Nursing is a Great Career

Nurses are the backbone of any hospital. Through their expertise, dedication and hard work, they make the system work. They are patient advocates, and along with physicians, other clinicians, and support staff, they get the healing job done.

The importance of the bedside nurse has never been so obvious as during the pandemic. Our nurses have come to work every day, putting their own health on the line to serve others in great need. It is also true that some have left the bedside during the pandemic out of sheer exhaustion or due to the tension between work and family needs.

With the aging of the population, the demand for nurses will continue to grow. Applications to schools of nursing are increasing, which is a great sign. I have been reflecting on the reasons why a young person starting their career would pick nursing and I learned that one of our staff members, Lauren Kelly, was advancing professionally as an RN and was moving to work in our Emergency Department. 

So, this week I sat down and spoke with Lauren who has been part of the GBMC family since 2018. Lauren started her GBMC career in Employee Health (EH), as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). She used our tuition assistance program to further her career from LPN to RN, during a time of incredible employee turnover and work in EH, and while carrying and giving birth to her first child! Lauren did this to achieve her dream of becoming an RN and helping others in the Emergency Department.

To find out more about Lauren, her journey and the next step in her career at GBMC, click on the player below.  Please join me in congratulating Lauren and wishing her well as she furthers her career and also please join me in thanking everyone who works as a nurse!