Where nurses build their careers

Why is Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) so popular with nurses? Why do so many take their first nursing job at this leading medical institution, and why do so many make their careers here?

Just ask Michelle Doyle, RN, a recent graduate who took her first full-time job in Beth Israel's Medical Intensive Care Unit. "Beth Israel Deaconess offered one of the most comprehensive and in-depth orientation programs available," says Doyle.

"I was interested in evidencebased practice and improvement in patient care outcomes. The fact that I could advance in these areas while I was learning to be a nurse at the bedside was the primary reason that I wanted to come here. I feel supported by everyone; I really feel like a valued member of the staff."

"We have a robust orientation for novice and experienced staff," explains Pat Folcarelli, RN, PhD, director of professional practice development. "Our nursing leadership team is focused on sculpting career advancement goals for our clinical nurses. To do that, our nurse managers and clinical nurse specialists work collaboratively to foster a practice environment that supports continual learning, while delivering high quality patient care. Our nursing service offers many continuing education opportunities as well as awards for nursing excellence, scholarships for education, and an advancement and recognition program that recognizes the contributions of our staff as they become expert practitioners."

Making a career
This support extends beyond orientation to continued opportunities for growth throughout a nurse's career. Marybeth Meservey,RN, MS, has been a clinical nurse in labor and delivery for 16 years. "The main things that have sustained me are the focus on patient care and the reputation of the nurses at this institution. I also feel strongly about being a role model to new nurses so we can maintain standards of excellence, even when there is a lot of change."

At BIDMC, nurses are proud to be in an environment that hosts more than 300 nursing students yearly from local undergraduate and graduate programs throughout New England. The medical center also hosts many international visitors who come to learn about nursing care systems in the United States. As one of the most "wired" hospitals in the country, Beth Israel Deaconess provides information systems supports such as a computerized provider order entry system that facilitates communication among the healthcare team, and serves to improve the safety of medication administration to patients.

Over the past year, BIDMC has added additional Surgical Intensive Care Unit beds to accommodate its expansion of surgical services; expanded inpatient capacity for its growing bone marrow transplant program; opened a state-of-the-art Coronary Care Unit, and expanded cardiology capacity.

"Our continued growth and the ongoing renovations of our inpatient units have added a vibrancy to our workplace and enhanced our ability to provide excellent care in surroundings that support the work," says Folcarelli.