I stay at Ascension because …

Associates Share Why They Continue To Serve As Part Of Our Ministry

Perhaps during your career at Ascension you’ve been asked what brought you here — was it a friend, a certain project or a job description that caught your eye? Maybe after the care you received at an Ascension facility you felt compelled to pursue a position in healthcare.

Whatever your story, an even more important question may be, “What makes you stay?”

Ascension continues to find ways to listen and launch initiatives that help recruit and retain top talent in a competitive healthcare landscape.

I Am Part Of Ascension Because

… In their own words, associates across Ascension are talking about why they choose to continue to serve as part of Ascension. Following are just a few of their stories.

“The overall feeling is different at Ascension. I love the atmosphere and the staff. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else because I know no one else’s team is like ours.”

“I am inspired by how close we all are. We have a wonderful camaraderie that unites us to serve patients. We jump in and help each other when we see someone struggling. It doesn’t matter who it is. If we see someone struggling, we jump in and help.”

— Charita Reeves, Certified Medical Assistant, Ascension St. Vincent, Indiana

“My leadership has always been supportive of me as an employee. I am able to work part time and take care of my kids. It’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve stayed at Ascension.”

— Stephanie Kosidowski, PT, Physical Therapist, Ascension Wisconsin

“I’ve been with Ascension for a long time, almost 17 years, and a lot of these people have become my friends and almost kind of like my family. They’ve helped me in the learning. It’s a very challenging environment and I just love coming to work.”

— Joyce Mateo, PharmD, Clinical Staff Pharmacist, Ascension Seton, Austin, Texas

Some associates leave Ascension but later decide to come back.

“I got a PRN job with Ascension and loved it so much I decided to come back. I left for about a year and decided to come back.

I just remember the people that I worked with, and it was like a big family. I feel very blessed and fortunate to be here.”

—

“I returned to Ascension because I couldn’t imagine working at any other place. When I left to go back home [to Louisiana], there was not an Ascension facility in the area I was in, which made me very sad. I actually chose to stay at home for 10 months rather than returning to a place that couldn’t hold up to what I had gotten used to.”

—

“I spent some time away from Ascension. What brought me back was the culture. The opportunities within Ascension are just massive. We have any position here, within our organization, that you could ever want. All the way from working at the bedside all the way up into these big executive positions that make a difference nationally.”

— Cydney Colley, BSN, RN, BSES, CPC, Career Coach, Ascension

“I left bedside [nursing] for a little while and did some hospice. I just couldn’t help but come back. My heart was literally pulling me back to this place. The people here are amazing. The welcome that I got whenever I returned, it was like I never left — and actually maybe even a little better because they were so happy to see me come back.”

— Craig Conn, ASN, RN, RN Manager Renal/Respiratory, Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast

“I love that associates are willing to share their unique journey with others so they can be inspired and encouraged,” said Ellen Gifford, Senior Vice President, Talent Strategy and Innovation, Human Resources, Ascension. “Despite how increasingly competitive the healthcare industry has become, there are so many people who have chosen to stay and serve at Ascension.”

Implementing Flexible Options

Ascension continues to explore innovative approaches that provide associates greater flexibility. About 10,000 clinical associates from various job families were surveyed last December, ranking 10 different flexible work options. Based on their responses, enhancements will be made to ensure their preferences are heard and implemented.

“We know the most successful initiatives take into consideration the people who will be impacted the most by the decisions,” said Anne Pankonien, Vice President, Talent Strategy, Human Resources, Ascension. “We’re eager to put flexible scheduling and self-scheduling technology into place, knowing it’s what so many of our associates prefer.” Ascension also launched the Associate Travel Program in 2020 as a way to allow associates to stay within Ascension but serve in other markets, taking on 8- to 13-week assignments across the System. Following are a few of their stories.

“I’ve worked at many hospitals in my 13 years of nursing, and I have never seen collaboration like I have at Ascension. Everyone has a voice, and the respect demonstrated cultivates a strong learning and patientcentered environment.”

— Larry Atherton, MSN, RN, CEN, Travel Nurse

“I chose Ascension because I feel like they’re the total package. They have benefits, they have locations that I wanted, and because I had worked at Ascension in the past, I knew that the people I was going to work with I was gonna love.”

— Abbie Manske, RN, Travel Nurse

CAREER GROWTH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Also introduced in 2020 was myCareer, a way to help associates reach their full potential at Ascension. A recent McKinsey & Company report found that providing career advancement opportunities, especially for front-line associates, drives retention. The study also found that associates would rather stay with their employer and advance within the organization than pursue external roles.

“Ascension’s greatest strength is our associates, and we are proud to provide new and innovative ways to foster career growth and mobility across our national network of hospitals,” said Lauren King, Senior Director, Associate Life Cycle, Human Resources, Ascension. “We have empowered our associates through an internal movement initiative that encourages a vibrant workforce and allows for career growth in a rapidly changing environment.”

“I’ve been here a little over seven years and started off in one position, transferred into another and then into another and now into this role. I think it’s really valuable to develop your current team and build them up and try to be able to promote from within.”

— Shane Chordas, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy, Ascension Sacred Heart, Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast “I stay at Ascension because they have provided me every opportunity to advance my career. I started out as a medical assistant 19 years ago, and now I’m a Clinical Operations Director.”

— Jennifer Henry, CMA, Director, Health Education Liaison, Ascension St. Vincent’s, Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast

Many myCareer Talent Advisors are available to assist all associates with resumes, finding open positions that align with their current role, applying for different roles, and navigating the application system.

In addition, Nursing Career Coaches support associates through personal and professional growth and development, using the coaching process to promote the flourishing and retention of associates, specifically Ascension clinicians, including nurses and nursing support professionals. To learn more, associates can visit the Growth and Development site using the QR code at right.

Honing Skills

Last year, Ascension launched Vocare (a Latin word meaning “to call”), focused on helping associates build new skills and gain healthcare certifications or degrees debt-free. The initial tracks of Vocare focus on vital clinical roles such as pharmacy and surgical techs, and the program will expand to include healthcare degrees and coursework as it grows.

“This program will advance Ascension as an employer committed to ongoing development by fostering an environment full of resources that support continued growth for our associates throughout their careers,” Anne said.