When Helena Referred Myraldie…
It Was a Win-Win! Helena Got an Employee Referral Bonus, while Myraldie Got Work-Life Balance–and a Job She Loves
One of the best ways that VNS Health hires clinicians and home health aides is through referrals from our own team members. All referrals are welcome—whether you’re referring a relative, a friend, someone you used to work with, or even a casual acquaintance. It’s easy to refer someone—and, if that person is hired, you could receive a bonus for as much as $7,000! To learn more and to find out how to make a referral, click here.
The Team Members:
Helena Davis, RN, Hospice Nurse, Brooklyn
Myraldie Pierre, RN, Hospice Nurse, Brooklyn
The Backstory:
Helena: I worked with Myraldie at an adult clinic a few years ago, before I began working at VNS Health. We got to talking, and I was struck by her diligence. She had also managed a nursing home, and had worked as a home care nurse in the past. When I learned she was commuting 2.5 hours every day to and from her job, I thought, no, no, no—that’s no way to live. She wasn’t a hospice nurse per se, but she certainly had all the experience, qualities and qualifications. After I came to VNS Health, I pretty much hijacked her into applying for a job as weekend hospice nurse in Brooklyn.
Myraldie: Helena wasn’t going to let me keep on going with my crazy schedule. She’s an amazing, very charismatic person, and she talked me into applying. She wouldn’t take no for an answer! She said that my five-days-a-week schedule—and all that commuting—gave me no work-life balance, and she was right. I was initially hesitant because the new position was Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—and I thought OMG, that’s the whole weekend! But she said not to think of it that way, and to think in terms of total time spent—hours of my life I’d never get back. I gave my notice at the hospital where I was working as an ambulatory-care nurse and started at VNS Health two days later. I now live in Valley Stream, Long Island and commute to Brooklyn. The time I save commuting is incredible—I now drive 45 minutes each way versus 2.5 hours or more in my former job. And since I’m on a weekend schedule, I only encounter a little rush-hour traffic on Friday mornings.
How’s It Going?
Helena: Although we’re both hospice nurses, we work independently, so we’re not constantly in touch. But I know that things are going very well for her, and I’m not surprised. She’s exactly the kind of person our organization needs. She’s super caring, always going above and beyond, and she has expertise in a lot of fields, including gerontology. It takes a special kind of person to be a hospice nurse. You can’t just be in it for the shift or the money, and she is that kind of person. And she actually has work-life balance now. It truly is a win-win situation—for the organization, for her, and of course for her patients and their families. Plus, I consider the referral bonus that I received to be a win as well!
Myraldie: Working as a hospice nurse in the field was a very smooth transition. I had a lot of experience with death as a nursing-home supervisor during COVID, so that aspect was not daunting for me. My mother, who died in my arms the year before from Alzheimer’s complications, was in a hospice program in Queens, so it was a familiar setting. Working as a hospice nurse is just an extension of what I’ve always done, with a slight shift in focus. And the job is so very rewarding. The families I work with have been wonderful—welcoming me into their homes and into their intimate and vulnerable circumstances. I help them prepare for the death of their loved one, provide education to help them understand what’s happening, and engage in those conversations that people spend their lives avoiding. Being part of that process is a true privilege, and they are so thankful and grateful.
Final Thoughts:
Helena: The referral process was effortless. As a current employee, you just click on a link and send it to the prospective employee. Then they click on the link and that launches the application process and pushes it through. I also reached out to my manager to find out where there was a need for hospice nurses, geographically. VNS Health is the most open-door place I’ve ever worked. Referrals are a terrific way of recruiting qualified candidates. When you’re picking your own colleagues, you’re only going to get behind great people. It really is for the greater good. I was quite moved by the whole experience.
Myraldie: I love the work that I do. I also go the gym three times a week, take Pilates classes, and actually make plans with friends! I’m so very grateful for Helena—and her persistence. I feel like I got my life back!
