Access • Opportunity • Diversity • Belonging • Community

American International College

29 minutes ago

"I am proud that I had the courage to step into this new role in the ED, this new position has opened many learning opportunities for me. I continue to grow and learn every day. I have added phlebotomy certification to my portfolio, as well as ALICE training, and CPI training and I plan to work on getting an interpreter certification soon. I’m now also enrolled in the nursing program at American International College!"

We are glad to have you here 🐝👩🏽‍⚕️"I have been working at Baystate Health for eight years. I started my healthcare journey as a housekeeper in a nursing home. I enjoyed my time helping the residents and decided to obtain my CNA license in 2012. I also became a certified home health aide and have worked in assisted living full time while providing home care part-time.

I wanted more skills and more experience and decided to apply to Baystate Health. Within a few weeks, I had an interview for a position in the observation unit. My interview went well but I did not have enough experience. I was devastated, but I didn’t give up.

I continued to work and applied again three months later for a Med/Surg position at Baystate Medical Center. The interview went great, my work experience fit so I was offered the job. While working on the Med/Surg unit I continued to learn and expand my abilities to many new roles and was cross trained as an operations associate. I also became part of the wound care team, and I was a point-of-care champion.

I transferred to the Emergency Department at Baystate Wing Hospital seven months ago. I wanted to experience what it was like to work in the ED and to help care for people in what could be their greatest time of need. Most importantly, I wanted to challenge myself. In these short few months, every day there has been an opportunity to learn something new. The team I work with is phenomenal. When I have questions I can ask any of my coworkers and they are welcomed with open arms.

We are not just co-workers; we are a family. When a critical patient arrives at our ED, our entire team comes together to do whatever it takes to care for that patient and be sure all the other patients in the ED are cared for as well. It is something extraordinary to watch our doctors, nurses, and my fellow team members, all come together as one, it is an experience like no other.

The best part of my day is when patients thank us for the great care that they receive. I remember an elderly gentleman coming to the ED for care, he was very combative and difficult to care for. I explained to him what was going on and I reassured him that I was going to help care for him and that he was going to be okay and he immediately began to cry. He told me that his wife had recently passed away and that he just couldn’t get over it.

He realized he had a problem, but he didn’t know what to do. I reassured him again and told him that he was in the right place to receive the help he needed. He thanked me. I made sure he had something to eat and that he was comfortable. We shared stories, we laughed. He called my coworkers and me his angels who saved him. As my shift came to an end he was sleeping comfortably, and I knew my job was done. Not only did he receive the care he urgently needed, he was going to go for further care in a place that could help him.

I am married and have a five-year-old daughter. When I’m not working in the ED, I work per diem in a local nursing home, I enjoy taking care of the residents, and I care for them like they were my family. When I am not studying, working, and doing mom duties, I like to paint pictures. That is my go-to stress reliever and self-care moment.

I am proud that I had the courage to step into this new role in the ED, this new position has opened many learning opportunities for me. I continue to grow and learn every day. I have added phlebotomy certification to my portfolio, as well as ALICE training, and CPI training and I plan to work on getting an interpreter certification soon. I’m now also enrolled in the nursing program at American International College!" ... See MoreSee Less