Supporting nurses boosts New York’s healthcare system
3-minute read
Nurse at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital speaks out
A registered nurse at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital speaks out about hospital executive compensation levels Sept. 30, 2024 in Cortlandt.
- Nursing remains a dedicated profession despite changes in healthcare over the past 30 years.
- New York faces a projected shortage of 40,000 nurses by 2030.
- Burnout contributes to nurses leaving the profession, with 69% of young nurses reporting burnout.
Many things have changed during the 30 years I have been a registered nurse in the Hudson Valley. But there’s one important thing that has stayed the same: the unwavering dedication of our nurses and doctors to care for the people in the communities where we live and work.
During National Nurses Month each May, we take a moment to recognize our nursing staff. I like to reflect on the amazing team I work with across the region and try to help our patients understand these are the same nurses and doctors who have cared for them for years. As medicine has advanced over the years, we’re using new methods with modern technology to make sure our patients have healthy outcomes, and our clinics have grown in size. But the personal connection we have with people is the same.
My sister told me I wanted to be a nurse since I was four years old; I don’t even remember it but I must have shown a compassion and calling to help people from a very young age. I spent many years as a pediatric nurse before becoming a leader of nurses. Now, I get to help other nurses grow their careers and witness the outstanding care provided to our communities by these incredible healthcare professionals. This team across Crystal Run and Optum Medical Care throughout the Hudson Valley is the best of the best. In fact, two of our nurses, Katie Elting and Tina Kozak, were just named top nurses in Hudson Valley Magazine’s Class of 2025’s Top Nurses.
Supporting nurses is vital to bolstering our healthcare system. Even as the demand for our services grows, New York State is already facing a dire nursing shortage. By 2030, New York is expected to be 40,000 nurses short.
Nursing is an emotionally and physically demanding job with long hours, contributing to the burnout that drives many talented colleagues out of our profession. Nationally, 69% of nurses under the age of 25 have reported experiencing burnout.
For many nurses, the path to a long career means helping them manage their workload and having a supportive workplace where they can thrive. I consider myself fortunate: I have an employer that has made real investments in reducing burnout and the professional growth of nurses. Optum Health Education is an accredited provider of continuing education, or CE, for nurses and other clinicians, allowing nurses to stay up to date on our evolving profession through webcasts and online courses.
Many nurses are looking for more than CE, including a path to becoming a nurse practitioner, or NP, which requires a two- to four-year graduate program. For them, Optum partners with an accredited online university with a flexible education program that fits into the busy and complicated schedule many nurses keep.
And Optum invests in resources to help us triage patients and manage ongoing communications so we can focus on seeing patients in our clinics. One of those investments is myChart, which has been a game changer for our patients. In about two months since we launched it, more than 70,000 patients have set up profiles in the online portal allowing them quick access to their records and a way to chat with their providers.
If there’s one thing I can impart on our patients and community members, it’s for you to know that we are the same as we’ve always been but with more resources to help you. And all we want to do as nurses is to take care of you as we were trained to do.
Please use this month of recognition for our nurses as a reminder we are here for you. We want the best health outcomes for you and your families. Let us take care of you and your loved ones, and we encourage you to support nursing careers and advanced education in any way you can — even if that’s as simple as giving us a high five when you see us.
Jessica Brighton is vice president of nursing at Crystal Run Healthcare, part of Optum.
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