National Nurses Week 2024: Celebrating the Excellence and Importance of Nurses

Nurses at Bridgewell are dedicated to providing high-quality care to people in our services, focused on seamless coordination between multidisciplinary teams, including primary care providers and state agencies. With it being National Nurses Week, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our nursing team, for the excellent care they provide to the entire Bridgewell community!

“Our goal at Bridgewell is to keep people safe, healthy and focused on reaching their full potential,” said Chris Tuttle, President & CEO. “This would not be possible without the daily efforts of the nurses on our care team who work around the clock to help keep our community healthy. Thank you for all you do, every day.”

While all Bridgewell nursing positions have similar key responsibilities, some nursing roles are more specialized, tailored to meet different need within our community. Clinical nurses complete thorough assessments for each program participant, determining each patient’s conditions and needs, and tailoring their care plans based on this information. They work with their patients to develop a treatment plan that accommodates for their individual needs, concerns and lifestyle considerations. Residential nurses treat Bridgewell residents at home, and depending on the medical needs, may provide 24-hour care. And day program nurses ensure safety and proper care as well as medication management during the day at all of Bridgewell’s day programs.

With a combined 20 years of service at Bridgewell, healthcare coordinators Courtney Freeman and Deborah Ursino oversee the daily clinical nursing needs of the individuals in our services by collaborating with the Bridgewell nursing team, physicians, visiting nurse associations, and program staff. They also provide supervision to the nursing team members, holding monthly team meetings and providing daily support to nurses around clinical questions or concerns.

When asked about their experience in the Bridgewell nursing department, Courney and Deborah talked about advice they would give to nurses new to the team, recommending that they “trust their gut and their judgement. No duty is too small, and don’t be afraid to trust the people around you and learn from them.”

Throughout National Nurses Week Bridgewell has been recognizing nurses within programs in various ways. We are so grateful to our nurses for their commitment and dedication to caring for and supporting the health of the people Bridgewell serves. Thank you all!