treating your patients the same way you’d like your family to be treated and to provide care with compassion.
“As a nurse you take home many stories on a daily basis, some good some bad but they all mold you and remind you the reason you started this journey. A story that shines brighter than others, a discharged patient returned to the unit and hand delivered me a bouquet of flowers for the “difference” I made in his life in such a few shorts days.”
– Jessica Powers, Assistant Nurse Manager
5. Working as part of a dedicated team
The nursing staff at Staten Island University Hospital is as close-knit as you can get! Being able to rely on your coworkers and confidently work as a team fosters a workplace environment that feels more like family.
“Teamwork is one of the most important aspects of the ED. We could not do it without each other. There is not one particular story that relates to this. There is many. Every day we work as a team and rely on each other. We are Truly Together!”
– Steven Metcalfe, Emergency Department Nurse Manager
6. State-of-the-art hospital
With growth spanning more than 150 years, Staten Island University Hospital now boasts 714-beds across two campuses to provide some of the most innovative care on Staten Island! Work at our North campuses which house Staten Island’s most modern emergency department, a state-of-the-art education center, and a medical arts pavilion. Working at our South campus? Get access to its own emergency department and a range of specialty programs.
7. Ongoing opportunities for education and growth
Staten Island University Hospital nurses gain access to Northwell Health’s entire network of valuable resources to help continuously grow their careers. From education opportunities at the Center for Learning & Innovation to the potential to move into numerous management positions, Northwell has a path ready to help you meet your career goals.
“SIUH is a great place to work. Nurses are valued. Quality care is valued. Teamwork is valued. Education is valued. Lifelong friendships will be made when you work here. Working for the community you live in is so rewarding. For me, SIUH is like family.”
– Lauren Goldstein, Emergency Department RN
8. Supportive Leadership
Nurse leaders at Staten Island University Hospital value the opinion of every RN. In this teamwork-driven environment, our nurses can have their voices be heard and supported by their leaders to help make a difference in the workplace.
9. Pushing the envelope on care
Our dedication to delivering the best care to patients means the constant drive to embrace new medical technology, including being the only hospital on Staten Island to offer open heart surgery. Nurses at SIUH are part of a team enacting some of the most innovative care methods in the area.
10. Making a difference
When it comes to care, our nurses have the opportunity to help patients and their family beyond the bedside. The trust built between patients and nurses allows nurses to educate their patients on ways to stay healthy, and to ensure their health continues to improve beyond their stay at the hospital. Our care truly makes a difference in someone’s life.
Are you Made for nursing? We’re hiring nurses at Staten Island University Hospital now.
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An Appointment With: Kelly Cifu, MSN, RN and VP of System Perioperative Services
When it comes to PeriOperative careers at Northwell Health, there’s an environment for everyone! With 23 hospitals and more than 665 outpatient practices, nurses have the flexibility to choose the right shift and specialty opportunity. Just ask Kelly Cifu, MSN, RN and VP of System PeriOperative Services. As a nurse for more than 20 years, Kelly grew her career with Northwell to her current position where she oversees 18 periOperative sites. We sat down with Kelly to discuss her history as a nurse with Northwell, the innovative technologies changing perioperative services, and the different career opportunities that are available for nurses looking to grow their career in perioperative nursing.
Why did you come to Northwell and what is your role today?
I started my nursing career at Franklin Hospital which is now known as Long Island Jewish at Valley Stream in 1987. I grew up in Franklin Square and knew that I wanted to work someplace close to home. For the first year of my career, I worked on a Medical/Surgical floor where I took care of many postsurgical patients. At the time this was a requirement for all new staff nurses that were hired. In nursing school, I had decided that I would really enjoy working in the operating room.
After my year of Med/Surg experience, I requested a transfer into the OR. I worked as a staff nurse for about six years and then was promoted to the Director of PeriOperative Services. I later moved to CFAM Ambulatory Surgery as Senior Administrative Director and then to Regional Director of Northwell’s PeriOperative Services. Next, I was promoted to the Associate Executive Director at North Shore University Hospital and then to VP of System PeriOperative Services. In my current role, I have oversight of 18 periOperative sites.
How is Northwell’s PeriOperative Services redefining health care with truly innovative technology?
The pace of medical and surgical innovation continues to increase. A wide range of new technologies are changing the way that surgeries are performed – while improving patient safety and outcomes and reducing health care costs in the process. Northwell works to be at the forefront of innovative health care as the deployment of new technologies in surgery creates many opportunities to provide our patients with better outcomes and a faster return to their everyday lives.
What advice would you give someone looking to get into perioperative nursing?
Candidates interested in periOperative nursing must be energetic, have good people skills and a great attitude. PeriOperative nurses love the fast-paced environment and the fact that no two days are the same. In one shift, you have multiple patients facing different surgeries. Nurses also enjoy the environment because it’s a specialty area in which they typically become close with their team members and enjoy the camaraderie.
PeriOperative careers offer a great deal of flexibility. There are many different shifts that are offered to fit anyone’s schedule and there are opportunities in a variety of periOperative settings such as the main hospital, an ambulatory surgery center or even a surgeon’s office. Northwell Health has 18 main surgical sites giving nurses a variety of opportunities to choose from. There are also a multitude of opportunities for growth in this specialty area. Nurses can choose to pursue leadership or educational roles within perioperative services. Career progression/certification is encouraged and supported at every level in periOperative services.
How is Northwell committed to keeping our employees engaged?
Northwell Health System has made employee engagement a top priority. The system continuously strives to improve employee satisfaction and workplace commitment. To accomplish this the leaders at Northwell clearly define and articulate our mission and vision, communicate effectively and often, coach employees for success, and strive to provide the most trusting and respectful work environment for all employees. Along with ongoing dialogue with our employees regarding Northwell’s achievements and opportunities, perioperative services holds an annual retreat specifically for our surgical services leaders and staff.
The periOperative leaders at Northwell are committed to continual improvement, teamwork, achievement, and obtaining the best results possible for our patients.
Northwell recently became the first health system to receive the Network of Excellence in Robotic Surgery designation from Surgical Review Corporation. Can you tell us more about Northwell’s robotic surgery technology?
Since it first started to gain traction about 15 years ago, robotic surgery has become increasingly common for many different types of surgical procedures, and is rapidly expanding in cardiac, GYN, ENT, thoracic, and neurosurgery, to name a few specialties. At Northwell, there’s a continuous movement to be truly innovative, adopting the latest technology to ensure the best care for our patients. Robotic surgery has results in greater precision while also providing enhanced visualization via video images. Providing our highly skilled surgeons with robotic surgery technology results in improved outcomes with faster recovery times.
Northwell’s surgical services has grown tremendously over the past few years. How are we continuing to grow in the future?
Northwell’s periOperative services is growing fast and we continue to enhance our extensive capabilities. We strive to continue to build top-notch interdisciplinary surgical teams and professionals. Northwell continues to add operating rooms with hybrid technology and constantly invests in state-of-the art technology. We have added kidney and liver transplant to those services provided and opened a world-class heart transplant center in 2018.
Are you Made for a career at Northwell? Explore current periOperative job opportunities across our healthcare system.
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A Commitment to Service: Kelly Mahaffy’s Story
A passionate commitment to her patients and team has followed registered nurse and Reservist Kelly Mahaffy throughout her career at Northwell Health that spans 30 years. It’s this passion for service that helped Kelly flourish in the OR, whether it be in a Northwell hospital or during her active duty.
Kelly’s career started in Manhasset Hospital as an OR nurse in 1988, following a successful clinical there in nursing school. Here she worked for 17 years on the evening shift, enjoying the diversity the evening shift brought and focusing primarily in neurology. Her desire for travel led her to California in 2005, where she later joined the Army Reserves.
When it came time to come home, Kelly returned to Northwell, accepting a position at Glen Cove Hospital in 2009. “At Glen Cove, we’re very proud of our hospital,” says Kelly, who is still an OR nurse there today, “We know when new surgeons come in, we have one chance to get it right and we do.” We’re proud to be able to have helped Kelly grow in her career with us while she continues to serve in the reserves.
From 2017 to 2018, Kelly worked with other reservists at Womack Army Medical Center in North Carolina. Here she was part of the active duty service, taking care of active duty soldiers. During her shifts, Kelly saw firsthand the sacrifices of those in the military and their families. Working with these soldiers continually inspired Kelly. “It reminds you to be grateful for the freedoms we enjoy daily,” she shares.
While at Womack Army Medical Center, Kelly noticed the inherent loyalty and teamwork of the soldiers with pride. “You have to look out for your soldiers,” says Kelly, “you have to look out for the people you serve with.” And she’s proud to see this value reflected in Northwell’s Truly Together employees as well, “The team really pulled together and took care of my job when I went away for a whole year. I knew when I came back, they’ll have kept things running smoothly.”
Veterans like Kelly and the soldiers they serviced have sacrificed so much to serve our country. At Northwell, we’re proud that Kelly chooses to continue this spirit of service with us as a nurse. “I’m proud to serve at Northwell,” says Kelly, “I am proud to have served in North Carolina, and I am proud to still be in the Army Reserves.”
And we’re proud to have been named a Military Friendly® Employer for three years in a row, supporting veterans like Kelly and providing veteran services throughout their time with us, such as pay differentials and flexible scheduling for reservists. We’re committed to our veterans, their career transition, and their growth.
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Give new life to your nursing career: 10 reasons to join our Labor and Delivery and Postpartum units at LIJMC
We spoke with nurse leaders at Katz Women’s Hospital at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) to find out what makes our Labor and Delivery and Postpartum units such special places for nurses to grow their careers. Here are the top 10 reasons!
1. Magnet® Recognition
LIJMC is proud to have the exceptional practices, facilities, resources, staff and leadership to be honored with Magnet recognition — the highest recognition for nursing excellence — and our commitment to excellence runs through everything we do.
2. Amazing Facilities
The new tower at Katz Women’s Hospital is supporting one of the busiest labor and delivery centers in the area and features 60 single-patient postpartum rooms with 30 rooms per unit.
“It’s not just that the facility has the latest technology, it’s the entire structure of unit. Every detail, from the decor to the single-patient rooms, is designed to elevate the experience for patients and caregivers.”
-Jennifer Santoro Shickler, MSN, RN, NE-BC
3. The Beautiful Moments of Bonding
Speaking of our postpartum rooms, we facilitate bonding by providing single patient rooms for mother and child, allowing the new, growing families to enjoy as many precious moments as possible.
4. Opportunities for Career Advancement
As part of Northwell Health, New York’s largest health network and private employer, we set RNs up with a wealth of opportunities to advance their careers. Whether they want to advance to a management position or make a lateral move, the opportunities and resources are at your disposal.
“Nurses here have so many opportunities. They can progress to a director or do a lateral move to another unit, really there’s unlimited potential inside Northwell Health.”
-Angela Gomm, RN MSN CNRN, Nurse Manager
5. Professional Resources
With some of the best training programs in the nation, Northwell Health is committed to empowering nurses to develop professionally. We bring classes and testing onsite for the convenience of our staff.
“Northwell has excellent management courses at the CLR. There are classes that go over discipline, decision control, budgeting, and so much more. Really there’s everything you need to make the transition into whatever career path you see yourself moving toward.”
-Angela Gomm
6. Making Baby-Friendly a Priority
We’re working toward the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation — that means we’re constantly looking at new standards and new practice guidelines that enable optimal infant feeding and mother/baby bonding.
7. Supportive Leadership:
One of the most important parts of a job is knowing that your leaders have your back and are ready to help you with anything you need.
“It starts with leadership that fosters an open and transparent environment, one which leaves you room to implement changes to benefit the patients. Once you start working among colleagues who are empowered in this way, you quickly begin to see how easy it is to grow and learn the skills necessary to advance your career. There’s really no hospital system like it.”
– Deborah Zaleskie, MS, RN, NE-BC, Director, Patient Care Services
8. We Can Rely on Each Other
We deliver 9,000 babies a year. With that kind of volume, it’s so important to be in a culture of open communication, where everyone is willing to step in and help you provide the best possible patient experience. Providing a safe environment where nurses feel comfortable asking for help, means we’re fostering teamwork.
“It is so busy that there’s a great culture of teamwork and communication. Our RNs work well with physicians and safety officers, and they’re not afraid to say when they need help!”
– Angela Gomm
9. Flexible Hours
Nurses work a difficult job that requires 24/7 responsibility. That’s why it’s so great that at Katz Women’s Hospital, scheduling is done with nurses as a top priority—with flexible hours offered for the afternoon and evening shifts.
10. The First to Try Something New
Nothing beats working alongside individuals who are passionate and innovative.
“There’s just something about the culture here. We’re always the first ones to raise our hands to try something new.”
– Deborah Zaleskie
Take on one of our nursing roles as the next step in your career. Register for our system-wide Women’s Health Interview Day!
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Honoring parent choices with our new couplet care model
There’s nothing more exciting than the hope and promise of new life. The mother-baby unit at Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) is a wonderful place for parents and their newborns – and it’s also a welcoming and supportive place for nurses.
Our nurses are bringing a new perspective to the mother-baby experience. It all begins with a patient-first philosophy, including a new couplet care model, and a passion for delivering a positive patient experience.
To deliver this standard of care at Northern Westchester Hospital, nurses are encouraged to enhance their skills and develop their careers by:
- Becoming Certified Breastfeeding Counselors
- Obtaining Electric Fetal Monitoring (EFM) certification
- Pursuing advancement through Clinical Ladder programs
Certification exams are paid for by the hospital to foster career growth. And even more, the hospital provides its nurses with paid time off to attend professional conferences. The hospital partners with Cohen Children’s Medical Center to provide NICU nurses with the best training possible. Other opportunities for advancement include tuition reimbursement, college discounts, fellowships and more. Learn more about careers at NWH.
There is strong collaboration among nurses, obstetricians and pediatricians as well as tremendous respect and involvement from nursing leadership.
“It’s always a team effort. If one area is very busy, another area will go and help them out. We all work together and that’s what I really like about the mother-baby unit.”
–Elizabeth Sanseverino, RN, BSN
And this commitment to patient-first care is a collaborative one. A new couplet care model was designed with input from two moms who worked with NWH’s advisory committee to add their own experiences as former patients. One example of the new couplet care model is focused around helping to ease the nerves new parents may have when leaving the hospital by introducing a unique discharge class to prepare them for this exciting new time of life.
The result is a model within the mother-baby unit that combines the needs of the patient with the expertise of our team.
Are you Made for a nursing career at Northern Westchester Hospital? Join us.
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Darryl Strawberry and compassion toward addiction
We lead with compassion. When someone is battling a disease like addiction, our first step, our first move, is one of empathy. That’s why we were excited to meet Darryl Strawberry.
Darryl Strawberry has overcome incredible adversities. As a professional baseball player, he’s an eight-time All Star, a four-time World Series Champion, and a two-time Silver Slugger. But during his recent visit to Zucker Hillside Hospital, he made it clear that his greatest challenge came from a foe off the diamond: Addiction.
Strawberry spoke in emotional detail about his personal journey from addiction to recovery. Referencing his new book, “Don’t Give Up on Me,” Strawberry advised his audience that no matter the addiction, there is hope and possibility for anyone in search for a better life.
“We have to step up as a society,” he said, “and I want to thank everyone at this hospital who works to make life better for those who need it. Recovery is possible, but we all have to help. The people who work here in this hospital – just know that this is not a job, it’s a calling. It’s about letting every person who walks through your door know that their lives matter.”
The Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation at ZHH hosted the event that provided inspiration and empowerment to staff, peers, and clients.
“With the current opioid crisis facing our nation, presentations such as Darryl’s heighten awareness to the growing problem and the effect on our communities,” Chief Nursing Officer Marybeth McManus said. “We are grateful to those in recovery who speak up with such a positive message, and to the health care providers so committed to caring for those on the journey to recovery.”
Looking to take up arms in the battle against addiction? Zucker Hillside Hospital has open RN night positions for inpatient adult units and geropsychiatric units, and a .5 ECT day position. Previous medical experience preferred for the geropsych units and ECT.
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If you are an individual with a disability requesting an accommodation for the application process, please click the contact us link above to request assistance.
Learn more about our hiring experience.
Read answers to common questions about the application process.
© 2021 - Northwell Health
Click here to view the “EEO is the law” poster.
It is Northwell Health’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all applicants and employees equally regardless of their age, race, creed/religion, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, pregnancy, genetic information or genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital or familial status, partnership status, victim of domestic violence, sexual or other reproductive health decisions, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
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