the DIFFERENCE
GMercyU NURSES
Nia Andrews ' 19 ER Nurse , Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital & Thomas Jefferson Hospital
“ I think being a young , African American female nurse , especially within the inner city , is what keeps me going . Seeing firsthand how my voice can truly impact others and I can approach them in a way that is tangible and allows people to then get a better grasp of their own personal health . I think people come to you in the ER in their most vulnerable states and it ’ s a genuine honor to be able to see people in that light and give them compassion .”
Steve Bocchese ' 09 , ' 11 Vascular Surgery Nurse Practitioner , Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
“ The core values of the Sisters of Mercy are present in my work as a nurse . Nurses care for patients holistically , including their spiritual needs . Nurses work as a team . Building a community among nurses is important for us and others . If I took one value away from GMercyU , it was service . I have shaped my career on serving others as a nurse .”
Sam Brown ' 20 Cardiac Intermediate / MedSurge nurse , Cooper University Hospital
“ Mercy-centered education has provided me with a great deal of compassion , empathy , and drive to work with underserved communities . I am lucky to work in Camden where I see a melting pot of people . Sometimes we are the first medical people they have seen in years so we have huge impacts on their health . My education has also given me a lot of strength to persevere . It taught me to know that no matter how exhausting , all the good we are putting into the world is making us stronger people .” of violence , social disparity , politics , and most recently , the criminalization of making an error . Nursing is at the closest possible interface with communities and society , and is the recipient of all of the good and the bad that it brings .”
Christy Piotrowski ' 17 Surgical Intensive Care Nurse , Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
“ My Mercy-centered education was a huge advantage in my career and absolutely made a difference for how I approach the world of healthcare . The pandemic certainly was not merciful in some waves , but my strong educational foundation allowed me to persevere when medicine was not enough .”
Stephanie Wroten ' 19 Chief Nursing Officer , Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center
“ My Mercy-centered education prepared me to care with focus on improving the circumstances of vulnerable populations . I am not intimidated by complex healthcare problems . I utilize evidence-based nursing practice to drive complex decision making . I lead with open mindedness by developing understanding of how generational poverty , discrimination , racism , and socioeconomic injustices negatively impact health . I lead with compassion .”
If you or a fellow Griffin are making a difference in your students ' or patients ' lives , submit your story and a photo to alumni
@ gmercyu . edu .
Melissa Fitzpatrick ' 77 , ' 79 President , Kirby Bates Associates
“ Being a nurse now requires not only all of the competencies and compassion that it always has , but also the ability to manage all of the societal impacts
TODAY 17