Category: Leadership

Reconnecting with Mel was great to say the least, our conversation immediately flowed as if we were still sitting in her office on the bottom floor of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC). After we caught up, I began the interview on a topic I don’t remember ever discussing with Mel, how she started her nursing career. As she is now in a non-bedside role, I inquired about her bedside nursing career and she remembers the exact date starting at HUMC, January 6 (or maybe 8th) 1996 during a blizzard on a swing floor. After being on this floor she then sought out other settings such as PICU and NICU before being the initial person in the role as Trauma Prevention Coordinator. She reports having plenty of support in various aspects such as monetary and professional relationships that continue to value her within and outside of the organization. A large aspect of being a Trauma Prevention Coordinator is working with the community as she pairs with schools, and others such as the local foundations, Statefarm Insurance, Safe Kids in a local state and worldwide fashion as well as town and state police. I then transitioned and asked if she always knew that she wanted to pursue a MSN in leadership and she replied that she wasn’t sure which nursing masters initially she would like to do, but felt that already being a nursing educator she wished to strengthen her leadership. Completing this program was supported by her job and she received small tuition reimbursement as well as a one time bonus after completion. Something I wasn’t aware of is that she has returned to bedside nursing starting last May to support with the pandemic. She was placed on non-COVID floors and completed trauma assessments. She mentioned that she felt that this role was very important in a time with no visitors to be able to be their person and converse with others. Even now with a 1 visitor policy for that hospital, it is still not the same since patient’s families still fear that they will get COVID-19 as a result of visiting their loved ones. To help with supporting patients and healthcare workers, she says one of her volunteers made posters to help cheer everyone up. The last point she made was how hard it has been to have a work/life balance in the time of COVID, now with life somewhat coming back to normal she attends pilates 3x/week, aerial yoga once a week and enjoys dinner out with her vaccinated friends. I’m really happy I had the opportunity to talk again with Mel and get personal advice about my future nursing career from her.

As soon as I read the requirements for this assignment, a nurse leader immediately came to my thought. In high school, I was introduced to a nurse at my local hospital and had the opportunity to interview to volunteer with her and her projects as Trauma Prevention Coordinator for Bergen County, New Jersey. This was a new opportunity for me to delve into the medical field and be exposed to different areas. She was the first nurse that I met that didn’t have a bedside role and she still had a crucial role in implementing safety and education to the community. I admire how Mel is a selfless leader that deeply cares about others and being involved in our path that we were creating for ourselves as high school students who were interested in the medical field. It was very apparent to me before completing hundreds of volunteer hours with Mel that she is a leader, she respects those around her and looks out for others and holds herself with high regard. During my time with Mel, looking back I had tunnel vision and only considered medical school for my future, however during my experience she exposed me to various medical professions and I greatly value that and that has helped me lead me to the path that I am currently on in a nursing program. She had a formal leadership position within the hospital system and represented Safe Kids New Jersey Bergen County through State Farm Insurance and received countless grants to provide helmet and safety information to kids across the state. I believe through her position she was able to also be an informal leader and help each of her volunteers become leaders themselves through building confidence and public speaking skills at volunteer events. Defining a difference between informal and formal leadership in my eyes is whether or not you have a title that defines your leadership position, but that doesn’t hinder anyone from holding leadership characteristics to be an informal leader. I am most looking forward to reconnecting with Mel and finding out how she has pursued other nursing leadership opportunities, the decision to leave bedside nursing and inquire about her MSN in Leadership program.