Nursing Testimonials

Below are comments from some of our award-winning nursing staff who make Children's a national leader in pediatric health care. Learn more about why they chose Children's and about their experiences here.

Erica
After graduation, relocating to Columbus was the best choice I made. I wanted to work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital for several reasons, including excellent reputation in patient and family centered care, dedication to the staff, evident by Magnet status, and the world renowned pediatric research that occurs every day. I am very impressed with the dedication to continuing education that Children’s Hospital holds. I have received exceptional training during my orientation including a one-on-one preceptor experience and weekly neonatal classes taught by a team of nurse educators, neonatal nurse practitioners and other interdisciplinary team members. The combined class topics and nursing experience cover wide range of neonatal diagnoses, tests and treatments that prepare me to deliver the best nursing care I can. I am part of an amazing team that serves the mission everyday- Care, Advocacy, Research, Education and Service- That’s why I love being a nurse at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Joyce
As a caregiver at Nationwide Children's Hospital, I have been on the front lines of state-of-the art pediatrics. I have been welcomed here. I have been invited to learn and grow here. I see people passionate about caregiving here, for every reason. I have seen miracles here. My nursing career began here, in 1976. From then until now, I have witnessed countless advancements and changes. The blood pressure machine for infants that squawked like a duck has evolved into one which automatically reads and records the pressure in the computer chart. Illnesses for which there were no cures have become illnesses for which there is now great hope. And on it goes. There are some things that have NOT changed from then until now – the opportunity to interact with outstanding specialists, managers, mentors and team members, and the opportunity to touch the lives of wonderful children. I have grown and changed so much during my time here. The nursing career I always dreamed of came true for me at Nationwide Children's Hospital. I would invite you to accept the challenge to learn, grow, and change with us.

Katie
I chose to work at Children’s Hospital right after nursing school because I fell in love with it while I worked here in Rehab as a PCA through the wonderful summer work study program. The staff and patients I came into contact with that first summer made me realize what a wonderful place this was for learning and growing as a new nurse. Once I graduated I new for sure I wanted to work in pediatrics; it is where my heart is! So I took an RN position in Rehab and haven’t regretted the decision since. My patients, supervisor and colleagues have helped me learn and grow my first year as a nurse, all in different ways!

Katy
As a young adult volunteering for Children’s Hospital, it was then that I realized I wanted to become a part of Children’s Hospital. I have always loved children and they seem to be very drawn to me. My mother thought it to be a “special gift” that I had. The “gift” as well as the strong desire to work with children is what brought me to Children’s. As a volunteer, I realized the strong sense of belonging that I felt here at Children’s. It seemed as though everyone here was always happy and in good spirits and I knew that I could see myself working in an environment such as this. Upon graduation, the dream was both realized and fulfilled.  The four years that I have been here have been wonderful. I have had the opportunity to care for so many wonderful children and their families. There is nothing that I enjoy more than to care for an ill child only to watch them get better. It fills me with a great sense of pride and accomplishment to know that I was a part of the team that cared for that patient. The sense of teamwork here at Children’s is awesome. We all desire the same thing and that truly is “for every child and for every reason.” I really feel a great sense of pride in working for the hospital. I am proud to tell people that I work here.

Tricia
After teaching school for six years, I decided to make a career change and went back to college to be a nurse. When I graduated from nursing school in 1986, I first applied at Children’s Hospital and was disappointed when I found out there were no openings for RN’s at the time. I finally got the call that Children’s was opening a rehab unit and looking for nurses. Well, it did not take me long to get over to HR and interview. Now 20 years later, I am not only still here, but became certified in rehab nursing. I have watched our outpatient clinic program grow from one physician and one nurse to four physicians and four nurses. What I enjoy the most is having the opportunity to watch many of our patient population grow up over the past 19 plus years. I think I have learned just as much from my patients and families as I have been able to teach them. Another reason, I have stayed so long here, is that Children’s Hospital is an employer that genuinely cares about their employees. I have worked in lots of jobs and could not say that about most of the other employers.  I feel they are as interested in us, as we are in being here.