RANDOLPH, Vt.—Gifford seeks to grow and diversify its nursing workforce by recruiting candidates from abroad with the help of workforce development partner inSpring. This month, Ana Gonzalez, Gifford’s first inSpring recruit, a registered nurse originally from Colombia and trained in the United States, joined the Operating Room (OR) team.
Gifford expects to recruit more nurses through the partnership, fostered as the U.S. continues to face a shortage of healthcare professionals. Specialties like OR nursing are even harder to fill because they require additional training and expertise.
“I’m excited about this opportunity with inSpring because it’s a different pool of nurses, people who are looking for that connection to community and a place where they can learn and grow,” said Gifford Vice President of Nursing Jill Markowski.
Gifford hired Gonzalez because she offered more than a temporary solution. She seemed like a good fit culturally, a nurse who could grow her career while contributing to the team.
The process “has been so rewarding for me, and I’m just really grateful for every single person I’ve met throughout my journey,” said Gonzalez.
Those who’ve followed her journey say Gonzalez exemplifies what it means to be a great nurse, demonstrating dedication and drive through the uncertainty of nursing school, the immigration process, COVID, and even natural disasters.
“Ana is the type of nurse you want to work with,” said inSpring’s Jason Garbarino, DNP, RN, talent director for health care at inSpring and a former nursing educator for the University of Vermont. “She’s driven, she’s smart, she’s a team player.”
Gonzalez looks forward to continuing her career by mentoring other nurses and returning to school.
“The people you surround yourself with really help you get through the bumpy roads,” she said.
Learn more about Gonzalez’s nursing journey here on Gifford’s blog: giffordhealthcare.org/nurse-ana-gonzalez-inspring-success-story
For more information about inSpring, visit inspringcareers.com. For more information about careers at Gifford, visit giffordhealthcare.org/careers or call 802-728-7000.
#
CONTACT: Maryellen Apelquist, Communications Manager,
###
Gifford is a community hospital in Randolph, Vt., with family health centers in Berlin, Bethel, Chelsea, Randolph, and Rochester, and specialty services throughout central Vermont. A Federally Qualified Health Center and a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the country, Gifford is a full-service hospital with a 24-hour emergency department and inpatient unit; many surgical services; an adult day program; 49-unit independent living facility, and a nursing home. The hospital’s mission is to improve individual and community health by providing and assuring access to affordable, high-quality health care in Gifford’s service area.
