Top 3 Career Paths for Nurses at Hebrew SeniorLife

At Hebrew SeniorLife, we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to career development. We want to know what matters most to every nursing staff member.

We go out of our way to offer our nurses opportunities to thrive, including exploring new nursing roles, growing into leadership positions, and pursuing higher education. But that’s not all that makes us an excellent place for nurses.

Here’s more about three of the top ways nurses can advance their careers at Hebrew SeniorLife:

1. Explore new nursing roles 

If you’re starting to feel restless in your role, you don’t have to leave Hebrew SeniorLife to try something new. We have endless opportunities for you to explore! You can pursue a “career within a career” by changing your nursing role. And guess what? That isn’t just true for people who started in nursing positions! For instance, we have staff who started in culinary positions and have since become licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.

Bridget Aucoin, RN, BSN, recently took the opportunity to try something new. After joining Hebrew SeniorLife in 2012, she spent 11 years working for our skilled nursing rehab unit at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, MA, before deciding she wanted a change.

In early 2024, Bridget moved to the outpatient medical practice at NewBridge. “Working in the outpatient clinic, I get to focus more on wellness and holistic nursing, which is where I wanted to venture toward,” she explains. Bridget has also taken on other nursing roles while at Hebrew SeniorLife, including charge nurse and preceptor.

This isn’t the first time that Bridget has explored a new opportunity. She joined Hebrew SeniorLife after obtaining her associate’s degree and registered nursing license at the age of 42. She was inspired to join the nursing field by the incredible impact nurses had on her own life when her late husband had cancer.

“My late husband died from brain cancer, and I had an 18-month crash course taking care of him as well as a firsthand look into health care. I decided that if I could do for somebody’s family what one of those nurses did for ours, then that’s what I wanted to do,” she says.

She has since returned to school, obtaining a bachelor of science in nursing degree with the assistance of a scholarship from Hebrew SeniorLife.  “I graduated with my RN on my 42nd birthday, and I started my new job here in the outpatient clinic the day after my 54th birthday,” she adds.

Her advice to other nurses about exploring new opportunities? “In terms of changing nursing lines, don’t be afraid because this organization is very supportive, and you’d be amazed at what you can do. Take advantage of any opportunities,” she advises.

2. Grow into a leadership position

At Hebrew SeniorLife, it’s common for employees to become leaders within the organization. Some nurses have been with us for over 50 years!  

Larysa Chou, RN, a nurse manager at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston, is one example of a Hebrew SeniorLife nurse who has risen to a leadership position. Larysa has been with Hebrew SeniorLife for nearly 20 years, starting as a nurse assistant in 2005 after moving to the United States from Ukraine in 2004.

She took nursing college prerequisite courses and jumped at the chance to apply for our licensed practical nurse training program as soon as it launched in 2006. After graduating in 2008, her career as a nurse officially began. She then prioritized time with her budding family while continuing to work per diem for multiple years. She further developed her education while working per diem, using Hebrew SeniorLife’s tuition reimbursement employee perk while she obtained her registered nursing license.

In 2021, Larysa applied for her current nurse manager position. She had the support of colleagues, managers, and directors as she pursued — and achieved — her management role. Another nurse manager who had followed a similar career path served as a role model for her. “I could see that it could be done,” she says.

Larysa now oversees a team of 50 nurses who provide care on the floor. She goes out of her way to mentor her staff the same way she has received mentorship, advocating for them, offering professional development, and providing any extra support she sees they need. She is doing all this while completing her master’s degree in family practice nursing!

As for what has kept Larysa at Hebrew SeniorLife for nearly two decades, it’s the entire package. “It’s just a great work environment. The whole team works together very closely, taking care of patients and seeing that whatever you do matters. It’s often patients’ final years spent here, and you can see that if you go an extra step, it really matters to the patient and makes a big difference. And of course, the support I got from everyone going through each step — scholarship or schedule changes I needed while in college. They were ready to support whatever I needed,” she adds. 

3. Pursue higher education

At Hebrew SeniorLife, there’s no shortage of higher education opportunities. We have generous scholarships and tuition reimbursement, but it goes further than that. Partnerships with colleges and universities enable our nursing staff to pursue higher education degrees on-site, learning from our very own experts, who serve as adjunct faculty. This also creates possibilities for staff with an interest in teaching to pursue adjunct faculty roles, where they can share their knowledge with and mentor aspiring nurses.

A bachelor of science in nursing program for certified nursing assistants who aren’t native English speakers comes with additional tutoring support, helping them succeed in the classroom. Returning to school is made more accessible because of our unique schedule flexibility — we hire for standard shifts, and nurses don’t have to rotate — meaning you get the work-life balance you need to pursue goals outside of work. Plus, we work with our staff to accommodate scheduling needs when we know they’re pursuing education goals.

Kerry-Ann Tracey has been a certified nursing assistant at Hebrew SeniorLife since 2013. During her time here, she has worked for different units, including Hebrew Rehabilitation Center’s specialized care for medically complex patients and skilled nursing rehab unit. 

Kerry-Ann has always wanted to be a nurse. However, most nursing programs don’t work for her schedule because of work and family obligations. “When I thought about applying to nursing school, if it was a rigorous program, I would have to quit my job if I wanted to do it. I could not do that because I have to pay my bills, and I have to live and take care of my kids. I could not just quit my job and go to school full-time,” she explains.  

Hebrew SeniorLife’s partnership with St. Joseph’s College was the perfect opportunity for her to pursue her lifelong dream. We partner with St. Joseph’s College to offer educational programs for nursing assistants to obtain a bachelor of science in nursing degrees. Notably, Hebrew SeniorLife offers clinical rotations on-site.  

“It checked all the boxes for me. It was an online program, but convenient. The schedule is so good because I can still work and the clinicals are at Hebrew SeniorLife. For me, that was perfect,” she says. 

She has shifted to a part-time schedule that works better for her as she completes the degree program. She was also offered a scholarship through Hebrew SeniorLife to help offset the tuition cost. Kerry-Ann hopes to take what she learns in the program and continue to rise in her career, with the goal of one day growing into a management position.

One of her favorite parts of working at Hebrew SeniorLife is the deep sense of community. “I think working for the past 11 years, I’ve gotten a sense of belonging, like this is where I’m supposed to be. Working at Hebrew SeniorLife, I’ve realized that it is a family, a community that you’re part of. You belong to something,” says Kerry-Ann. 

While we have many higher education offerings for our nursing staff to take advantage of, we also recognize that you shouldn’t have to pursue an advanced degree to be a lifelong learner. Some people don’t have the freedom or flexibility to dedicate time after work to school — we see you, too. That’s why we offer our nursing staff ongoing in-house professional development and learning opportunities.

The unique formula that defines Hebrew SeniorLife’s work culture 

None of these differentiators individually encompass what makes working at Hebrew SeniorLife so special. It’s not just that nurses can explore new nursing roles, grow into leadership positions, pursue higher education, and receive in-house professional development. It’s not just about our flexible, non-rotating schedules. It’s not just about the fact that we understand and honor the value of work-life balance. It’s all of these things, together, that allow us to provide an employee-centric culture.

Beyond that, our nurses are inspired daily by life-changing connections with patients, residents, and their families. “I learn so much from the older adults we care for. If you can be part of a team that supports their well-being and their dignity, that’s pretty rewarding to be a part of,” says Bridget.

Kerry-Ann echoes this sentiment: “You learn so many life lessons from older people, and for me, it’s fulfilling just to help someone, to make their life easier in whatever way you can. For me, that’s just the joys of working with older people.”  

Are you interested in learning more? Read more about nursing careers at Hebrew SeniorLife or view our open nursing jobs today.