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Why Catholic Health?

Career Opportunities

Catholic Health offers numerous career opportunities in a variety of healthcare settings:

• Hospitals
• Primary care centers
• Diagnostic and treatment centers
• Long-term care facilities
• Subacute care facilities  
• Freestanding surgery center
• Patient's homes

Catholic Health is one of the largest providers of cardiology services, maternity services, and care to the elderly in the region.
The magnitude of Catholic Health, however, is best characterized by the care it provides to the people of Western New York, making it one of the area’s busiest healthcare systems.

Annually, Catholic Health accommodates:

• Over 1 million ambulatory visits
• Nearly 150,000 emergency room visits
• Over 44,000 admissions and 5,500 births
• Over 2,400 medically complex subacute discharges
• Over 700 patients in our skilled nursing facilities
• Over 127,000 home care visits

Professional Advancement

“We believe in growing our own,” says Deborah Kopacz, RN, BSN, a clinical recruiter for the system. “Staff development and continuing education are important priorities for us as we help our nurses be the best clinicians they can be.”

Catholic Health supports the ongoing education of our associates as they attain specialty credentialing in areas such as rehabilitation, geriatrics, and wound care to name a few.

Among the certifications our nurses pursue are:

• Gerontological Nurse Certification
• Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse
• National Alliance of Wound Care Certification
• Critical Care Certification
• Medical Surgical Nursing Certification

Access to Internationally-Known Practitioners

In support of our “person-centered” approach to care – care driven by the needs of the patient – we identify specialty needs to best serve the Western New York region and invite internationally-known practitioners to speak to our staff. These speaking engagements raise our staff’s level of expertise and enable us to grow and improve our programs to better meet the community’s needs.

Nurse Mentor Program

Catholic Health’s RN Mentor Program expands upon an already-comprehensive orientation program by providing support and resources to graduate nurses during their first year of role transition.

Each newly-hired nurse is offered the opportunity to connect with a seasoned nurse. Through regular, self-arranged meetings, the nurses casually meet and discuss issues that are important to their career development. Mentors often offer insight as to what has helped them become successful nurses at Catholic Health.

“Nursing can be a very stressful and demanding career. It is important that we provide the new grad with the support necessary to overcome these challenges. Here at Catholic Health, our mentor program really tries to focus on the needs of the new nurse,” says Daynell Rowell RN, MSN, Catholic Health’s RN Mentor Coordinator.

Catholic Health University

Through Catholic Health’s university program, Catholic Health nurses have the opportunity to participate in continuing education classes. These sessions cover a variety of topics, such as:

• Medical Surgical Nursing Certification
• Critical Care Nurse Certification Prep
• Charge Nursing and Leadership Skills
• Care of Neurological Patients
• Oncology 101

Employees can register for classes by contacting their Nurse Managers.

RN to BS in Nursing Program

Registered nurses at Catholic Health may participate in our RN to BS in Nursing Program in which students earn a BS in Nursing through a series of courses held at Catholic Health over a thirty month period. Catholic Health will pay tuition costs, and provide a laptop and fees for books. Graduates must commit to work as an RN for the equivalent of three years full time (5,850 hours) beginning at the completion of the program.

New hires must complete the probation period before enrolling.

Click here to find out how you can earn your BSN through Catholic Health.

Flexible Shifts

Our associates are supported through an organization-wide commitment to work/life balance. As part of that commitment, Catholic Health offers flexible shifts, ranging from eight to twelve hours, as well as “split shifts” that enable associates to work and take care of responsibilities at home.

Nurses Rewarded for Efforts

At Catholic Health, recognition is an important part of the nursing culture. “We believe in giving our nurses the tools, support and resources they need to succeed,” says Nancy Preskop, MA, a recruiter for the system.

LOVE Award

The Living Our Values Effectively – or LOVE – Award goes to associates who exemplify the Catholic Health mission and values. Associates can be nominated by a patient, family member, coworker or supervisor.

Clinical Ladders Program

Our Clinical Ladder Program is designed to recognize full-time and part-time Registered Professional Nurses working in the Continuing Care division’s long-term care facilities. Through this voluntary program, nurses who strive for clinical excellence and demonstrate professional growth are eligible for salary increases and promotions.

Please see our Benefits page for more information about the Clinical Ladders Program.