Infirmary Nurse Shares Testimony of Gratefulness

I woke up this morning with the spirit of gratefulness. As I began to reflect on God’s goodness and his faithfulness, my mind drifted to my experience at CHI St. Vincent Infirmary.

November 2014, a friend called to tell me that St. Vincent was hiring on the spot and they offered sign-on bonuses.  I was intrigued by the bonus, got dressed immediately and applied for a job. I was hired as a behavioral health staff RN. I was a diploma RN and scheduled to start the BSN program at UALR the following January. During orientation, Ms. Elizabeth, told us about the unlimited opportunities at St. Vincent such as End Cap (now Clinical Ladder), scholarships, and tuition reimbursement.

I knew then that my steps were ordered here.  Although I was employed only two weeks before the scholarship applications were due, I received my first $2,000.00 scholarship.  Fortunately, I received my second $2,000.00 scholarship the following year.  I took advantage of the tuition reimbursement and End Cap bonuses. Within the first two years of employment, I received over $18,000.00 from those resources which paid for the entire BSN program.

I was eventually promoted to Patient Care Coordinator where I could cultivate the leadership skills learned in the BSN program. I continued to utilize the incentives and opportunities the Infirmary offered. November 2019, I decided to return to college in pursuit of a graduate degree. I chose Walden University because of the hospital/university discount. I received additional scholarships, tuition reimbursement benefits, and shift bonuses which went towards my degree.

I am truly grateful to my unit manager, Mrs. Sheria Thompson, MSN RN, who worked with my schedule so I could complete my practicum requirements. Today, I am happy to report that I am a PMHNP-BC.

“I could not have done it without CHI St. Vincent. So often, people complain about their job. I am a witness that CHI St. Vincent has been good to me!”

The opportunities for growth, development, and advancement are here; we have to utilize them. Today, I’m simply grateful. I believe that if we take the first step, God will honor our faithfulness. I just wanted you to know that I really appreciate St. Vincent. Hopefully, this will encourage and inspire employees to seize the opportunities and use them to empower themselves to make a difference in our communities and the world. If I can do it, you can too!!

Jennifer Marshall, MSN, BSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
PCC 8 East Behavioral Health