Nurses are at the heart of health care. They are the warm smile in the morning and the comforting touch at night. They have the uncanny ability to create calm in chaos and settle the nerves of jittery patients. Indeed, they are the very reason hospitals can offer care around the clock.
My daughter-in-law, Renee, is a nurse, and I’ve had the opportunity to witness first-hand the dedication and compassion she has for her patients and their families. To Renee, her work is more than a job, it’s a ministry. And with that attitude she is an incredible blessing to the many lives she touches. Nursing truly is a calling, and those who do it well not only minister to the body but also to the soul.
As vice chairman of Adventist Health’s Board of Directors, I have the privilege of being part of an organization that employs thousands of dedicated nurses across the West Coast. After all, our hospitals wouldn’t exist without them! However, recruiting and retaining nurses is not without its challenges. Faced with a national nursing shortage, our hospitals are always in search of clinicians who are committed to carrying out Adventist Health’s distinctive mission. In particular, the system is currently looking for qualified, Seventh-day Adventist nurses to fill a variety of managerial roles. If you or someone you know is interested in joining a faith-based employee family, I encourage you to read on for more information about career opportunities within the system.
As you explore the following pages, you’ll also have the opportunity to meet some of the nurses that work in our Northwest hospitals and become more familiar with what Adventist Health is doing to enhance the skills of its nursing workforce. Throughout this special health-care edition, you’ll be reminded—once again—of the incredible service that our hospitals deliver to their patients and families every day.
Remember, it’s not just a job, it’s a ministry!
