In nursing, teamwork isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s what keeps patients safe and careers sustainable.

But not all “teamwork” looks the same.

In some environments, hesitation, hierarchy or fear of speaking up can quietly erode trust. And when nurses don’t feel supported, it impacts everything—from well-being to patient care.

At Providence, we take a different approach. We’ve made a clear commitment to a culture of respect and psychological safety—because nurses deserve to feel as safe and supported as the patients they care for.

Here, teamwork isn’t just encouraged. It’s actively built, protected and lived every day.

A culture where support shows up in real time

“Nursing is never just one person doing one task,” says labor and delivery RN Audrey. “It’s a team of people noticing what the patient needs and stepping in together.” That mindset is why Audrey returned to the Seattle area after going to school in Michigan to start her career with Providence—and it’s what’s kept her here.

From her residency through her labor and delivery fellowship and into her current role, she’s experienced a consistent reality: teammates who step in when it counts. “People really show up for each other here,” she says. “You can feel that support when you need it most.”

That support is both practical and personal:

• Teammates stepping in at the bedside during busy or complex moments
• Colleagues anticipating needs and helping without being asked
• Managers and peers creating space to process the emotional side of the work

Audrey appreciates having people she can lean on. “Being a nurse is hard and I feel like I’m able to process that with my managers and my other coworkers. I feel heard and seen here and taken care of emotionally, which is really important to me.”

Mentorship is built into the culture

How a team welcomes new nurses reveals a lot about who they are. At Providence, experienced nurses don’t just tolerate newer team members; they invest in them as they embark on their new careers.

“A lot of people talk about experienced nurses as if they’re eating their young,” Audrey says. “I feel the experienced nurses here want the newer nurses to succeed. We want people to thrive.”

That intention is backed by action:

• Structured residency and fellowship programs
• Buddy systems that create immediate connection and accountability
• Leaders who check in regularly—not just on performance, but on growth and well-being

“It was a really cool way to build friendships,” she says about the buddy system. “It helped people check in on us both inside and outside of work and make sure we didn’t get lost. There are a lot of nurses in a big unit and a big hospital like this one, so having that buddy system was really helpful.”

Now that she’s more experienced, Audrey says professional development and mentorship opportunities have helped her grow in ways that fit her goals. “I’ve been thankful to co-lead a shared leadership group on our unit, which has helped me develop presentation and leadership skills to ensure the voices of nurses on my unit are heard. Our management encourages us to pursue certifications and training and conducts regular check-ins to see how they can support us in growing in the direction that feels right to each of us individually.”

Across Providence, nurses have access to structured development pathways and ongoing investment in their growth—so they can shape not just their own careers, but the future of care delivery.

Shared purpose in every shift

As a mission-driven organization, our teams are bound by a purpose to serve all in our communities, especially the vulnerable. So, when nurses come to work, they know that everyone around them is working toward that same goal. “I think all of us are pushing each other to be better here, and that’s something that I really value in the workplace,” Audrey says.

She believes staffing ratios on her unit reflect the Providence values. With typically one nurse per patient in active labor, nurses can stay fully present at the bedside. That level of presence takes a team willing to cover, collaborate and trust one another.

“I have the opportunity to walk through these really vulnerable moments with families,” Audrey says. “I can give them my full attention and care.” That’s only possible because the team makes it possible.

A web of support nurses can count on

Working here, Audrey says she feels protected by a “web of support.” She says, “There are so many layers of support around me and above me that help me feel stabilized when things are going awry. I trust my managers and who they report to, and I feel very safe here and seen. I feel like my license is safe. I’m able to care in a way that honors patients and their values and their beliefs, and I feel supported in that way, too. That’s very unique to Providence.”

Ready to experience the true power of teamwork?

If you’re a nurse looking for a team that genuinely has your back, we’d love to connect. Explore open roles at Providence or join our Talent Network to stay informed about opportunities that fit where you want to go next.