Blessing Health System issued the following announcement on Dec. 9.
My name is Chavanna Johnson. I graduated from Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health Sciences in 2011. I have worked in long term care, the hospital and clinic settings, and on the insurance side of healthcare since graduation.
When I received my Master of Science in Nursing degree in December 2019, I was so excited. I knew where I wanted to go. Then, COVID-19 hit and the nation screeched to a halt. I was laid-off, my income vanished and my health insurance expired. Panic set in. I had a car payment, monthly medications and bills I knew I would not be able to pay. I was terrified.
I started applying at hospitals, every nursing job I came across. But I kept receiving the same email: The position for which you applied has been temporarily put on hold. Hospitals were going on hiring freezes during a pandemic? What? I was hearing about organizations cutting benefits and hours, even furloughing. I kept applying, but the story was always the same. Door after door closed.
By this time, I hadn’t paid my car note in months. I had enough money for basic necessities. I had to call Blessing-Rieman and explain that I could no longer afford the tuition repayment plan we had set up. Nancy Campbell, who manages financial aid programs for Blessing-Rieman, suggested I apply at Blessing Health System. I said ok, but at this point - 6-7 months into the pandemic - my expectations were zero.
After months of applying for jobs, I received a phone call from Blessing Human Resources. My heart was racing. I had an interview. My mom told me she had a good feeling about Blessing. She didn’t know why, but she had a good feeling.
I was extremely hesitant. When you hit rock bottom, you start to believe you deserve to be there. Then, I was selected for a peer interview. My heart fluttered. Was this it? The peer interview was stressful, but I understood the reasoning and I could appreciate it. Plus, it gave me a chance to ask questions that were pressing for me. What was the culture like? Does leadership encourage nursing research and give nurses a platform for their work? Research is my passion. The people that interviewed me were able to tell me about nursing councils that help hospital leaders make care policy and that Blessing encouraged research projects.
Then the offer came. For once in eight months I cried tears of joy. I can’t tell you how many times I cried in the middle of the night because I had no idea what my future would hold.
During my first day of orientation, I could barely contain myself. Maureen Kahn, president and chief executive officer of Blessing Health System and Blessing Hospital, discussed how the health system did not lay off one employee because of the pandemic. That just blew me away. I was almost in tears. They knew it would hurt their bottom dollar. They did it anyway, without question.
It amazed me how much Blessing gives and gives. I should not have been surprised. It was like that when I was in school. The thing is, Blessing reaps what it sows; and this is evidenced by the longevity of their staff, and the growth I have seen since I was last here in 2011.
Blessing sees the value in its staff and they saw the value in what I had to bring. They saw ME. I could not ask for a better home. I had been searching for one for so long. Yes, I’m sure I will go through the honeymoon phase, like with any new relationship. But I know this one is built on honesty, transparency, and trust. I couldn’t ask for a stronger foundation. While there may be ups and downs, I believe that Blessing will walk with me, side by side; and we’ll get through whatever comes. I’m ready to give my all and forge my path.
Interested in a career with Blessing Health System? Check out our latest career opportunities!
Original source can be found here.
Source: Blessing Health System
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