Meet our Truly Ambitious PA Jennifer Megale
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 central Northwell Health value. This month, we’re proud to introduce you to Jennifer Meagle, Supervising Physician Assistant in the Department of Surgery/Surgical Critical Care/Otolaryngology at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH), who is a “Truly Ambitious” member of our team. Read below to learn why and explore ACP job opportunities at Northwell Health here:
Jennifer Megale, dog lover, athlete, and world traveler, loves an adventure. When she’s not addressing critical care needs as PA Supervisor at NSUH, she spends her time with her Rhodesian Ridgeback Penny, scuba diving and snowboarding all over the world.
Her adventure in health care began in 2011, following her college graduation and the start of her career as a per diem Surgery PA and soon full-time at NSUH where she worked for several years.
Jennifer returned to Northwell as Surgery PA Supervisor in 2018 and says it’s where her heart belongs. “What I have always loved about NSUH is the sense of family. Even though we are a large hospital everyone has always been so welcoming and transparent, including administration. You don’t see this very often at other large health systems. The organization is always looking for ways to help their employees grow and succeed,” says Jennifer.
As a Surgery PA Supervisor, she has been responsible for building a new total parenteral nutrition service, setting up a bioskills surgical course for PAs, and working on a robotics training course. Jennifer is continuously looking for ways to improve patient care, encouraging PAs to take on a more proactive role in their education and skills development. Jennifer says, “This past year, I arranged for a surgical physician assistant’s Bioskills lab, where PAs are learning to build on their operative and suturing skills. Making PAs more confident in their own ability truly helps them to adequately care and address all of the concerns of our patients.”
Surgical PAs at NSUH assist in minimally invasive robotic surgery. During robotic surgeries, PAs function as the bedside assist. Jennifer explains, “we are needed to change instruments, troubleshoot and use an assist port to help with the operation. Robotic surgery provides a number of benefits to the patient including less trauma to the body, minimal scarring, and faster recovery.”
Jennifer’s great adventure isn’t only in the OR. She’s an avid traveler with the intention of visiting every continent over the next five years, and with only three left to go, she’s almost reached her goal! She says, “I’m an intense snowboarder and I checked heliboarding off my bucket list two years ago at Whistler Mountain in Canada. To be dropped off at the top of a mountain by helicopter was exhilarating, to say the least!”
For Jennifer, providing Truly Ambitious care is her next great adventure. Are you Made for working with exceptional Advanced Clinical Providers like Jennifer? Explore your career opportunities at Northwell Health.
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Huntington Hospital receives its 4th Magnet® designation
Huntington Hospital, one of our community hospitals, has recently attained its 4th Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This is the highest honor an organization can receive for excellence in nursing care. In addition to being the first on Long Island, they are also second in New York State, and one of just 36 in the country to receive Magnet four or more times. Magnet status is the gold standard for nursing excellence – a reflection of Huntington Hospital’s nursing professionalism, strong collaboration, innovation, and teamwork as well as superiority in patient care.
Huntington Hospital’s culture is built on a commitment to quality, exceptional experience, and excellence for both patients and employees. “Our Nursing Leadership team is professional, dedicated, and committed to ensuring the best practice environment,” said Janet Milanese, Associate VP of Nursing.
Their nurses are able to practice in a supportive environment where opportunities are abundant, innovation is encouraged and their voices are heard. Their nurses work collaboratively and collegially with their interdisciplinary team to provide the best outcomes for their patients. “Senior leadership remains committed to nursing and meeting their strategic goals by supporting education, certification, and resources necessary to continue to provide high-quality care. Achieving and maintaining Magnet designation is a true testament to not only nursing efforts but also the efforts of all that support the nursing department at Huntington Hospital,” said Donna Tanzi, Director of Nursing Education and Professional Development.
Nurses at Magnet facilities can feel the strong attraction between the two as they are known for their high retention rates, high job and employee engagement/satisfaction scores, as well as a culture of excellence and positive patient outcomes. “As a new nurse seeking employment, Huntington Hospital was my number one choice because of their sterling reputation as a Magnet designated hospital. Working alongside nurses who hold such high standards has given me an unsurpassable advantage in my career. I consider myself very lucky to work in an organization that thrives on education and excellence,” said Jessica Shremshock, RN. Nurses are identified as the pioneers at the forefront of our evolving health system and all aspects of patient care, and the nurses at Huntington Hospital are always keeping the patient and their family’s needs at heart and find innovative ways to meet those needs. It’s that sense of empathic necessity that keeps their nurses motivated and constantly seeking ways to improve the care of their patients by refining nursing-sensitive indicators and keeping patients at the center.
Huntington Hospital nurses feel empowered knowing they have a voice that will be heard, and this support reinforces the culture of pride that is felt by all who work here. Megan, a registered nurse in the ER reaffirms just how special working at a Magnet organization feels, stating, “Working in a Magnet facility reminds me every day why I chose a career in nursing in the first place.” Shannell Blanchard, RN, also adds, “Working at Huntington Hospital has really changed the way I practice nursing. As a magnet hospital, they hold their nurses to standards of excellence and it has given me a foundation with which to be a better nurse. I am glad I made the choice to work here.”
Being recognized by Magnet is a tremendous honor. The culture of excellence at Huntington Hospital continually inspires the highest level of safety, quality, and patient and staff satisfaction. This fourth achievement affirms the foundation of nursing excellence they have built.Explore their nursing opportunities. (link to RN Huntington positions)
Explore their career opportunities.
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