National Nurses Week: Celebrating the Heart and Soul of Empath Health

National Nurses Week is May 6-12. The theme for 2023 is “Nurses Make a Difference: Anytime, Anywhere – Always.” That is certainly true at Empath Health, where nurses constitute the heart and soul of one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health systems delivering non-acute care. This week, we would like to honor a few of our nurses by hearing from them about what it means to be an Empath Health nurse.

Lisa Gates, RN, Empath Home Health

Lisa Gates, RN, cares for Empath Home Health clients in Marion County. After spending 18 years as a surgical nurse in Illinois, Lisa decided to pursue a new career path so she could spend more one-on-one time with patients and families. After moving to Ocala, she discovered Empath Home Health.

Q: When and how did you first realize you wanted to be a nurse?

A: At 8 years old I told my grandma, “I want to be a nurse.” When my grandmother asked, “What makes you say that?” I responded, “I just love taking care of people.” I remember she looked at me, smiled and said, “You will be a great nurse. You can do anything you want in this world if you put your mind to it.” Years later, I still enjoy taking care of others every single day.

Q: What are your main responsibilities as an Empath Home Health nurse?

A: My main responsibilities as an Empath Home Health nurse include traveling to patients’ homes or facilities to administer their specific service and plan of care along with helping patients maintain their independence as long as possible. This can include managing medication, understanding of disease processes, wound care, dressing changes and communicating with interdisciplinary team to provide the best care possible.

Q: What would you say are the qualities that make a good nurse?

A: Being compassionate, empathetic and caring. It makes all the difference to a patient having a good or bad day. Also, strong communication skills along with attention to detail are important because each patient’s plan of care is individualized and it takes a team for a great, successful patient outcome.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of being a nurse?

A: The most rewarding part of being a nurse is knowing I have made a difference in patients’ lives. Whether they just needed education regarding medication, or a hand to hold during a tough time knowing they are not alone. That I can affect someone’s life positively is the most rewarding part.

Q: Do you have a story you would like to share about a patient or client who made you feel like you really made a difference in their life?

A: I recently had a patient I went to visit in their home; however, the patient was hospice appropriate due to long-term illness diagnosis of lung cancer. I sat down with the family and patient to discuss which route of care would be appropriate, either home health or hospice to keep patient as comfortable as possible. After having this hard discussion, the family decided to choose hospice to help keep the patient comfortable and have around-the-clock care due to disease progression. I called Hospice of Marion County (a member of Empath Health), and they were in the home within hours to give continuous care and allow the patient to be more comfortable. I reached out to the family later that evening to check in, and they described me as “the angel who came in to make a very difficult time a little easier” and thanked me for everything. To this day, this makes me emotional, but also makes me stronger as a nurse and allows me to continue doing what I love, which is caring for others.

Q: How does Empath Health and Empath Home Health support you in being the best nurse you can be?

A: Empath Home Health is like my second family. I never feel alone. Leadership is always available to answer any questions or concerns, and not only provides support to patients and their families but also their employees.

Marie Dorvil Bien-Aime, BSN, RN, CHPN, Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough

Marie Dorvil Bien-Aime, BSN, RN, CHPN, is an RN Case Manager at Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough. She was born in Haiti and grew up in Naples, Fla. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, Marie worked for another local hospice organization for 12 years. She joined Empath Health soon after Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough opened to patients in 2021.

Q: When and how did you first realize you wanted to be a nurse?

A: After graduating from high school, I wanted to do something where I can help and advocate for people. As this passion grew, a nursing career was a natural avenue for me to practice this passion.

Q: What are your main responsibilities as a Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough RN Case Manager?

A: My primary responsibilities include end-of-life care, educating and providing support to patients and families, supervising licensed practical nurses and hospice aides, and assisting in training new hires.

Q: What would you say are the qualities that make a good nurse?

A: Gratitude, empathy and the ability to listen to understand are the top three qualities I would consider.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of being a nurse?

A: Seeing a smile on a patient’s or family member’s face, acknowledging that I truly care for them and am providing undivided attention, not taking a patient’s or family’s anger in the grieving stage personally.

Q: Do you have a story you would like to share about a patient or client who made you feel like you really made a difference in their life?

A: I had a diabetic patient who was due for double amputation because of an infection in both of her legs that resulted in deep wounds to her shins. Her tendons and tibia became visible. Due to the patient’s cultural beliefs that she must die with her body whole, her son chose hospice care over the double amputation. With consistent and compassionate care, the wound healed within two months. The patient had other underlying conditions, so she later passed away but peacefully and with her body intact.

Q: How does Empath Health and Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough support you in being the best nurse you can be?

A: The company provides me with the opportunity to train other nurses and improve my nursing skills and offers programs like Reiki, which enhanced my ability to deliver better quality care for my patients.

Rachael O’Connor, MSN, RN, Director of Nursing, Empath Personal Care

Rachael O’Connor, RN, MSN, is the Director of Nursing for Empath Personal Care, the private duty home care affiliate of Empath Health. Rachael moved to Florida in 2004 from her native United Kingdom. She began her healthcare journey as a licensed massage therapist, but nursing was her dream. Rachael earned her associate degree from Keiser University, her bachelor’s from State College of Florida and master’s in Nursing Leadership and Management from Western Governors University. She joined Empath Health in February 2021 after working in the hospital setting for five years.

Q: When and how did you first realize you wanted to be a nurse?

A: My grandma passed away from breast cancer in 2003 after a 16-year battle. Although I was young at the time, I vividly remember wondering, “How could anyone want to be nurse?” At that time in my life, all I attributed nursing to was loss. A few years later, my daughter was born. She was diagnosed with a rare lung disease that required life-saving surgery at six months old. She also had an extended stay in the NICU for the first few weeks of her life. At that time, all I could think was “why would anyone want to be a pediatric nurse? This is terrible!” Skipping forward again, my son entered the world six years later. Another NICU baby! That time, I was older and more open-minded. Maybe it happened for a reason? I observed more that time and realized, “how could anyone not want to be a NICU nurse!” And the rest is history. Eighteen months of adult cardiac intensive care and 3.5 years of NICU nursing all led me here, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Q: What are your main responsibilities as an Empath Personal Care Director of Nursing?

A: I am the direct supervisor for all client-facing staff at Empath Personal Care. I supervise home health aides, CNAs and an admission RN. I conduct clinical orientation, supervisory visits, oversee client admissions, colleague compliance/education/relations and support scheduling when necessary.

Q: What would you say are the qualities that make a good nurse?

A: Patient, compassionate, understanding, knowledgeable, confident and being a good multitasker.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of being a nurse?

A: As a NICU nurse, I got to impact a lot of families in a very vulnerable time. As a leader in Empath Personal Care, I help facilitate care for an older population from all walks of life in our local community: hospice patients, veterans, long-term disability, you name it. It is a great feeling!

Q: How does Empath Health and Empath Personal Care support you in being the best nurse you can be?

A: There is always something new to learn and grow from. Empath has been a great support to all colleagues and there is so much opportunity for advancement.

To learn more about how to become a nurse at Empath Health, visit Careers.EmpathHealth.org.