Alison D, a clinical dietitian at Northside, says she got lucky to have found nutrition as a career path. Her passion for food led her to a fulfilling career at Northside, helping patients get the most out of their medical care – and their lives. 

About Alison

Alison didn’t know what she was getting herself into when she registered for the nutrition and dietetics program at Auburn University for her undergraduate studies. But the more she learned along the way, she discovered just how compatible nutrition was with her values and her career goals.

After completing her dietetic internship and her master’s degree at St. Louis University, she was ready to take on the challenge of being a dietitian at Northside. In 2017, she started out at a congestive heart failure clinic, where she gained experience in how nutrition affects the heart. Shortly after, she transitioned to working on a GI floor at Northside, and now she specializes in nutrition for oncology treatment. In three short years, Alison was able to experience very different sides of nutrition, which she says was an exciting way to start her career and figure out what she felt most passionate about. “You can jump around and learn a little bit about a lot,” Alison says, due to the wide variety of patient populations at Northside.

Teamwork Makes All The Difference

In her role, Alison focuses on patients receiving proper nourishment during their care at Northside. One way that she maximizes this responsibility is through emphasizing interdisciplinary teamwork and communication to ensure that her plans for a patient are complementary to the plans being administered by the doctors, pharmacists, and speech therapists. This kind of collaboration not only enhances patient care, it also provides for a rewarding work environment. “It helps make everything run smoothly, but it also opens the door to more education and more collaboration, because nutrition spans all other disciplines.”

Advice for Future Coworkers

While Alison says she became a dietitian as a result of her passion for food, she shared what else others looking to follow in her footsteps should think about when considering the field. “Be passionate about the science behind food and the research that goes into the field of dietetics. It’s a field that we’re still learning so much about all the time, and things are changing on a daily basis.” This includes keeping up with the latest research and studies and being able to relay those findings into relatable, actionable feedback to patients. 

Aside from an interest in the science behind food, what does Alison hope for in a coworker? It’s simple: communication, dedication, and “a willingness to go the extra mile to provide the best patient care possible.”

Interested in learning more about a career in nutrition and dietetics at Northside? Check out our current openings here!

To wrap up our celebration of Northside’s 50th birthday, we wanted to hear from those who know Northside the best. We spoke to our longest-tenured employees to get their thoughts on Northside’s enduring legacy.

Let’s meet some of our longest-serving team members!

When COVID-19 first hit the news, it felt like a distant concern for many. As the world learned more about it though, governments, hospitals, businesses, and individuals realized the need to take action. Like many others, our Northside team got right to work preparing for what the coming weeks could bring. This time has challenged and united us.

Early on, Nikki, ICU Manager and Northside employee of nearly 17 years, remained confident in her team’s ability to tackle the challenges that lay ahead. She remembers thinking, “We’ve got this. We’re going to do what we know how to do and what we’ve been doing. We’re going to be extra cautious while we wait to see what happens.”

Our team began preparing, both mentally and physically, for what might come next. Jenny, Med/Surg ICU Nurse, wondered what would be asked of her. She admits: “I envisioned having to sleep at the hospital, basically quarantining myself there to take care of patients.” Like many, she wondered if her team would be prepared enough.

As our team continued to learn more about the virus and started to see more patients, the ICU approach changed drastically. Nikki shares, “Every single aspect of care changed. We had to regroup and figure out how we were going to deal with the volumes of patients and how we were going to anticipate and prepare for the PPE changes.” Instead of turning to fear, the ICU team turned to each other, working together to best care for patients and one another. About her team’s response, Nikki says, “It has blown me away.”

To help equip and support her team, Nikki knew it would vitally important to keep her staff informed. That has proven to be no small task. As the world continues to learn about, respond to, and share new information at a rapid rate, truth can sometimes get lost in the mix, or simply take time to become certain of.

“I started having staff meetings three times a week, twice a day, six times a week, whatever I needed to do to just keep up with all the information,” Nikki explains. “We were learning so much, so fast. But that process really helped set the stage for where we are now.”

Her efforts paid off, helping to prepare team members and raising their comfort and trust levels. She says, “While nurses have their concerns and their fears, as everybody does, my team has been completely amazing. They’re doing an incredible job caring for patients, communicating with their colleagues, being proactive in developing new protocols. It’s been so great to see the staff pull together and maintain the level of care that we expect for our patients.”

Still, this journey is one we’re all taking a day at a time. Jenny reveals, “The patients come in waves and so do our emotions.” Some days, it can feel like things are at a standstill for team members as they wait for patients to get better. Other days, it feels like everything goes right. While uniquely challenging, this time has been uniquely unifying for the ICU team and Northside Family.
Jenny shares: “I’m so proud to be in the ICU during this time. More experienced nurses have become teachers on our units, explaining, helping, answering questions. My teammates have been supportive, talking things out with each other, especially if someone is having a stressful day. I know I can lean on them.”

Beyond the ICU, the entire hospital is part of the effort. Nikki calls out many other groups within the hospital – techs, environmental services, infection prevention, educational offices, med/surg, PACU nurses who have returned to bedside, and on and on. She says, “The whole hospital has changed the focus to help us care for these patients. It’s amazing.”

We’ve learned the importance of the phrase, “We’re in this together.” However cliché or recently overused, the most meaningful and transformative moments we’ve experienced as a world, as a community, and as a team have occurred when we’ve found new ways to care for one another, even from a distance.

Jenny says about her experience: “You’ve got to find your strength because your patients are counting on you, your teammates, your manager, your hospital. It’s crazy to think some patients I’ve cared for will never know me, will never know my care. But I’m okay with that. It’s not about me, it’s about them.”

Like many healthcare providers, Northside Hospital has taken crucial steps to prepare for the progression of COVID-19. Along with space and supplies, we are hiring across our hospitals, with a priority on both clinical and non-clinical roles.

Clinical

As a clinical professional, you know what this path is all about. You chose it for a reason – to fulfill a purpose and answer a calling. Today, that calling is more important than it ever has been. Join our elite team in directly caring for patients.
Learn more about our minimum qualifications and apply in our most critical roles:

• Intensive Care Units
• Emergency Services
• Med-Surg Units

Non-Clinical

As a non-clinical professional, you are a vital part of the support system behind the larger Northside Family. You support hospital operations and help to equip the team. Not all of our non-clinical roles require prior experience, so if you have a passion for service and want to be a part of something bigger, join us.
Learn more about our minimum qualifications and apply in the following areas:

• Environmental Services
• Security
• Food Services

Every one of us has felt the impact of COVID-19 in our own way. As we try to create a new normal for ourselves and our families, it’s important to be mindful of the new habits we are establishing. Try to put practices into place that help you to:

Take care of yourself physically.

Take care of yourself mentally.

Take care of yourself emotionally.

Here are some ways to do all three:

• Stay hydrated, eat nutritious foods, and get some sleep.

We know even those three things can sound like a lot right now – especially if you’re home with kids. So give yourself credit when and where you’re able to get these in. Keep in mind that taking care of yourself physically benefits you mentally and emotionally too. Like always, aim for 7-8 hours of sleep, 60+ ounces of water a day (eight 8-ounce glasses), and be mindful of snacking vs. actually stopping to sit down and have a meal.

• Move.

It’s less important how you choose to stay active and more important that you do. Walk, run, shoot hoops in your driveway, jump on the trampoline with your kids, do jumping jacks in your living room, join a Facebook or Instagram Live workout, look up a yoga flow on YouTube, or any other social distancing approved activities you might enjoy. Check out your local gyms or popular fitness trainers to see what resources they’ve put online.

• Stay hydrated, eat nutritious foods, and get some sleep.

While staying up-to-date with the news is important, being overwhelmed by it isn’t good for anyone. A quick check-in with the news each day is enough to keep most of us informed. It’s easy to justify giving ourselves a break and grabbing our phones, but try to find other ways to disconnect and recharge. Consider limiting your time on social media or news apps to certain times of the day or use time tracking devices on your phone (most phones have these built in) to get an idea of where your time is going.

• Make space for what makes you happy.

Do you love learning, picking up new hobbies, reading, planning for the future, and/or being creative? Make time for it! Whether that means getting up before your kids or blocking off the same time every day, start with small amounts of time and keep building it into your schedule. You can even add the same time to your kids’ schedules so that you’re all busy with your own hobbies (and more likely to leave each other alone) at the same time.

• Connect.

Connect with family and friends over video chat or phone calls. Get creative! If simply talking on the phone isn’t your favorite, try cooking together, having a virtual happy hour or friends night in, playing games (looking at you, UNO and charades), learning a new dance together, or starting a good old-fashioned book club. Pick things that excite you, not ones that feel like another addition to your to-do list. Connecting with nature also helps relieve stress, so get outside if it’s possible and safe, and explore your neighborhood.
Whatever it is that helps you relieve stress, bring structure into your days, and recharge – do it. We encourage you to make time for it, no matter how daunting that may feel at first. Ask the people around you to help you and do the same for them. Make it fun and make it attainable. Don’t forget to give yourself credit for all the great things you’re already doing! We’re in this together.

More and more of our lives are being moved online for a season – whether it’s work meetings, conversations with family or even job interviews. If you find yourself needing to prepare for an upcoming interview, here are some tips for navigating your virtual meeting like a professional!

1.    Test your internet connection and video conference system ahead of time

With any online meeting, there are bound to be hiccups. But you can avoid or solve a lot of them by testing your resources ahead of time. Download the app you’re planning to use and any plug-ins early on, check your internet speed (simply Google that phrase and you’ll have what you need), and start a virtual meeting with a friend to make sure things run smoothly.

2.     Make sure your profile picture and username are professional.

There’s nothing wrong with having a photo of yourself from a recent vacation or with a friend or family member, but consider what you’re doing or wearing in the photo. Likewise, be mindful of if the software you’ve been asked to use requires a username and ensure your selected handle is professional.

3.      Try to find a quiet place.

This can be tough depending on who you’re currently sharing space with. Fortunately, this is a challenge for everyone right now so employers are more understanding if your environment isn’t serenely quiet. Whatever your situation, do your best to communicate with your family members or roommates before and find a less trafficked spot in your home. Don’t be afraid to mute yourself in between responses too!

4.     Prepare for and follow-up like you would for an in-person interview.

Just because you’re in front of your computer doesn’t mean you should be searching the internet for answers. It’s okay to reference your resume or some notes as you speak, but try to prepare as you normally would. Follow-up with a thank you.

5.     Consider lighting and backgrounds.

Good lighting can help your personality shine. Face a window rather than having your back to one. If that’s not possible, set up a lamp in front of you (behind your camera) and find an appropriate, neutral background. The focus should be you, not your home decor or something happening outside. Most importantly, you’ll want to keep a steady camera, so if you’re not able to dial in from a computer or laptop, prop your phone against something. 

You can do this! Pick out your power outfit and follow these tips to get ready for your virtual job interview. Congrats on the interview and good luck! 

Marlene – perhaps like many others – suspected she had a future in healthcare, but wasn’t sure in exactly what capacity. From changing her career path to taking classes that led her to a career she loves, Marlene shares an inside look of what a future in nutrition support can look like.

About Marlene

With a love of science, a knack for numbers, and a desire for a career that involved helping others, Marlene always suspected that she had a future in healthcare. Initially destined for a physical therapy program, she later changed course to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Cornell University. As part of her coursework, she had the opportunity to take some courses in nutrition, which piqued her interest. When she eventually took a course in clinical nutrition, she knew it almost instantly: she had found her calling. Upon graduating, she headed south to Atlanta for her dietetic internship and to pursue her master’s degree.

Following the completion of her post-graduate studies, Marlene landed a role at Northside Hospital as Nutrition Support Dietitian in 1982. In this role, she had the opportunity to work on a multidisciplinary team that included a pharmacist, a nurse, and a dietitian working together to holistically treat patients. While this approach took some getting used to for her colleagues at the time, she and her team eventually won over their coworkers by achieving excellent results and displaying expert knowledge, thus proving their team’s value within the patient care spectrum.

A Day in the Life of a Dietitian

Fast forward to 2020, and Marlene is still just as passionate – and perhaps more – about nutrition support as she was on day 1. On a daily basis, she works with a wide range of patients that have a need for nutrition support services and develops enteral (via the GI tract) or parenteral (not via the GI tract, typically intravenous) nutrition support programs to help these patients along their medical journeys. This includes mapping out the nutritional needs of her patients based on their medical condition, developing formulations for them, monitoring them, and making adjustments to their programs throughout their care at Northside.

All of this requires a keen understanding of the science behind metabolism, the mathematical acuity to calculate a patient’s nutritional needs, and above all, a passion for helping others – all of the skills Marlene sought to exercise in a career, long before she knew she wanted to pursue nutrition.

Why Northside?

What does Marlene feel has kept her at Northside for this long? In addition to the clinical excellence that Northside is known for, she added that she enjoys having new challenges to face as the face of patient care changes. “You are having to continually up your game in terms of your knowledge base,” she says.

While there are always patients to care for, Marlene hopes to give back at Northside in other ways as a seasoned nutrition support dietitian. As she watches the next generation coming up in the field behind her, she has a passion for mentoring and developing her younger colleagues. Her hope is that by sharing her knowledge and encouragement along the way, Northside’s nutrition support staff will have the greatest opportunity to succeed, thus carrying on the legacy of excellent patient care that Northside is known for.

Or In her own words, “If you want some of the best, you need to give back and help others along.”

Ready to join the Northside Family? Search openings today.

We always say that the people are what make Northside who we are: kind, caring, compassionate, patient-oriented, driven… the list goes on and on.

But who cares for this community of health care professionals? We believe that to be your best at work, you need to be your best at home, which is why we are proud to offer a comprehensive array of competitive benefits to Northside employees. From physical and mental wellness to financial security and everything in between, we want to make sure the Northside Family is able to care for themselves and their families, inside and out.

The Northside Advantage
In addition to our medical, dental and vision insurance plans, Northside employees have access to the Northside Advantage Program. This program allows employees to receive the same exceptional services that our patients receive at a reduced cost when using Northside facilities and services. And the savings don’t stop there! Northside also offers discounted pharmacy services to members of the Northside Family. Beyond healthcare savings, Northside is also proud to offer various wellness programs to employees, as well as a Personal Nurse program for those times when our employees need a helping hand with managing the responsibility of caring for their health.

Your Future
The benefits don’t stop there! While health benefits are a keystone of a benefits package, Northside offers market-leading financial health programs and retirement options. In addition to a 403(b) plan with an employer match, Northside also offers an active pension plan for your retirement at no cost to the employee! Believing financial health is intertwined with your physical and mental health, we also offer student loan repayment and tuition assistance programs.

Work-Life Balance
Lastly, and most importantly, we want our employees’ home lives to be as rewarding and fulfilling as their work lives. Being able to balance our work and home lives is more important than ever in today’s always-connected culture. When welcoming a new child, we want to ensure our employees have time to bond with their new addition to the family, which is why we are proud to offer maternity and paternity leave for child births and adoptions. And when the little ones are ready, our Child Development Center provides care and education for the children of Northside employees, from newborns all the way up to Pre-K.

When we say the “Northside Family”, we mean it. We aim to treat our employees like family so they can be the best version of themselves at work and at home and be able to pass on that same level of care to our patients and to each other.

Although she’s had plenty of amazing experiences in her two years at Northside Hospital, Desire’ F. can sum up what sets us apart in one word: Growth.

“I would say it’s an exponential amount of growth, and it opens up growth for you as an individual,” she said. “It’s personal growth and development as a career pathway.”

Desire’ started here as a staff nurse, then became a supervisor and is now a Med/Surg manager at Northside Cherokee. She will oversee the opening of a GI unit in October and a same day surgery unit in December.

She feels she has become a showcase for how Northside supports team members on their career journeys.

“Northside Hospital has a great program for leadership development,” Desire’ said. “These specific courses allow one to gain solid communication skills and materials. In addition, the program provides support, education and access to resources you need to succeed here.”

Success is something Desire’ – and everyone here – celebrates. Succeeding every day in the demanding environment of healthcare is among the things that define what working at Northside is all about. Desire’ says there are plenty of others.

“The people I work with” she said, citing what she loves most about working at Northside. “It’s about bringing together community and extending that culture to the floor. That creates the close relationships, family bonding and teamwork that allows us to set and keep our service standards so high. We pride ourselves on excellence.”

Desire’ said anyone who has their sights set on a Northside career needs to embrace excellence in whatever they do – because it will pay off.

“The standards here are like no other,” she said. “There are lots of opportunities, too, such as externships, in different areas of the healthcare system that could lead to your growth. [Northside] really places individuals where they will flourish.”

Because of the focus on growth, Desire’ said there might be some people who wouldn’t fit into the Northside family.

“Somebody who does not enjoy learning new things and who doesn’t like change, for example,” she said. “Negativity is not something we’d like to see flourish on the floor, so we can’t have somebody who doesn’t want to grow with us.”

What other advice does she have for job seekers?

“We look for retention,” Desire’ said. “We want someone who is honest and loyal, someone who has ambition to further their career growth.”

When she looks ahead to her own career growth, Desire’ said she is excited about the foundation she is building here.

“I just really want to embed myself into the community and really make myself an asset here,” she said. “I want to enhance the culture (if that’s even possible) and make it a better experience for my colleagues and our patients. I want to plant a good culture seed so we can expand on that.”

The benefits of being part of the Northside family are no secret to any of us who work here.

Still, it’s nice when we’re recognized for being a leader in key areas that directly impact our team members and through them, our patients. That’s why we’re thrilled and honored to learn that we’ve been singled out for not one, not two, not three, but four  2019 awards from the compensation and culture tracking website Comparably.

Our CEO was named among the “Best CEOs for Diversity” and “Best CEOs for Women,” honors that showcase our core belief that diversity makes us stronger. It’s a commitment that starts at the top and trickles down to every leader and team member and it is one of the main reasons we’ve found so much success.

Northside Hospital was also recognized for being among the top 25 companies that earned the “Best Leadership Team” title for 2019. This is also an honor that starts in the C-suite, and echoes throughout the Northside healthcare system.

Our leaders, at all levels, work to challenge, empower and support us, aiming to help all of us grow professionally and personally.

One of the best things about this award was that it was based on feedback from our team members, one of whom wrote: “Our leadership team is comprised of a dynamic group of forward thinkers who will stop at nothing to propel our organization forward.”

Speaking of moving forward, Northside Hospital also was named as one of the top 25 companies for “Best Professional Development,” another honor that was bestowed on us by our own employees.

Thanks to their feedback, this is another area where Northside is getting some well-deserved recognition. We believe we can best serve our patients and our communities by ensuring that our employees are at their best – and that’s something we strive for every day.

It’s another one of our core values, and it’s wonderful to see how many in the Northside family truly appreciate the extensive opportunities for growth that they get here.

“I am encouraged to be curious,” one of them wrote in the Comparably survey. “And I have been given a lot of tools to expand my knowledge and skills to do my job more effectively.”

As we cross the halfway point in 2019, all of us here are proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far this year. The Comparably awards are proof that we are doing the right things for our employees and Northside as a whole.

While we are honored and very proud, we’re not resting on our laurels. Far from it, in fact. Instead, we’re using these accolades as motivation to be even better in the future.

If you’re searching for the right home for your professional skills, think about how much values including diversity, good leadership and career development mean to you. Then, think about joining us here at Northside Hospital!