Own your training; it is tailored to you and is truly what you make of it. Use your resources if you have questions, and ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. Also, enjoy being on your unit! Make friends, and strive to be an asset to your team and for your patient. Even if your unit was not your top pick; there is much to learn right where you are. Lastly, always remember why you became a nurse; why is so important.
Meet Patrica Benamon - a HCA Healthcare nurse who unclocked possibilities with her career and has taken advantage of the opportunities given to nurses within the organization. Please take a few minutes to read about Patricia's career journey where she started as a medial assistant, transitioned to Human Resources and then finally decided to go back-to-school to become a nurse for HCA Healthcare.
Why did you choose HCA Healthcare:
I graduated with a bachelor’s of psychology in 2013 and moved to Nashville and obtained a certification in medical assisting as a means to gain additional experience in healthcare. My decision for employment came down to Vanderbilt or HCA Healthcare. I did my research on both companies, and the top two reasons I chose HCA Healthcare were because 1.) the salary was unbeatable, and 2.) HCA Healthcare is not only in Nashville, but it is a family of hospitals spread throughout the country including facilities in the UK. I loved that it opened up the opportunity to be able to relocate in the future or even to do travel nursing and still stay within the company. Those were the two reasons I selected HCA Healthcare, but I stayed for many more.
My story from medical assistant to nurse:
I joined HCA Healthcare in February 2015. I was a certified medical assistant at Centennial Heart in Nashville, TN which included multiple teams, and I belonged to the electrophysiology team consisting of three physicians, several hospital and clinical nurses, and approximately five medical assistants. Most of our patients needed pacemakers or defibrillators to manage irregular heartrates or life-threatening arrhythmias. I learned about EKG’s and heart medications, and I was selected to teach patients about the device that would monitor their pacemaker or defibrillator from home. The role strengthened my interpersonal communication skills, and I enjoyed the patient interaction. I acquired many skills and valuable experience throughout my time on the EP team. The positive atmosphere and knowing that I made a difference in the lives of my patients was what drew me towards nursing.
After a year of working at Centennial Heart, I developed an interest in Human Resources. I wanted to see the behind the scenes of patient care. I had experienced the clinical side, and I wanted to learn administration before I became a nurse. I transferred to the Human Resources Operations Center here in Nashville, which serves as the centralized national HR for every HCA Healthcare facility in the country. There were four main departments with distinct roles. I was a member of the Customer Service Department, and we received calls from HR, candidates, colleagues, non-employees, and vendors about a variety of issues from the status of candidates in the hiring process, to how do I update my address, and my paycheck is missing hours. We had to know a little of everything, and being on the phone for three and a half years really honed my communication skills! I became a better leader as I was selected to speak with the training classes to provide strategies for success in our position. I was promoted to Tier II after a year, and I loved being shadowed by local HR that would come to visit and interacting with them as fellow professionals.
I enrolled in nursing school in Fall 2017. Cumberland University offered the only working adults’ program in the Nashville area. I continued working full-time because tuition and Nashville rent were expensive! Also, I had utilized most of my financial aid when I obtained my first bachelor’s degree, and I did not want to take out a large private loan. Being in nursing school full-time while also working full-time for two years is the hardest task I have ever done. Nursing is hard enough on its own, and I am really thankful for my management at the Human Resources Operations Center that was so supportive and accommodating throughout the journey. I applied for the StaRN Residency program earlier this year, graduated with a bachelor’s in nursing, passed the NCLEX, and now I am a nurse! The profession is without a doubt my purpose and calling, and I thank God for leading me here.
What has my experience been like overall as an HCA Healthcare colleague:
Centennial Heart was a large clinic, but I invested in relationships with individuals from every level: HR to management, physicians, nurses, medical assistants, IT, and clerical workers. They were all such quality people. We all worked together as a team, we shared EKG machines, and we helped each other out. No matter how busy we were, we never lost sight of our patients as the reason we worked so hard. I appreciated that we always started our meetings by stating HCA Healthcare’s mission to the care and improvement of human life
The Human Resources Operations Center really focused on its colleagues’ growth and satisfaction. There was often discussion of our career goals and what could be done to better our current position. It was the most professional environment I have ever worked in, and we worked very hard. However, there were also days of fun events, and my coworkers made it great! I loved the atmosphere of inclusion; so many of us were different, but we were all accepted, and that quality is evident throughout the company. Additionally, I liked that we worked individually, yet we were also much a part of a team that served to assist and connect HCA Healthcare
HCA Healthcare’s mission states: “Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.” I have had the unique experience of working in both the clinical and administrative sides of the company and speaking with colleagues from across the nation, and I can say that HCA Healthcare truly upholds this single vision. HCA Healthcare emphasizes family, integrity, inclusion, compassion, and respect. We are dedicated to our patients whether by serving them face to face or helping those who do.
Speaking to benefits:
The benefits HCA Healthcare offers are competitive and affordable. There is the standard health insurance, but did you know the company also offers benefits like Life Lock, counseling, tuition reimbursement, and loan repayment as well as bonuses and repayment for certifications? Tuition reimbursement allowed me to afford school and continue to pay back previous student loans. I will also be utilizing the loan repayment benefit soon, so I am really grateful for my company’s investment in its employees.
Why did you choose the HCA Healthcare nurse residency:
I knew I wanted to stay with HCA Healthcare. The StaRN Residency Program provides weeks of specialized training with a preceptor, allowing for a smoother transition from student nurse to RN. HCA Healthcare also has a new simulation center with highly realistic mannequins so you can practice your skills. The residency creates a community of graduate nurses who can all relate to each other and are all on the same level, and it invests in their growth. The program makes sure that you are ready to provide quality care independently and be that nurse you have always aspired to be.
What advice do you have for new nurses:
I would first say congratulations! You did not get to where you are by accident, so be confident. I encourage participating in a residency program. Own your training; it is tailored to you and is truly what you make of it. Use your resources if you have questions, and ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. Also, enjoy being on your unit! Make friends, and strive to be an asset to your team and for your patient. Even if your unit was not your top pick; there is much to learn right where you are. Lastly, always remember why you became a nurse; why is so important.
Why did you want to be a nurse:
I graduated with honors as a certified medical assistant (CMA) in 2014 and began my career in healthcare. I relished the patient experience as a CMA. I took pride in perfecting new skills, being personable with the patients, and performing at my highest ability to provide the best treatment and care. On the weekends, I worked at a mental healthcare facility for children. It was a chaotic environment where I intervened in suicide attempts and at times left with broken ceiling tile in my hair and glass in my shoes. It was the juxtaposition between the two environments of medical assisting and mental healthcare that led me to pursue nursing. I want to be a nurse because I have a heart for people and a desire to see them improve. I love that nursing is both a humanistic and scientific field. I greatly value education and research, and I believe that neither will cease as a nurse.
Patricia with her colleagues at Centennial Heart in Nashville, TN