PEF nurses ~

with the special calling have a true desire to help people feel better. They are in a career where compassion is not a required part of the job, but makes the job rewarding for so many. To celebrate National Nurses Week, May 6-12, and give a

salute to all PEF nurses, one was selected from each PEF region. This year’s theme is “Caring today for a healthier tomorrow.” All the nurses said technology is the one thing that has

helped with advancing patient care, but also has diminished, in some places, the old-fashioned bedside care for which nurses were once hailed.

PEF Region 7 Michael MacDougall, nurse administrator 1, St. Lawrence

Psychiatric Center

“I think everyone becomes a nurse because

they are sociallymotivated and have a desire to help people. I find working at St. Lawrence to be rewarding and challenging. Payment is a concern here, as we did not get a geographic differential. There should be uniformity in payment. Despite the hardships, I work with a lot of really good nurses. To some, the financial reward doesn’t meanmuch. They aremore concerned with patient care. A good nurse runs the whole gamut of great technical skills, fast reactions to life-and-death situations, and right up to the old schoolmethod of being at someone’s bedside,making a difference.”

PEF Region 8 Linda Sano, employee health service nurse, Department of Civil Service

“Nursing is a fabulous career for a man or a

woman. Under the nursing umbrella, there are so many different kinds of opportunities. It allows you different working hours, so you can juggle being a mother and nurse at the same time. The job I currently hold gives me the opportunity to help people make positive changes for wellness in their lives, especially those with major health problems. In this time of doing more with less, my office is a safe place where employees can come to share, de-stress, and regroup so they can continue their workday serving New York state.”

PEF Region 9 Mary Jo LaPenna, nurse 2, Wallkill Correctional Facility

“I love working at Wallkill. I see about 30

people a day to distribute their medications, and about 10 other people who have signed-up for sick call and other emergencies. I would encourage people to look at a nursing career, because it is rewarding work. The nursing shortage is a problem nationwide. So nurses have to work together, help each other and work hard. Then we can get our jobs done.”

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PEF Region 10 Hazel Martinez, hospital nursing services consultant, Office of the Medicaid Inspector General

“The goal here is to ensure the

integrity of the Medicaid program. We make sure services being rendered are appropriate. We get information about many different program areas, do some investigative work, and know many Medicaid rules and regulations. As an RN, I would encourage someone to become a nurse practitioner. You can specialize in certain areas, assess patients and write prescriptions. We need nurses to educate the public too. And more areas are opening up in the profession such as alternative and holistic health.”

PEF Region 11 Shanti Shajan, nurse 2, Queens Children’s Hospital

“Ever since I was a child, I knew I

wanted to be a nurse. It’s a rewarding feeling to help people. This profession allows you to meet and know people in different ways. Anyone going into nursing has to be a compassionate person and responsible. There are so many options for nurses. They are the backbone of every department in the health system. Everyone depends on nurses. My advice to anyone considering a career in nursing: Go for it.”

PEF Region 12 Helen Kurtzke, nurse 3, Stony Brook Medical Center

“I am the clinician in charge of the

ambulatory surgery center’s pre-op and post-op areas. One of our goals is to keep our patients first. When there are budget cuts, we are asked to do more with less. The nurses here rise above budget challenges and deliver the kind of care that translates into a pleasant surgical experience for our patients. Our patient satisfaction scores rank us as one of the best ambulatory surgery centers in the nation.”

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