Sharlene Morales’ first encounter with AdventHealth Orlando was 13 years ago when her daughter got sick. Now an assistant nurse manager in the cardiovascular unit at the same hospital, Morales reflects on the life-changing experience of her daughter’s care, which planted a dream in her heart.
“I was so scared. I asked like 20 questions a minute,” said Morales. She shared that her daughter’s nurse attentively listened and responded to each one of her concerns. “A scary experience turned into a calm one because I felt like I was in good hands.”
Returning to Puerto Rico, where she served in the Army while pursuing a nursing degree, Morales dreamed of being a part of AdventHealth and extending the same excellent care her daughter received. In 2017, she applied for AdventHealth’s Transcultural Assimilation Program (TAP), a gateway for international nurses to transition and assimilate into the U.S. culture and health care system.
However, in the days following Morales’ application, she heard Hurricane Maria would soon approach her home island. As she prepared for the worst, she worried about her family’s safety, food, and essential supplies.
With the internet and phones down, she also worried about missing a call from AdventHealth about her job application. Finally, the call came, but it wasn’t a simple update on her application.
“The first thing the person on the phone said was, ‘We were so worried about you. Are you okay? Is your family okay? Do you need anything?’” said Morales. “I wasn’t even a team member at AdventHealth yet!”
Shortly after, Morales officially joined AdventHealth, eventually finding a career growth pathway called the AdventHealth Professional Excellence Program (PEP), which provides nurses with development opportunities in the areas of evidence-based practice, research, leadership, and self-care.
The opportunity to grow as a nurse, leader, and individual through a free program, Morales said, fills her with gratitude. “The PEP is something that I will be forever grateful for and not take for granted,” she said.
This program enabled Morales to develop her leadership skills through activities such as leadership workshops and relationship-based care training. Her commitment to providing excellent care to her patients additionally earned her the Nursing Excellence Award in 2019.
Morales has also experienced the benefits of the PEP in her personal life. Interested in the community service opportunities available through the program, Morales signed up to volunteer at Special Hearts Farm, a local non-profit organization that provides growth opportunities for individuals with disabilities, including her own brother.
Morales’ appreciation for the program comes from a simple, unwavering conviction: service is her calling. She’s grateful for the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Army while extending compassionate care to patients as an AdventHealth nurse.
“This is what I was meant to do. I was born to serve one way or the other,” she said. For nurses who share her passion for service excellence and the desire to grow their careers, Morales shares, “Don’t let the opportunity go by.”
To learn more about AdventHealth’s Transcultural Assimilation Program for international nurses, visit AdventHealth.com/Careers/International-Recruitment.
AdventHealth | May 2024
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