Atlantic General Hospital

NURSING SPOTLIGHT ?? “Hi, my name is Terri and I have been with AGH for two years. I am currently a per diem population health nurse. I chose AGH because I am fairly new to Worcester County. I wanted to connect with the community and at the same time use my nursing skills. I am passionate about health promotion. When I learned about the opportunity at AGH, it was a perfect fit. I come from a small community where I was the outreach educator. I was excited to learn that similar opportunities existed here. Joining AGH as a population health nurse has provided me the opportunity to have meaningful connections in the county. I am proud to work with a dedicated group of nurses who care so much about the health/wellness of our community. I am proud of the work that we do. I would like to continue to reach the diverse populations we serve through a variety of programs -- anything ranging from falls prevention to living well with chronic conditions. As a nurse at AGH, we are in a position to connect with our neighbors and other members of the community who we have not even met yet. If you join the AGH team, you have the opportunity to be part of a dedicated team of health care professionals.”

Are you passionate about connecting talented healthcare professionals with life-changing opportunities? Atlantic General Hospital is looking for a dynamic Healthcare Recruiter to join our team and help shape the future of patient care! To learn more and to apply, please visit our Career Portal at www.agh.care/careers!

NURSING SPOTLIGHT ?? "Hi, I am Andrea! I have been a nurse at AGH for the last 13 years. I started my career on the Med/Surg unit for 7 years and then moved to the Wound Care Center, where I have worked for the past 6 years. I chose AGH because I wanted to be part of an organization that I could be proud of while serving my community. Being an RN at AGH enables me to contribute to the wellbeing and success of my neighbors and greater community. I have gained a great deal of nursing knowledge, professionalism, compassion and commitment to patient care through working with so many wonderful nurses, doctors, and coworkers in all roles of healthcare. Most importantly, I have developed a sense of belonging and the ability to contribute to the wellbeing of the community that I live and work in. One of my proudest moments at AGH is when I receive thank you letters from patients that I have helped during some of the most difficult circumstances. Knowing that I made a difference in someone’s life for the better reminds me of why I became a nurse and why I go to work each day. I plan to continue my nursing career in wound care and further develop my knowledge and skills by becoming a wound care certified RN. I continue to strive to stay informed and educated on treatments and products in wound care nursing so that I may deliver the highest standards of care possible to our patients. AGH as an organization has amazing leadership that encourages growth opportunities and career advancement for their staff. I enjoy coming to work every day, entering a positive work environment and knowing I will pass that positivity onto each of my patients that I am privileged to care for."

Looking to pursue a career in nursing? Atlantic General Hospital's James G. & Nancy W. Barrett Non-Nurse to Nurse Scholarship is here to help you achieve your goals! We are currently accepting applications, so please visit www.agh.care/scholarships to learn more and apply!

On Friday, October 18, we had the great pleasure of honoring Atlantic General Hospital and Health System's most recent Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program graduates! We are so excited to have these kind, bright and ambitious individuals on the Atlantic General nursing team. Please join us in congratulating Delyssia (Med/Surg), Patrick (Med/Surg), Abigail (Emergency Department), Lakeisha (Med/Surg), Denise (Med/Surg) and Destinee (Med/Surg). Special shoutout to Atlantic General Hospital's Education Department and nursing leadership for being such great educators and role models for our CNA students! Congratulations to all!!! ?? ??

NURSING SPOTLIGHT ?? “Hi – I am Teri Hastings, and I have been with AGH for 6 years now. My current role is the Endoscopy Pre-Admission Testing RN. I have been a nurse for nearly 30 years and have experience in the perioperative area, as well as ER triage during the pandemic. I chose AGH because I enjoy working within a smaller facility where co-workers become your second family. From AGH, I have gained a strong sense of camaraderie and lifetime friendships. My proudest moment at AGH is the ways in which our team and our community came together to overcome obstacles and challenges presented during COVID and after. My future plans include to retire from nursing. But in the interim, I am looking forward to completing the implementation of pre-admission centralization. The collaboration with surgical services and AGHS offices demonstrates the dedication to our patients and the community. Working at AGH is such a pleasure – from its family atmosphere, supportive leadership, to its community care. You actually look forward to coming to work!”

NURSING SPOTLIGHT ?? “Hello, I am Suz and I have been with AGH for 11 of my 40 years in nursing. I have been able to bring my experience and skills with me to AGH, and I continue to grow and learn in my profession. I am a staff nurse in the Surgical Services department, in the perianesthesia care unit (PACU) where I have been for the past two years. I am both a preceptor and a mentor, and charge in the PACU. Prior to that, I was in the ICU as well as floating to Med/Surg. I still occasionally pick up time in the ICU to keep up my skills. I currently chair our Skin Committee and am involved in four others – Surgical Services Council, Nurse Practice Council, Patient Grievance, and Patient & Family Advisory Committee. Being involved with these committees, I see firsthand how dedicated AGH is to our community. After working in two community hospitals in Pennsylvania, I knew when we moved to Delaware I wanted a small hospital where you know everyone and feel at home. AGH is my work family - we care about each other and have each other’s back. At AGH, I have been able to move forward into a new skill set while in PACU. I have been able to reach out to the community through AGH sponsored events and committees. I have gained a sense of leadership with my 40 years of experience in nursing. It has been a satisfying experience! I have had quite a few proud moments at AGH. One of them being working in the ICU during COVID and witnessing how we all sacrificed time, sweat, and tears as we took care of those patients and their families. It hit us hard, but we worked through it together as a team. I was able to care for my patients spiritually by praying with them, emotionally by listening and holding their hand, and physically by taking care of their needs. This is something I have always practiced and will continue to do so. Regarding future goals, I am in the process of getting my certification for the PACU area and reaching the first tier of the clinical ladder. I am also in the process of helping to implement General Surgery Education classes to the community preoperatively, as they schedule surgery with our team. This will ensure our patients feel safe, confident and informed prior to surgery. AGH is a great place to work – we maintain our work family and working relationships. It is important to be happy in what you do and who you work with – we are lucky to have that at AGH!”

NURSING SPOTLIGHT ?? "Hi, my name is Monique and I have worked at Atlantic General for more than 2 ? years. I currently work in the Women’s Diagnostic Center as a Breast Health Navigator. We do diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds at this location. We also do stereotactic and ultrasound breast biopsies here. A newer technology we provide is reflector placements, which helps our surgeon locate breast masses for surgical lumpectomies. We offer genetic testing at this location as well. As a Breast Health Navigator, I assist and support patients regarding prevention, screening, diagnostic imaging, biopsy scheduling, assistance during procedure, giving results, education and emotional support. I also help patients access care and financial assistance as needed. Offering care coordination, compassion and emotional support to patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer is my most vital role here. I am blessed to be able to help patients navigate this difficult time. I am passionate about being an advocate for patients with breast cancer. Professionally, I have a background in Medical Oncology and hospice. I have helped patients during treatment and end of life. Personally, I am breast cancer survivor diagnosed at 39 years of age with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. When AGH posted a position for a Breast Health Navigator, I felt this was an opportunity to give back to others who are diagnosed with this disease. I wanted to offer hope and make a difference. I was thrilled to get the position and be able to fulfill this goal. Working at AGH has given me the ability to do what I love. Every day I come to work, I am proud to be here -- proud to be part of an amazing team who all have the same desire to help our patients and give the best care possible. I have gained purpose working here. I have gained a family. Feeling as though I truly make a difference makes me proud. The positive feedback that I receive from our patients, community and my work family validate this. Knowing that I am giving comfort to patients during one of the scariest times in their lives is very rewarding. I plan to continue working with AGH in my current role -- continuing to learn and grow, and expanding my knowledge and experience so that I can provide the best quality care possible to the patients we serve. I recently obtained my second certification in breast health navigation to support this goal. I am excited to see what the future holds. There are so many great reasons to join our AGH team. We have a supportive organization focused on patient safety and quality as well as staff satisfaction and recognition. For me, it is the care and compassion we give to our patients and each other every day. It is genuine and heartfelt. I love working at AGH.’

NURSE LEADER SPOTLIGHT ?? “Hi – I am Scott and I have been with AGH for 23 years. My current role is Director of Inpatient and Cardiopulmonary Services. I have held various roles within the organization, including ICU Nurse, Patient Care Supervisor, Clinical Manager of ICU, and Director of Critical Care and Respiratory Services. I chose AGH because of our dedication to providing safe care for our patients, with an emphasis on personalized attention. Atlantic General Hospital is dedicated to providing the best healthcare services to all local residents and visitors alike. One of my proudest moments at AGH was during the COVID pandemic. During this time, the AGH team pulled together in one of the most difficult times in healthcare. All departments of the hospital collaborated to provide the necessary resources to care for the patients and our frontline caregivers. This truly exemplified the AGH culture dedicated to patient safety and camaraderie during one of the most challenging times. Being at AGH for over 20 years, I am proud to be part of the hospital’s continued growth and expansion of services to meet the growing needs of our community. Atlantic General Hospital has offered me professional growth and the opportunity to learn from other great healthcare leaders. Working at AGH, I have gained lifelong friendships and have had the pleasure to work with a great team. For future goals, I plan to continue to grow our young and upcoming leadership team -- to provide them the resources needed to meet their true potential and prepare them to be the future healthcare leaders. The culture at AGH is one of true compassion and caring. At Atlantic General, you are a valued member of a team and part of an extended family with the same goals and values. Growth in your career is not only encouraged, but your accomplishments are recognized and celebrated. It truly is a great place to work and grow.”

NURSING SPOTLIGHT ?? “Hello, I am Maria and I have been with AGH for 4 years now. I am currently a circulator in the OR, and I am one of the OR preceptors. I chose AGH because I had heard great things about working in the OR at AGH! I feel proud to work at Atlantic General. We are a small community hospital with friendly and caring people. My proudest moment at AGH is when a returning patient remembers me with a smile and tells me they feel more at ease. Another thing that makes me proud is being chosen for this spotlight, in addition to all of the kind words that are shared with me during my annual evaluations. We are a focused and collaborative team here at AGH. I look forward to continuing to work in the OR and giving great care to our patients!”