We believe all nurses should have the opportunity to influence their practice. So, whether it’s supporting and promoting a shared leadership structure that gives nurses a voice, or removing obstacles that stand in the way of delivering the best care, Providence strives to create a work environment where nurses can have the most rewarding experiences possible.

We spoke with several Providence nurses to learn how they’re empowered at work, and here is what they said.

Championing holistic thinking

At Providence, we provide whole person care—and to do that, nurses need a complete view of each patient’s circumstance. ICU RN Jessica has worked at Providence for seven years and appreciates that we encourage a holistic approach. “I love that you really have to use your brain,” she says. “It’s literally looking at the whole clinical picture and working closely with different disciplines.”

Skilled nursing administrator Maricor says that people are often impressed by the level of expertise skilled nurses possess. She says, “This is highly specialized nursing care. You have the capacity to treat the whole person. Not just their physical ailments, but mind, body and soul. It’s very rewarding.”

Triage RN Gina agrees. She fields calls and walk-in patients to her clinic and determines the most appropriate care for each patient. Says Gina, “In my position I get to look at the whole picture. Nurses can look at every angle. Not just the medical side, but also the emotional side.”

Fostering open lines of communication

Providence nurse managers and leaders across the board encourage questions and open communication—and every nurse is seen, heard and valued for their voice and contribution.

Gina laughs and says, “My old manager said, ‘You ask more questions than anyone I’ve ever met.’ I feel like you have to. I’d rather admit I don’t know something than hurt someone because I didn’t know what I was doing. And I try to pass that along when I’m training.”

Says ER RN Paige, “When I started as a nurse in the ER, everyone I worked with was super supportive. I felt like I could go up and ask whoever was sitting at the desk for help if I had a question. Even during my residency, in addition to my preceptor, I always felt like I could find someone that would be able help and assist me too.”

Providing ongoing learning tools and training

We are 100% committed to life-long learning, development and advancement. Here, that comes in many forms, including:

• The Clinical Academy: This nationally accredited, evidence-based program supports nurse residents (new nurses with less than one year of experience) and fellows (nurses who are changing their specialty) in their transition to practice at Providence through a year-long standard program.
• Tuition reimbursement: We provide a variety of online and in-person opportunities for caregivers and their dependents to receive an education conveniently and affordably through our partnership with the University of Providence (UP). And recently, we launched a new Education Benefit Program with Guild, which offers up to 100% tuition coverage upfront for select degrees and certificates.

We also offer paid training and apprenticeships, educational counseling, our Rise online learning platform, a Virtual Career Coach and location-specific learning events.

For example, one of the ways that RN Jessica’s unit learns is through a regular skills fair. It’s “a day where we have different stations, and we have people teaching each other. So, staff teaching staff. The more experienced nurses can give back to the newer nurses. And then it also gives educational opportunities for nurses who haven’t been there as long to teach something, and so they feel driven to learn it really well, so that they can teach it well.”

Caring for each other

At Providence, we care for and support each other just as we do for our patients. We are an inclusive workforce that champions diversity of thought, experience, culture and beliefs, and we cherish our core values of compassion, dignity, justice and integrity.

Says Nurse Resident Lindsey, “I personally have not felt more supported anywhere else but here. They have open door policy where it’s like if you need anything they’re right there.”

Elizabeth agrees and calls her coworkers her “work family.” “My philosophy is to be the best person I can be, which helps everyone around me be their best. I’ve been fortunate that my family has been cared for here as well, and I want to give everybody the care that my family would want, that I would want for them.”

Jessica says the supportive environment fosters a positive workplace. “We work together, and we don’t abandon each other. If we can create a really welcoming and supportive environment for our new hires and our new nurses, then not only will we have good patient outcomes, but we also create a unit where people want to show up to work.”

Want to work where you’re empowered to deliver your best nursing care? See all nursing jobs to find a role that’s right for you.