Meet the nurses of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center

It’s Nurses Week!

Here at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center we value our nurses & appreciate everything they do to care for our patients.

Meet Kennedy Hill!

Kennedy is a RN on the Intensive Care Unit and been with us for 10 months.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• I choose to become a nurse because I wanted to be beside people to help them through rough times. Also, you can never stop learning with nursing and I LOVE TO LEARN!
• What’s your favorite part about your job?
• My favorite part of my job is interacting with my patients to better understand them so I can help them strive.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• I wish people knew that I was very blessed to be taught by some genius nurse who still are a great support system. I love my coworkers!

Meet Nicole Ward!

Nicole is a RN, BSN in our NICU & has been with the hospital for three years.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• I decided to become a nurse because I always had a heart for caring for people. I wanted a profession where I felt that I was making a difference every time I went to work.
• What’s your favorite part about your job?
• My favorite part about my job is that I get to work with babies all day, I work in the NICU so getting to care for these sweet bundles of joy is the best job anyone could have.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• What I wish people knew- how amazing the team that I work with is. The NICU is a high intensity environment at times but our team works together seamlessly and it makes the shift enjoyable.

Meet Francoise Ntiganzwa!
Francoise is a RN, BSN, who works in our Cardiac Telemetry unit. She’s been with us for 11 ½ years.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• Back in my country Burundi, Central East Africa, I loved the nurse’s uniform when it was the white dress and white hat. I asked my family if I can become a nurse, but it was a no. As destiny settled in and found myself here in USA, where I can make my own decisions without family approval, I went to school to become a nurse. But this time, it was for a different reason. I feel like it’s a calling after everything I went through on my journey to here.
• What is your favorite part about your job?
• I have been blessed beyond expectations and being a nurse and taking care of God’s most precious creation is my way of giving back.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• I love my job and I love Sentara (the only hospital I have worked for after Potomac Hospital.) My working day starts with a prayer to do the right thing and do no harm. I also appreciate Sentara’s involvement in the community I live in.

Meet Joanne Healy!

Joanne is a RN who has worked on our surgery unit for 18 years.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• My Gram always said, “See the need and take care of your own”… Nursing is a unique profession that gives you the opportunity to use emotional and intellectual intelligence along with caring to find the “need” -whether it is your patient, family member or co-worker. I love people and feel fulfilled when I connect and hopefully make them feel that they are one of my “own.”
• What is your favorite part about your job?
• The favorite part of my job is building trust with my patients and coworkers helping them reach their goals. Your day is complete when you see that connection has been made.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• Caring is the cornerstone of my job. I work with an incredible group of people who has many talents, but they are best at caring- it’s what makes our team special!

Meet Blessing Acquah!

Blessing is a RN II who has been with us for nearly a year and a half and works in our Cardiac Telemetry unit.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• I decided to become a nurse because I love to help people. It makes me happy when I can change someone’s mood by sitting and listening, taking away their pain or by just touching their hand. I found I could get this fulfillment by watching my Aunty; she was a nurse, and she treated the whole neighborhood. She smiles all the time, and I realized her joy came from her work. When I became a CNA and started getting that joy from caring for the sick; I realized quickly this was my calling.
• What is your favorite part about your job?
• My favorite things about my job are the patients that appreciates me listening, my coworkers that support me and are ready to help, and my managers and educators that encourage and push me to reach my goals (ICU.)
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• My team members and I love what we do every day. Sometimes the job is hard, and we get tired, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I want to say, thank you to my co-workers for all your hard work. Cardiac Telemetry you are the best, and I appreciate everyone!

Meet Liz Hawkes!

Liz is a RN, BSN who has been with us for nearly a year and works in postpartum.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• In 2005 I had a son who passed away shortly after birth. I had the most amazing nurse care for us and gently walk us through the hardest day of my life. She impacted me in such a way that I felt the need to pass this unconditional love onto my own patients, to help guide them, give them comfort, hope and to know they are not alone.
• What is your favorite part about your job?
• Every day I come to work is an opportunity to change someone’s life, to be a part of welcoming life earthside, to help families transition into parenthood. This is such a special time in their lives and I get to stand by their side through the first days, it is such a blessing and honor.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• Nurses choose this role because they love their patients, they love taking care of you and that passion doesn’t go away when we leave the floor. We think about our patients when we go home and we carry your memories with us always. Sometimes it can be a sad memory, other times it is a beautiful moment we shared that touched our lives. At the end of the day, we are grateful we got to be a part of your stay and we truly hope that you appreciate the heart we put into our work.

Meet Gabriella Gomez!

Gabriella is a RN, BSN and has been in the Sentara family since 2015. She joined Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center’s Labor & Delivery unit last year.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• I decided I wanted to become a nurse shortly after I began volunteering in 2009. While touring another hospital, I was approached by the junior volunteer coordinator who encouraged me to sign up for the program. It didn’t take long for me to realize the superheroes that nurses are- so I started gearing all my curriculum towards nursing school.
• What’s your favorite part about your job?
• My favorite part of my job is the ability to share such special and intimate moments with my patients and families. I love encouraging my patients and helping them reach their goals. The moment they hold their newborn baby for the first time makes everything I do significant and meaningful.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• I wish those individuals not working in healthcare would understand the sacrifices and lifestyle change that it takes to work in our field. We often miss out on sentimental events and holidays with our families. This job makes it challenging to maintain a healthy social and personal life, however, being a nurse is a privilege and every shift is a new adventure.

Meet Vittoria Garris!

Vittoria is a RN, BSN-CEN in our Emergency Department. She’s been with Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center for three years.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• I chose to be a nurse because it is a great career and I have always enjoyed taking care of others when they are unable to care for themselves. I have worked many places in my nursing career including long term care, Medical-Surgical nursing, Correctional nursing, and Emergency nursing
• What is your favorite part about your job?
• I love the fast pace, high energy, and excitement of the ER; along with the amazing staff that I work with.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• We work really hard in our ER to get patient’s seen and taken care of. At times it is very busy and chaotic, but we take great care of our patients and make sure they are safe. I have been a nurse for about 8 years and this has been the best team I have ever worked with.