Janet Hersh has spent the past 37 years working as a nurse in St. Joseph’s Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU).
We caught up with Janet to find out why she is so passionate about her job.
AJC: You’ve had a long career at St. Joseph’s. You must find some pretty positive aspects about working there. What are some of your personal favorites?
Hersh: Working with a dedicated staff who are empowered by the Mercy Philosophy and caring for and serving others who are in need. Nurses at Saint Josephs make a difference.
Saint Joseph’s has excellent nursing leadership, and Shared Governance has always had a strong presence in our organization. The nurses are the decision makers and they are empowered to provide a culture of outstanding care and growth. We collaborate with others in our health care team to provide best practices for our patients. We have always been clinical leaders in health care.
AJC: What are some other reasons you’ve stayed at St. Joseph’s so long?
Hersh: Teamwork and dedication of the staff. Working at Saint Joseph’s is like working with family. We care for one another and our patients and their families recognize the warm personal commitment of our staff.
The nursing staff in the CVICU are dedicated and experienced. Many of our nurses have worked in the unit for more than 20 years. We offer a residency program that allows the staff the opportunity to mentor new nurses who would like to transition into critical care. Everyone learns from each other.
AJC: Do you have a special story to share about your time at St. Joseph’s?
Hersh: When I started my career at Saint Joseph’s our unit had three beds and my paycheck said ‘Saint Joseph’s Infirmary’. We were small but mighty and I enjoyed the sense of ‘family’ as we embraced all of the growth and changes in health care. Now with 24 beds in the CVICU, we have grown but we have never lost sight of our mission to serve others and our commitment to excellence in patient care.
