Bayhealth Graduates Nurses from Critical Care Fellowship

At Bayhealth, leadership believes in and supports the growth of team members. This is why programs such as the Critical Care Fellowship are made available to staff at Bayhealth.

Twenty Bayhealth nurses graduated from the most recent Critical Care Fellowship, which lasted eight weeks. Within that time, nurses spent time developing a solid foundation for working in the critical care nursing units. Graduates work in one of several critical care units at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus and Bayhealth Milford Memorial including the Intensive Care Unit and Progressive Care Unit. The fellowship is also preparing medical-surgical nurses for work on acuity-adaptable nursing units when the Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus opens in 2019.

Fellowships at Bayhealth help prepare new nurse graduates for careers in critical care. The program also allows current nurses to hone their skills in caring for complicated patients in critical care settings. “It’s very important that Bayhealth offer opportunities for professional development to staff,” says Critical Care Coordinator Holly Dapias, RN, BSN, CCRN. “These fellowships engage staff and provide them with learning opportunities to further develop their critical thinking skills.”

Two fellowship graduates – Debbie Reynolds and Lewis King – said the eight-week program vastly improved their ability to work in critical care. Coming from a job in emergency management services, King says the fellowship has helped him have a better understanding of what it’s like to work in the hospital setting. Reynolds previously worked in hospice so working in a hospital is also new to her. She liked having the opportunity with nurses from all levels of the critical care process – intensive, intermediate and progressive care. “The nurses here are awesome. We have a good team here,” Reynolds said.

The Critical Care Fellowship is just one example of how leadership supports the development of staff, which ultimately improves the care Bayhealth provides to the community. Visit Bayhealth.org/careers for information on opportunities available and the benefits available to staff at Bayhealth.