Hospital helps employees grow
As the mother of six children ranging in age from 4 to 22, Eileen Romano had always been interested in pursuing a graduate degree, but struggled with the question of how to do that while maintaining work/life balance. She was able to realize her goal and move into a new role as a permanent charge nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). How did she do it? With the benefit of flexible work hours (three 12-hour days, most on weekends) and Children's Memorial's MBA program which met one night a week and via the Internet and small groups.
“I can't say enough about Children's Memorial. They've helped me be more available to my family and keep a full-time job,” Eileen says, who has been with Children's Memorial for seven years. “This is a place full of opportunity. I love where I am and know that my MBA and new leadership training makes me suited for other management roles. I feel there will always be a place for me here.”
Eileen's responsibilities in her new leadership role include coordinating the functioning of the unit, patients moving in and out, staffing of shifts, and supporting bedside nursing. In addition, Eileen was asked to participate in the leadership practicum, a frontline nursing initiative that develops leadership skills, emphasizing understanding one's own power, motivating others, teamwork, and achieving organizational results – all skills, Eileen points out – that are very applicable to her new role.
“Hospital leadership here invests a lot to foster future leaders,” Eileen states. “I'd say to anyone interested in advancing their career that this is a great place to do it!”
Nursing at Children's Memorial is supported by the hospital's Woman's Board, the Fred Love Krehbiel Chair in Nursing Excellence, the Prince Charitable Trust Scholar and Sabbatical Program, McCormick Tribune Foundation, and the Walden W. and Jean Young Shaw Foundation.