My career at Trinity Health started over seven years ago, but my career story is a little unique. Before working in health care, I had a wide variety of work experience, from being a server in a restaurant to car sales. I was actually inspired in my late twenties to go back to school. When I decided to enroll in a nursing program, I was working as an Administrative Manager at a Transitional Support Service (TSS) company, a short-term intensive residential rehabilitation program.
While completing clinical rotations, I chose Mercy Medical Center because of the close-knit and local feeling. During my Junior year, I connected with one of our nurse educators, and she presented me with an opportunity to join the Mercy team as a per diem PCT. I worked as a PCT for nearly 18 months, then transitioned to a full-time nurse after completing my degree.
I started as a new grad nurse in the Respiratory Inpatient Unit and worked in that department for 13 months. Then I had an opportunity to move to the Intermediate Care Unit for Critical Care. During my time as an intermediate care nurse, I decided that I wanted to go back to school for a dual master's degree in nursing and an MBA in Healthcare Leadership.
After about 18 months, I had an opportunity to transfer to the Emergency Department as a staff nurse. I completed both of my master's degrees in 2019. As my career progressed, I moved into a nursing supervisor then quickly transitioned into a Quality Nurse Manager position at Mercy's Emergency Department. The ED is a different environment that requires quick thinking, and I wanted to help lead and make sure our staff felt supported.
In the fall of 2020, I transitioned into a new role as Nurse Manager of our Critical Care - Intermediate Care Units. Currently, I have responsibility for three different critical care departments at Mercy Medical Center and oversee approximately 200 Registered Nurses and personnel. My career growth at Trinity has been incredible.
Now, as a nurse leader, I try to focus on Nurse satisfaction and staff engagement. I've worked to help bring in new systems that help promote work/life balance for my team. Over the past year, I've really tried to help support my team by hiring 40+ PCTs. I hope to continue making an impact and hire more nursing students as PCT's while they are in nursing school. I'm passionate about helping people and plan on implementing a clinical ladder program to help assist my team in their career growth.