UofL Health - Healthcare Employer in the US

Hi everybody and welcome. It's Friday so it must be Connetics USA weekly show Onwards and Upwards. Everything that a healthcare worker needs to know about having to live and work in the United States. I am your host, Tanya Freedman, President of Connetics USA part of the AMN family, the number one company for direct hire bringing healthcare workers to the United States. Our topic today is our client showcase. And we are very excited to present you one of our prestigious organizations, UofL in Louisville, Kentucky. I am joined today by the UofL team. So we have cherry joining us Mandi, Faith and Beatrice. Welcome, everybody. Very excited to see everybody today. And today we're going to find out more about UofL, we're going to be finding out more about Kentucky what's it like to live in beautiful Kentucky, we're going to find out more about Louisville, we're going to be finding out about the organization, we can have their facility spotlights, we're going to be finding out about the international nurse program, why they decided to do it speak to two of their international nurses who are going to be sharing the experience, lots and lots and lots to dig into. And we are really excited to speak to the UofL team today and find out more about it. So if you're joining us now please put your name into the chat and let us know where you're watching from. I see we have Philip who's watching from India, please put into the chat where you're watching from. And if you have any questions for the UofL team. And if you are interested in in applied to Connetics USA nurses recruiting agency, please apply to our website and our team on hand waiting to speak to you and see how we can help you make your American dream a reality. We'll have for Sean saying hi from the UK. So let's welcome the UofL team. Hi, everybody, welcome.

Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. This is this is a great forum, and what great information to get out to all of the health care workers across the world. So thank you Connetics. Of course, well we really excited to speak to the team and find out so much more about the organization. Let's start off with introductions. And Shari, do you want to go ahead and introduce yourself? Sure. I'm Shari Kretschmer. I am the Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer for you about health for the system. But I'm also the Chief Nurse for University Hospital. I've been in this role for eight years and relocated to Kentucky. So super excited. This has been a journey the last eight years. But it's been an awesome journey. So I'm glad to be here. Thank you. Thank you, Shari. Well, we can't wait to dig into your story. Find out about why you decided to relocate to beautiful Kentucky and for find out more about your experience with UofL. Mandi, did you want to go ahead and introduce yourself? Sure. I am Mandi Walker. I am the Executive Director of Professional Practice for the ABA health system. So I am over onboarding and education for nursing competencies, nursing research, and then Nursing Excellence. If you're familiar with the magnet designation, I'm over those programs in our facilities as well. Really glad to be here.

Thank you, Mandi. So Mandi is going to share a lot more about the education piece. The programs that you avail have to help international nurses to make the transition because nursing overseas can be very different to nursing in the US. So we're going to be finding out more about the journey, some of the International nurses that work at UofL welcome Beatrice. Hi, everybody.

My name is Beatrice. I am a registered nurse working at peace hospital offering direct bedside care to patients. I'm excited, super excited to be in this forum. Thank you, Beatrice and tell everybody where are you originally from? originated from Kenya and Kenya is in East Africa is one of the most recognized countries in East Africa. Thank you, Beatrice and I see Josephine in the chat is watching from Kenya. So Josephine Beatrice is living your American dream and you could be one day on screen and talking about your American journey. Thank you, Beatrice. Faith, we want to welcome you Faith. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Awesome. Hello.

My name is Faith based in our work in your work, in labor delivery, and so far, it's been great. I also am part of the nursing conference there. Why serve as a representative of all the other international nurses at your hospital?

Okay, thank you Faith and tell everybody Faith. Where are you originally from? I'm from Nigeria. Nigeria Okay, and I know we have lots of nurses who watch from Nigeria as well. So hopefully they can see themselves Faith in your journey. All right, so let's get started. And oh and I see in the chat there are lots of people joining us there Chinwe is also from Nigeria, I'm Hope I probably got that wrong but is watching from Iran Daisy is watching and Baku is asking if EB two visa does make a difference. So Bhagwan II that is the EB two visa is a visitor's visa and unfortunately, you cannot work in the United States on that kind of visa. And if you look on the Connetics USA website, there is a success path, which tells you the journey that Faith and Beatrice took in order to come and live in the United States. The Success Path for nurses takes you through the process, you need to pass the NCLEX exam, you need to have an interview with UofL or any of the other Connetics employers, you need to get a green card with your Canadian or Mexican citizen. And you could come on the TN visa, you need to get your English proficiency if you are not traded English, and a visa screen certificate, then you would come through to the United States. And number seven, enjoy and prosper just like Beatrice and Faith are doing now. Okay, so let's start off talking about Kentucky. So sorry, you mentioned that you had come to Kentucky a few years ago. Do you want to share with everybody a little bit about the state because a lot of international nurses know about Texas or California but not many know about Kentucky except maybe Kentucky Fried Chicken.

So, I am originally from a large metropolitan city in the Midwest. And so I was looking to come to an organization that was committed and caring for its community. So when I look at not only the health care system and University Hospital as an employer, potential employer, I also looked at the state of Kentucky. And one thing I fell in love with is just the pure beauty of the landscape in Kentucky. There's some rolling hills, there's beautiful horse farms. The horse industry is very prevalent in Kentucky. It is they actually have a program at UofL at the University of global at the college on horse on managing horse farms and managing racehorses. So we've got the Kentucky Derby actually coming up in about two weeks. I will tell you the feel and the energy in the city just shifts for these two weeks leading into derby. It is very exciting. It's something I've never experienced before. The other part of this is it's this time a year in Kentucky and it is spring. Spring is beautiful in Kentucky. We have our winters but our winters are much shorter, and they're not as bad as what I had experienced in the Midwest. Less snow, shorter winter. And when we come out of winter into spring, and a March is when we start to feel the flowers start blooming, the bushes start blooming. It's just is this is really a beautiful time of year and I always fall back in love with Louisville in Kentucky at this time a year.

Well, what a glowing reference about Kentucky, I've been there many times to visit the UofL team and you are 100%. Right Jerry, it is absolutely beautiful, a really beautiful place to bring up a family. And there's a lot of great positives there. Mandi, if we put up that screen again about the bluegrass state, you want to take us through some of the pictures on that on this graphic here and just share with the rest of the world some of the highlights of living in the area. Sure, I'd love to stand out you. What was that? Tanya? I said any of those pictures stand out to you want to share anything about any of the pictures on that graphic about what it's like living in Louisville? Yeah, so mobile is what we call a big small town. It is a city of over a million people. But it's not huge. It doesn't take long to get from one place to the next when you've lived here for a while, you know, people were right on the Ohio River. So we have you know, the river and the river town field. You know, because we were a port and that's how the bubble started a long time ago, and there's just things here, mobile slugger bats. So there's a slugger Museum. You know for baseball.

I'm obviously we're Kentucky. We're home of bourbon. I don't know if, if that's of interest to you. But we are the home of bourbon and there's distilleries and bourbon trails and tastings and everything that you can do here. Shari had mentioned the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs. A racetrack is here in the heart of Louisville. And there's just so much here I am originally from Michigan, which is north of here and a lot more snow. Very sad. But when you're here, it is very green. It's rolling hills. It's trees. And just I have friends who live elsewhere and they're like they want me to send them pictures of the green in Kentucky at this time. They jealous of the green in Kentucky and Beatrice had you ever heard about Kentucky before you move there and what did you know about it? You on mute Beatrice? Beatrice you on mute? Yeah, I used to tell you about Ken tacky. And the most interesting thing is that I don't even know how to spell Ken tacky. I like the way you put Turkey you know Turkey that we eat. We eat the tackle. That's how I used to spell contact. I used to hear about Kentucky but I had no know much about Kentucky until the time I get connected to Connetics. And I started researching about Kentucky when I knew that. My nursing assignment gonna be in Kentucky.

Okay, so you didn't know much about it, which is very common with many and international nurses might not have heard very much about it. Faith. What was your first impression when you arrived in Louisville in Kentucky? It was okay. Actually, I moved to Kentucky from Texas. So it was very different. Texas is a very main Flatland. So they're in a lot of trees. So when I got in here, it's like a lot of trees here like a lot of trees compared to Texas. But it also reminded me of like the actual city that I grew up in in Nigeria. And I actually told my mom about it when she came in. She's like, No, that's not quite right. This looks more like a capital city and like you say so my brother definitely did agree with me that it looked like this city that I grew up in. So it's small, just like at Louisville is a small city, especially compared to coming from Dallas. I'm just what I used to live. So that was that was my first impression of what it felt like home.

Well, that's fabulous. And in fact, we have actually have a graphic about all the great things about Louisville that we get to put in the chat. And so as Matt said it is a big small city, but it was actually ranked the 64th best place to live in the United States in 2022 and 2023. The eighth most affordable city in the United States top 10 for job creation, eight out of 10 for first time homebuyers at 13 out of 18. For best food neighborhoods is a great foodie place. And as and as Mandi said it's a big small city so ranked 17th largest city in the United States third of the 10 most hospitable fourth of the fourth of the US cities with the happiest workers lots of Parklands are lots of great things about new able. We're going to post that this graphic into the chat, and but really some great things about the organization. And let's talk a little bit about the loot the UofL system. Shari, tell us a little bit about the organization. So you have health, the health care system is really only four years old. We came together as a system just right before the pandemic. So it has been it's been a great journey for us. We have now as a health care system. We have six hospitals, seven emergency rooms and five urgent care centers. We actually have the number of licensed beds across the healthcare system is 1700. And within our health care system because we do so many different things. We have an academic medical center, we have a large hospital that specializes in organ transplants, and cardiac surgery.

And then we have a 200 bed inpatient psych hospital which is actually the largest psych hospital in the state of Kentucky. And just our health care system is ranked the fifth largest employer in Louisville. So we are spread out across the not only the entire city but into the surrounding suburban area. So there's great opportunities for you to come and work for us in all the different skill sets and care environments, but also an opportunity for you to grow those skills and to grow your professional practice to where you want to be as a professional nerves. Wow, that's so impressive. And I think for many international healthcare workers, when they think of coming to the United States, they just think often about getting the green card in the first place that they're going to be working in. But I think the great thing about UofL, is that there's so many opportunities. We actually have a new segment in today's show called the facility spotlight, where we're going to be spotlighting the different facilities that you have well have a part of the system, and we're going to do our first facility spotlight right now. And the heart hospital at Jewish Hospital is the region's only hospital exclusively focused on comprehensive and innovative heart care. It includes dedicated cardiac labs, hybrid operating rooms, three electrophysiology labs, and three cardiac operating rooms, collectively equipped for TAVR, watchman flex and heart transplant procedures. More than 40 Medical heart firsts are attributed to the UofL health team, including three of the world's first transplants and cardiac stem cell procedures, along with a first in the nation procedure to relieve the symptoms of heart failure to improve cardiac function and quality of life.

Wow, very, very impressive. And Mandi, tell us why. And what does you have to offer that other hospitals in the US don't? We are, I think a great little system to work for we are what would be considered a smaller health system in the United States. We're just regional, as Shari was saying in our region in our area where there are some literally have hospitals all over the country. But what that offers us is our is we're local, the leaders are local, the staff are local, we know the patients, the community that we live in, we're highly embedded in that community. But from a working for us standpoint on top of that, so we're affiliated with the University of Louisville, and all of our employees, their dependents and their partners who live with them are eligible to receive fully funded tuition to the University of Louisville for undergraduate degrees. So if you have children who want to go to college, if you have a spouse who wants to go to college, if once you work for us for six months, you have that benefit that they can go there and go for free for up to five years. To get a degree, you can as well if you want to go get another degree undergraduate, but we also have tuition reimbursement if you are over and want to get a graduate degree. On top of that, we offer a lot of certification support as well if you are want to become specialty certified as a nurse, we support both the preparation and studying for that as well as exam fees. And then once you have it, we'll help support the continuing education credits that you need to get paid for seminars and things like that we would maintain that certification so there's a lot of growth and development opportunities here. I have been here for 19 years I started as a surgical ICU actually nursing assistants while I was in nursing school 19 years ago so and I have worked my way up through the organization so there's just a ton of opportunity for growth and development.

Wow, that's so impressive. I mean that that's a very unique and offering that you about actually offer to their employees and something that's very, very special and really shows the amount of input and emphasis that is placed on the employees of you about growing themselves and growing their education and their families to have that opportunity as well which is really pretty unique. Beatrice why did you choose UofL as an employer.I chose to work for UofL because it was offering me an opportunity to work in a specialty that I liked. When I was in the nursing school, I have a greater desire to help psych patients. And when I applied with the Connetics they offered me an opportunity to work for Psych in a psychic facility. Okay, so it they really looked at what you were looking for and were able To find the right match for your career growth and career goals. Yes. And that's wonderful to hear. And if you are joining us now and interested in UofL or any other Connetics employers, please apply to Connetics USA online and our team are waiting on hand to help you and make your American dream a reality like Beatrice and Faith. And so I see there are some questions and in the chat.

Let me see here so Ron is just say my colleague here in the US from Nigeria in Jamaica, awesome. Nice working with you guys. So the Iran is saying hi. Frieda saying hi from Ghana to read from Pakistan, marry saying hi. And Shapira has a question. Sorry. Cherry has a question. Can she read from the Philippines I've signed the job offer from UofL piece hospital through Connetics. So you probably going to be working with Beatrice, and Kutcha. That's exciting. My priority date is February 2023. Unfortunately, I'm infected with the ongoing retrogression. So I'm hopeful that I can go there soon. Catch up. We're very hopeful that you will be at UofL and in Louisville soon. And yes, there was a retrogression that was announced in the May visa bulletin. If anybody wants to know more about that, please check out the show that we did on that recently. And pretty much what that means is that there will be a little bit of a delay in you getting there. But the process continues, you are valid is waiting for you with open arms. And we hope that you will be there soon. And miseries from Tunisia, Ezekiel from Nigeria, and Mary's also talking about the delay with retrogression. Just a delay. And Danielle is asking if they are OR positions? Shari, are they OR positions? You and Mandi, you're nodding your head?

What do you say to Danielle? Yes, there is a lot of positions in whatever or specialty you would like to be trained in, we've got cardiovascular or we've got transplant or we've got trauma alar. And then we just have at Marian Elizabeth Hospital, our Community Hospital, we have just community type surgery. So it's open to whatever your whatever your skill set is, and whatever area you would like to work in. Okay, so there you go, Danielle. And that, again, is the beauty of UofL is there's so many opportunities in so many different areas. And Faith. Tell us why you chose UofL. And also what was your first day like when you're joined? I just give up because I actually kind of work for Pinterest as is because I got offered a position in labor and delivery. However, that actually changed when I moved over here. And I ended up working in the ICU, which was not what I wanted at all. But I will say this No, I mean actually really helped me develop as a new nurse or not of nursing school. I learned a lot and I love other people that I worked with. And actually we can up shifts in the ICU again, even though I work in labor and delivery. So that's awesome that I get to do that. I've been able to work in two different specialties. Just like I would love it. And I remember my first day you vote. I'm very nervous because I was working as a nurse. I didn't have any of my family members in here. So I'm like, Oh my gosh, what's it gonna be like? I remember meeting when I walked in, I remember meeting the national nightshift. And I walked in and he was like, Are you Are you the new person starting off? I'm like, Yes. And he showed me where to put my bag you know where to log five gems out to make sure that I got paid, you know, so many he just he introduced me to everybody is like so you can go away from the break room tradition.

And I remember that. And all of that, that experiences like this is also really super, very welcoming. And I was able to start off right on then I get things going. So that's what my experience is like working at Europol on my first day. Wow. Well, I think your experience mirrors what so many nurses have told us as well that people are just so friendly, so warm, so helpful, and there's just so much opportunity. So sometimes life can lead you in a specific direction like you thought maybe it was labor and delivery but ICU is where you got to experience and I love that you had an open mind with that. And that you know in time you could go back into labor and delivery if you want it to it's just that the opportunities are limitless, which is just so exciting. And we have another facility spotlight now we want to showcase another one of the UofL facilities and the second facility spotlight is going to come up in a minute which gives us a little bit more insight into one of the other hospitals of UofL.

Peace Hospital is a private nonprofit Behavioral Health Hospital Originally founded in 1951, by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth peace Hospital has been offering hope and care for children, adolescents and adults with substance use disorder or CO occurring behavioral health disorders. Peace provides a full continuum of psychiatric and substance use services for patients, including specialty programs for children to geriatric patients who have complex treatment needs. Shelbyville Hospital is located on the kernel Heartland D. Sanders medical campus in the heart of Shelbyville just 30 minutes east of downtown Louisville, Shelbyville hospital offers a full complement of inpatient and outpatient care, including 24/7 emergency care. Shelbyville hospital is proud to say that through the years, they've been voted as one of the best places to work. The hospital also provides diagnostic imaging, diabetes and nutrition Care, General Surgery, ICU, pulmonary services and sleep medicine. Wow, very impressive. It's amazing. Shari there are different facilities can you talk a little bit about that? Mandi, you're also nodding your head?

Yeah, it's a lot of our services that we have developed over the years is based off of the what our community wants to see, and what services can we put in place to keep our community here in the city and then the region, because the you know, it's tough for a family member that has to travel two or three hours away for a transplant, or for heart surgery or for trauma care. And so we know that it's important for the family to be with their loved ones, or, and so during their time of healing, and so we decrease all of that burden that falls on those families by continuing to reevaluate and offer more and more services to the city of Louisville and really to the region. We just recently at University Hospital got accredited. For our adult Burn Unit, we have a 16 bed Burn Unit. And it is the only burn unit not only in the state, but in the region. So that would be almost up to Indianapolis and Cincinnati, the entire west side of Kentucky and down into Tennessee to Nashville. So we do have a big stretch. So we tried to decrease the amount of travel time for the care that the community needs.

Well, and community, the word community keeps coming into everything that that you know that you and the rest of the UOFL team are saying it really is so entrenched in the community and the services provided, and so vital to the community. So that's really a wonderful thing to see. And Mandi, and let's talk a little bit about the international nurse program. Why did UofL decide to start an international nurse program? I think there were a few different reasons. Obviously. There is a nursing shortage in the United States. But when we were looking at our options, one of our goals and missions, as an organization is to have a diverse workforce, and one that reflects our community to say that, again, Louisville is actually number four in the nation in terms of refugee landing spots. So we have several ministries in mobile, that bring in refugees and other immigrants. And we have a very diverse population in mobile. And so to provide optimal care, our nursing population or staff population should reflect our patient population so that they can see and connect with somebody, you know, who they recognize, and who might be able to understand them a little bit more than then maybe I would. So the international nurse program really helps us meet our mission to diversify our workforce and to look at, you know, who are we as a health system? And how can we best meet the needs of our patients? And then also just, you know, really to have that opportunity. I know, I've met several of our international nurses and gotten to know them and learning from them. And what they're bringing, that's so different from how we do things here, I think, is a growth opportunity for all of us.

Wow. So I mean, you you're 100% Correct. The International nurse recruitment has become a very hot topic in the United States because of the short supply of nurses across the country. But the fact that Louisville and Kentucky is such a diverse organization is something that is kind of unique, not all hospitals operate in that kind of that kind of scenario where they have such a diverse population. Beatrice did you know that there was such diversity in Louisville before you got there. I did not know, until I got to connect it to Connetics. And then I started researching. And I came to know that there is this beautiful city that exists here. Okay, and tell us a little bit about the different the device diversity that you see in Louisville. I find a lot of diversity, especially in terms of population here. Because there so many people from different countries up here, especially in Africa, from Africa, we have many people, many my colleagues actually, I find many colleagues in at my place of work, and also other people who work at UofL. Because we have avenues where we meet, they are from different countries in Africa. And that is something that is amazing. And I like it, because I'm able to get to meet the people who come from my home.

Okay, so that kind of feels very and you feel at home because there's so many people from all over the world and you mentioned Africa but they people from all over I know they're you know, people from the Philippines, people from India and Nepal, you know, all over the world. And Faith can you tell us a little bit about your experience with the diversity in Louisville. I would say that, living in Louisville, I have been able to meet people from different parts of the world, especially actually our nurse our population, the population of patients that we take care of, you get to meet people from all around the country, or Surrey even more like all around the world, we have theorized like I mean, people who don't even speak English, they speak with it, we have something we call your eyes. And what really that is, it's like a virtual translator where we get to, you know, translate, you talk to the viewer, right? You talk to your patient. So it's been nice to be able to meet people from all around the world and also pick up certain things in your languages. Um, because like when, especially when you converse with them and say, even if it's a good thing in their language, they always they feel special, they feel excited to meet somebody who can say these words in their language. So that has been, that has been really cool. Meeting people, especially at, um, the hospitals and the system itself meeting at that level patients that are from all around the world. And even as a nurse, you know, it's nice to meet people from different parts of Africa just because I'm African. And even though I can't speak their language, because in Nigeria, one of our mostly spoken languages English, and even though we can't speak all the languages in Africa, but I do still tell them that I'm African into the PRI, they get excited, you know, that they get me the nurse so that that has been very special.

That's fabulous. So there's a lot of learning that goes on not just the learning of that from a clinical perspective, but also learning about different cultures and different languages and different ways of bringing the cultures together, which is just amazing. And Reber has a question in the chat. It would have been it would have been possible for me to start there by mid year but retrogression happens so Reber hopefully you're started you avail soon. Question, if you don't mind are the possible management or training department opportunities for us there. I've enjoyed Joy teaching while in practice, Shari, are there opportunities for international nurses to move into management or training in time? Mandi's nodding your head. Yes, we, Shari, either one of us can answer but we actually have. We pull up professional development pathways for our nurses. So we have three kind of establish arms ones into leadership. So you'd start as a nurse, then charge nurse manager, up to director and perhaps beyond if that's what you want to do. We have one for advanced practice nurses. So if you wanted to become an advanced practice nurse, a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, that sort of thing. And then we have one for what we call other specialty nursing. So you wanted to do quality, infection prevention, education, informatics, so work with our documentation system, we have a pathway for that. And it's so we do have those opportunities. Like I said, I moved up through the organization and a lot of our leadership were staff nurses first. And so they have had moved up through the organization. So definite opportunities for development. And then the other thing we have in place, and I'll let Mandi talk a little bit about that is as you're going through this work, actually, you get credit for this work. We have a very robust clinical ladder. So the work does not go unnoticed as you start through this pathway.

Yeah, we have a special development program. Where, by what you're doing, how you're contributing to the organization kind of going above and beyond your shifts. So, you know, fate said she was the representative for international nurses on Congress at University Hospital. So you get points for doing things like that. And then when you get to so many points there and apply and turn into Portfolio, there's bonus money in it up to $8,000 a year. So, wow. Yeah. So there are a lot of those types of opportunities as well. Okay, so there you go. River. There's the answer to your question. Lots and lots of opportunity. And Beatrice, I know we just had a showcase on peace hospital. Can you tell us a little bit about what it's like to work there? It's so much interesting to work in the Peace hospital. Because we have kids units, we have adults units. We have detoxing units, we have psych, like psych activity psych unit. So we have failures, opportunities, whereby one can choose where you want to work. If you like working with the kids, we have the kids unit where you can work. And for me, I like adults, and I don't like working with the kids, but sometimes I work with them because I get pulled but the best thing is that you got work wherever you want. If you want adults, you can choose to work with adults and if you want to work with the kids, you can work with the kids and be interested just won an award she's so humbled. Beatrice. She's not even telling us what did you win Beatrice she was excellent. But they cry, they usually keep the sculptor near me all the time. And I have this portfolio that they gave me for that they say, Oh, well, Beatrice, we feel so proud of you. We feel so proud of you. Congrats, really, that is just the most amazing, amazing accomplishment. Mandi if you want to just share what the DAISY Award is all about? Are for nurses, who just exemplify really going above and beyond in patient care. Typically, they're nominated by either a patient the patient's family, or it can be by a peer and other nurse or a manager to say, you know, this is what they did. This is how they are just going above and beyond for their patients and really making a difference in the outcomes of our patients. And so everyone at peace loves Beatrice I hear about her all the time.

Beatrice is famous. Wow. Well, I must say we've I feel so proud of both Beatrice and Faith and everything that you've accomplished and all the international Euro Val nurses Beatrice I can cry when I look at you. Wow, that is just so exciting and such a great moment. And congrats to both of you on, on doing such amazing work. And sharing how has the international nurse program changed over the years? Because it because you've been bringing international nurses now for a few years? How has it changed and evolved over the time. So when we started looking at the International nursing recruitment plan, it was actually before the pandemic. So we were one of the early ones, because there was a discussion among senior leaders as Mandi talked about the diversity of our nursing workforce to represent the community. And when we originally started, we were just looking for a pool, you know, just a small number of international nurses. But now we have a commitment of over 600 International nurses. So far today, we brought in about 220 230 International nurses with the goal of 600. So we are taking a much broader and really creating a lot of resources. When this program started, it was Mandi and Katie Robinson referred to individuals that were supporting the international nurses now we have an entire department with leaders, with managers that are there to put their arms around the international nurses when they come in and help them transition into the United States and then to Kentucky. So the biggest change has been the number and then the number of resources that we've added to this program.

Okay, which is amazing because it's not easy for an international nurse to come to the United States, and especially in those first few months and there really is a need for resources and for help and support through that time. Faith what was the first few months like for you when you came to Louisville, it was a bit difficult. Yeah, that was it was hard being away from my family. And moving to a new city, it was particularly anything that had to do with your father was just feet away from, you know, people that I knew in a bit of time. But it was a definitely still to cover and the people that I worked with, they were just very receiving. And, you know, I knew that it had my back, I feel like that's a very important thing as a nurse when you're taking care of patients, you know, and for whatever reason, if your patients crashing that day, or things are just not going your way, and knowing that you have the right goal to back you and, you know, whenever you're here, you can be in a patient's room, because you're gonna need people at a time, you know, that you have this people to, you know, help you and step in, whenever that wherever that is needed, or even in things that you don't know, you know, when opportunities for growth, there was there to step in and be a good help. So that definitely helped, you know, in that aspect, working at Youville, you know, being able to, you know, meet people that that are just there to take the fall for you, you know, so I definitely love that, you know, working out you evolve. And so that's what it was like, for me. So even though it was difficult being away from friends or family, it was, it was made better by the people that I worked with in the community I was able to surround myself with as well. I love the church that I go to here at Google. And they also serve as a great community, I've been able to you know, learn some things and I'm learning where all the nice pieces are the eat in the niceness is really the Nexus around. So that it was like for me coming over here.

I love that Faith because I think, you know, you're so right in the beginning, it's hard. It's not easy. I know I was also an immigrant I came here from South Africa 23 years ago. And those first few months and weeks are really tough, you must family you get homesick, and you can feel alone, you can really feel very isolated in that in that beginning timeframe. But having that support system as especially from the organization where they are that you know they've been through it already. They know how to help you to make that transition is huge. You cannot underestimate that support, whether it's from the system or from the community. And I think let's have one more and facility spotlight and show off another amazing organization within the UofL family.

Jewish Hospital provides leading edge advancements in specialties and services located in the heart of downtown Jewish Hospital is internationally renowned for its proud legacy of surgical services and cardiovascular care. Jewish Hospital is also home to trach or Transplant Center, a federally designated Medicare heart, lung, kidney, liver and pancreas transplant center. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital is a full service hospital that offers a full range of vascular orthopedic, cardiac, neurological, surgical, rehabilitative and 24/7 emergency services, including a 24/7 STEMI. It's also home to the UofL health, weight loss care, and a voluntary inpatient medical detox unit. Patients will have continuity of care with trusted oncology and hematology providers along with access to the multidisciplinary care, pioneering research and clinical trials of the Brown Cancer Center.

Wow, lots to see and so much to to learn. And I'm just thinking as reassure these amazing facility spotlights, because I've been to UofL many times now and toured a lot of these facilities and really, so it's just so impressive to see how many services they are that are available for the community and how amazing all the people are that work in this this awesome organization. And let's talk a little bit about the onboarding and the education of the International nurses. And Beatrice, what was the training like when you got to the United States when you got to UofL? Yeah, the training was amazing when I came up here. One thing I like is that they offer extensive training, especially when I say about training is about when you come in, they have to Twitter, we have to go through orientation, and the orientation they give for international nurses and people who just come from school is 16 weeks, it looks like long, but it is it's worth it is good because when you are new, you just come from school, or just come from your country things are completely new. So that that wrong. Orientation helps a lot. And that's what I underwent, in my, in my place of work at peace hospital. I went through that extensive training. And that orientation, it took me 16 weeks, and it was so much helping.

Okay, so that made a big difference for you. And Shari, has the orientation and training changed over the years? Because I know you said in the beginning, it was really Mandi and Katie, the educator, and how has it changed? How's it evolved? I'm gonna let Mandi speak to it cause she has literally revamped this entire program as it has continued to grow in order to meet the needs of the International nurses as they're coming in. That Faith was one of our early folks. So we do have education and training no matter where you're going. So we have an international nurse class, that's two days, and that we talk a lot about what's different in healthcare in the United States, what's different in nursing in the United States, what are some of those things that you might encounter, that are different for you, so that you can help understand those as you as you come upon them. And then when you go to your facility into your unit, there will be facility orientation, where they talk about kind of, as you've seen, each facility is different. So what is unique about that facility, what do we do here, and then we'll have classes that are for whatever Clinical Specialty you're going into. So if you're going into the OR, there'll be or classes if you're going into the ICU classes, ed classes, if you're going in the emergency department, so you know that classes for those specialty areas, and then on top of that is Beatrice mentioned, you get preceptor time on the floor, so you'll be assigned another nurse. And you'll work with that nurse for many, many weeks, just getting up to speed. And that does vary depending on experience, and how much you need. But we're here to make sure you get what you need, because we want you to be successful. And you know, so that will vary a little bit, up to 1620 weeks, even, that we have seen from people. So there is a lot of education, onboarding, that's one of the things because we're an academic health system. We very much value ongoing continuing education, but then also making sure we set our employees up for success.

And it's just not our employees. We also work with our leadership, our nurse managers, our nursing directors, they go through classes on how to lead international nurses. So it's training on both sides of the equation in order to create a culture, that environment that supports everyone and their professional growth. Okay, so that that is very interesting, and Shari and something pretty unique, because a lot of hospitals, first of all, haven't had the length of experience that you've had bringing international nurses in. So you've had that time to refine and to grow and to develop that whole orientation and onboarding process. But also looking at your existing staff and how to help them, you know, help the transition and set the international nurses up for success. Faith, what was your onboarding and orientation process, like? For me, it included, like working in the ICU and included, you know, having a preceptor that I followed, so I started off on day shift, and I think I was on vacation for about eight weeks, then I finished up that orientation on negative work as a nightshift nurse, that's what I wanted, as I knew that's what I was doing. I'm starting up an AFS is experiencing things that is because most of the residents, most residents comes in during the daytime, to be able to be updated on your orders and something on a ship like that, that doesn't happen as often in almost any kind of like ship. So it was nice working on this ship been able to do that. And they just some procedures that are done more like scheduled surgeries. Because it dawned on patients. So that was nice maybe to do that on a shift and then we will not lecture.

But again, that allowed me leave them that I wanted to pick up shift conditions as to how that works and how to do all of that. That wasn't my orientation was like But even as a part of that part of teaching. I also do something called president's presidency, which I did because I had this model Lucious time. So what the national Scentsy program is, it's a one year program, and basically whatever system whatever unit you're working on, I see you in kind of what it was like, you know, rested. And because it was included, I didn't, I didn't get the full the full service of the residency, I guess I was like that, um, I was online, so I didn't actually get to meet reports, and do all of that. But I did learn a lot about being a nurse being a first time nurse, I'm not in my residency. But we're actually supposed to work on a project, which is going to be something that was evidence based practices is a key witness in Hindi that is eight. It basically is that whatever thing we put into axis's, nurses, there's evidence that backs up that practice. And so one of the initiatives and it seems they actually research, um, something, whatever topic they choose as a team, and it because it's going to be evidence based practice the hospitals hospital practice, because I'm researching into that. So that was a part of the residency again, we didn't get to do that as much because of COVID.

WhatsApp at the time, because a lot of things that went into that. So that was part of my orientation coming on, and another big thing is asset. So there's something that we call No, this is like a Knowledge Hub, which is basically you get an updated information on being a nurse. So I had a lot of what we call no modules do I miss that was that a pyramid product of being a nurse would learn, you know, how to break up what's happened, and actually do it right, you know, productivities in patients convulses is that a lot of ICU patients are always embedded in a walk around. So those are just a couple of things that we need to know also we need to think regarding like policy updates in the hospital just to know we're aware, and that education is app doesn't stop there, it actually continues not the entire time you're a nurse, I'm actually just we just had like a whole update of nodes to do that was due on the 31st of may and that's really just to make sure that your knowledge in Update. And in addition to that, I think about there's actually a lot of things that that goes into a lot of things I'm just gonna stop there because it's a while. much stuff that you learned I love it. I love the passion that you have Faith in Him sharing with everybody who's watching all of the amazing things that UofL put on your plate to learn and to grow and to experience in order to set you up for success as Mandi said, so I just love it and I love the passion with which you are expressing yourself really so inspiring. I think for everybody who's watching today. Okay, let's do one last facility spotlight and look at one of the other facilities within the UOFL family.

The Brown Cancer Center has been a leading face of world renowned academic research and cancer care affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. The Cancer Center's goal is to make cancer a disease of the past through cutting edge care, innovative clinical trials and cancer prevention efforts. It is nationally recognized for the development of experimental cancer therapeutics and diagnostics and as the largest cancer trials program in the region. Fraser RIA Rehabilitation Institute offers an expansive network of inpatient and outpatient facilities across Kentucky and southern Indiana. Its services include nationally recognized brain injury, spinal cord and stroke recovery rehab programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for rehab facilities. Frazier rehab continues to be on the cutting edge with many other rehabilitation services, such as the emerg program, which is designed to help patients with severe traumatic brain injuries.

Okay, I'm just looking at the clock and I'm like, Oh, my gosh, I have so many more questions. And there's so much more to talk about. And the clock is ticking. I want you to just answer this question though, from a Robbie because I see a Robbie's put the question a few times I'm a Bangladeshi nurse, I want to go to America to study post basic B and bachelor, bachelor's and master's I want to study in American University where you will help me so a Raby if you want to come here on a student visa, and that is a different visa to watch and Beatrice and Faith would come on as a green card nurse and we have done shows before on student visa. So please look at those shows and we'd be happy to share some information with you about how you can come here on a student visa. And okay, so in Nagin is saying I just passed both my NCLEX and PTE three days ago. Congratulations Negan. And immediately applied with Connetics, you can say, Yay, we are excited, and really looking forward to work with you and start my progresses as soon as possible. Appreciate it, if you will consider me. So now again, we'd love to consider you. And I know you've been hearing all the amazing things about UofL. So we'd be very happy to just speak to you about that and see if we can put you in touch and get you living your American dream like Beatrice and Faith right now. Okay, we are I'm looking at the clock. And we've got so much more to ask everybody. But the clock is ticking. And we're almost at the hour. And so I think maybe, and, Shari, do you want to maybe just talk a little bit about the magnet status? And that you have? Well, we recently applied? Yeah. So University Hospital is a level one trauma academic medical center.

And we just recently in December was awarded a management certification. It is an international recognition of Nursing Excellence, where nurses at the bedside own their own practice, and as Faith described our nursing Congress, which is 43, bedside nurses that come together every month to look at practices to look at what the evidence shows, and there's their possibilities to change our practice. So it's better. It's constantly challenging ourselves, knowing professionally, but allowing our nurses to have a voice and they're empowered to speak up and say, you know, what, this isn't working? Can we do it differently? This, we are was super excited. This has been a long journey. It's around our nurse sensitive indicators, our quality scores on Khadi and CLABSI, pressure ulcers, falls, nursing satisfaction, and patient satisfaction. So the combination of all three that we've been working on really the last eight years, has led us to finally receiving this international recognition of a magnet organization.

Wow, well, congratulations, because becoming a magnet accredited facilities are really tough journey. And I think it's correct that only about 8% of hospitals in the whole of the United States have achieved magnet status. And so really an awesome, amazing accomplishment. And all of Soto is asking what is the nurse patient ratio at UofL? Mandi? Well, that's gonna vary depending on what area you work in. In general, if you're an intensive care nurse in the ICU, it's probably about two to one. If you are out on one of our med surg floors, or what we call mixed acuity that has kind of stepped down progressive care and med surg, about five to one, maybe six to one. And then you know, from there, it really will depend on where you're at and what kind of area you're working in. But it usually max on a med surg is about six patients. Okay, sounds good. And oh, and I see on the news saying good morning from Jamaica, I'm late, but I couldn't afford to miss the show. And we're glad that you're here on him to watch the show even though we are at the tail end. Okay, so to finish off I think maybe Beatrice let's start with you. Why would an international nurse choose UofL?

Yeah, they will choose UofL because after you come here, they will fight for you the green card. That's one thing that they do for you. And then when you get the green card, you are allowed now to work. Although you get into like a contract after you finish the contract, you can work anywhere else you want. But the best thing is that when you work with you have felt you have the opportunity even to advance your career. If you want to advance your academic work, you can still continue because as we know that your fellow is has academic training that he does. So that's one advantage that you can work here and you can go to school still in your film, as it is offering the opportunities to go to school, for the for the staff and also for the family members. Okay, thank you, Beatrice. So those are very inspiring words from Beatrice Faith, and how is your life different working at UofL than it might have been in your home country? So I've actually never worked in Nigeria, so I don't know Oh, because I moved over here to school before I ended up, I do have a hospital. So I'm not quite sure how to answer that question. But from the people that I've spoken to so far that actually do work in Nigeria, you know, my friends and family, our platform versus working here, it's definitely different, you know, being able to have employees that kind of backed you up, as well as are interested in your growth, and also the fact that your work ethic count.

So basically, whatever, you know, what put into something, you know, like Mandi was talking about that professional development pathway, you know, being able to, you know, put that effort in and know, that actually counts for something, and you're gonna get promoted versus back home where, you know, that's not necessarily a thing, you know, from what I know. And in addition to that, I just had this discussion with my dad, he asked me, he was like, Are you sure you want to be a nurse? And I said, Yes, I do want to be a nurse. And that really exists because of the way nurses have viewed in Nigeria versus here. And I would definitely say there's a lot of credibility that comes with being here in the United States as well as a year ago, as well. Yeah, absolutely. Nurses have a lot of respect and a voice Shari. I mean, as you said, the nurses are really listened to in in the process. And Jerry, what are you looking for in an international business, I'm looking for someone that wants to grow, grow professionally, wants to be part of the team, and one that you know, is willing to think outside the box. And that's what we're looking for innovation interested, if you're interested in doing research, there's that possibility interested in, you know, expanding your education, that's possibility. And the possibilities are endless. And I think that's what we're looking for one that doesn't just accept the status quo. And that's the way it's always done.

So someone that can challenge us, and we can challenge them. fabulous opportunity to learn and grow on all sides. And final words to you, Mandi, what would you say to any international nurse who's thinking about coming to the United States? There are lots of options. And in the United States now for international nurses, why would somebody choose UofL, I really do think it's, it's the family feel on the smaller area, feel, you know, there's, there's a lot of really big cities, and you get the same kind of opportunities here in Louisville, in terms of things to do and activities and, and things that the city can offer. But as an organization, you know, we really are kind of what we call a big family. And, you know, everyone knows each other. And I think just that support that comes with being in a organization that, that welcomes you and then works to help you be successful here is a special when you've said a few times works to set the nurses up for success. So I think that really probably just sums it up that great family feel lots of support, and lots and lots of opportunities. So I think that's a great way to end of the show before everybody leaves. I want to thank the UofL team for joining us today and sharing some of the awesome parts of UofL opportunities for growth for an expansion to challenge yourself. I want to congratulate Beatrice and Faith on their careers and their achievements. So far, we feel so proud of both of you, as well as all the UofL nurses and all that you have accomplished.

And I know that there's so much more to come with UofL. Before everybody leaves just remember some of the shows coming up in the next coming week. So next week, we have our regular segment on immigration Q&A. And I know we've had some immigration questions come up today. So save those for next week. On the fifth of May we have the Connetics career day on the 12th. We have nurses month game show on the 19th immigration Q&A And on the 26th we have a very interesting show talking about the direct hire versus staffing. And those do two different models in the four once a month we have on the ninth of may work life balance, very important topic to discuss how to balance work and life. And remember every Monday at 6am Pacific Time check the time zone converter in your location. We have free classes for all of the healthcare workers around the world. We work with Aspire with IPass Swoosh and Niners.

I met most of them when I was in the Philippines last week. And we are so proud to be able to have those partners that give free classes on NCLEX and English requirements. I see Daisy is asking and is this direct hire or staffing? This is direct hire. So you ask them employed and sponsored by UofL. And also if we look at the Connetics initiatives, just a few more things to bear in mind, and that is that we offer free English scholarships for all Connetics nurses. This is our way of paying it forward. For our Connetics nurses. We have a free NCLEX scholarship for selected nurses $1,000 referral fee if you send us a nurse with NCLEX please listen to our podcast nursing in America. We have a direct hire Nurse Aide program every Friday our show onwards and upwards every Monday Connetics college free classes for nurses and we also have many Allied nurse allied needs. In fact, Matthew UofL have many of our med techs and that are very heavily working at UOFL. So with that said, we are over the hour. I want to again thank the UofL team for joining us. We are proud to be associated with UofL and we will see you next week everybody onwards and upwards. Thank you for joining us. Bye bye