Trinitas Regional Medical Center

Don't miss this fun event for a great cause on Wednesday, Oct. 16!

Trinitas School of Nursing, a Cooperative Nursing Program with Union College of New Jersey, greeted 231 new nursing students, including 37 LPN to RN students, and welcomed back 453 returning students. The Foundations of Nursing faculty team of Dr. Illya DeVera-Bonilla, Mary Ann Wright, MSN, RN, and Mabel Oppong, MSN, RN organized the event for the first day of school. Returning students met with their course faculty for clinical workshops to prepare them for clinical assignments. The group consisting of 18 full-time faculty and 25 adjunct clinical faculty awarded their colleague, Nicole Kelly, MSN, RNC, CNEcl, with the Daisy Award for Nurse Educator!

Jessica Laverie, BSN, RN, Specialty Service in Cardiac Telemetry is the 2024 Recipient of the Nursing Courage Award. Though she struggled to choose between teaching and nursing, she says, “I obviously went with nursing and am so glad I did. I genuinely believe there is no better feeling than knowing that you helped someone get through a challenging time.” At 53, Jessica’s father was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. “My family has been through it all,” she says. “My superpower is being able to see my dad in every patient and treating them exactly how I would want my father to be treated. I know how scary it is to see your loved one sick, so I make sure to always take the time to form trust and a connection with family members.” Jessica’s loyalty to Trinitas comes from the importance of striving for work-life balance. “My co-workers know that I love being a nurse, but first and foremost I am a wife and a mother. Unfortunately, we miss out on a lot of time with family. If you’re lucky, you find a second family to spend that time with. My second family is my co-workers on 7 South. I am forever grateful for them and wouldn’t be able to get through the long days without them.” Every May, Trinitas recognizes nurses like Jessica that go above and beyond to deliver compassionate patient care with Nursing Excellence Awards. Interested in joining our award-winning nursing team? Learn more by visiting: rwjbh.org/trinitascareers

Today, let’s remember together. We somberly observe the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States. Join the RWJBarnabas Health family throughout our facilities, or wherever you may be, for a moment of silence and reflection at 9:15 a.m. to remember the heroes, victims and their families. #NeverForget

Join us at 9:15 a.m. this Wednesday for a moment of silence in observance of the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States. Together, let’s honor and remember those whose lives have been forever changed by these tragic events. #NeverForget

Save the date! Join our Golf Outing and Spa Day on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club in Bedminster and support the Trinitas Foundation. Email [email protected] or call 908-994-8249.

If your superpower is empathy, you might consider a career in nursing! Join an info session to learn more.

In honor of Labor Day, Trinitas volunteers David Gonzalez, Kanisha Patel, Pia Carbajal and her volunteer dog Boosie, spread some cheer to the staff by handing out candy and stickers.

Dana Gonzalez is the 2024 recipient of the Nursing Assistant of the Year. Dana is currently a Trinitas School of Nursing student working full-time as a nursing assistant in Cardiac Telemetry. “Nursing is something I have always wanted to do," she said. "I have a deep desire to help others. I worked in different fields for a while and finally made a decision to do what makes me happy, while making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.” While all successful nurses possess a particular superpower, when asked, she claimed empathy. “I feel and understand the patients and go the extra mile to provide the best care I can,” she said. “I have a desire to support them during their difficult times." She quickly became loyal to Trinitas, and attributes it to her co-workers. “I am proud to be a part of dedicated team, who strive to provide a supportive environment.” Every May, Trinitas recognizes nurses like Dana that go above and beyond to deliver compassionate patient care with Nursing Excellence Awards. Interested in joining our award-winning nursing team? Learn more by visiting: rwjbh.org/trinitascareers

Trinitas recently held a dedication and ribbon-cutting for the “Rootin’ for You” Garden located at Trinitas’ New Point Campus for Behavioral Health services. This project is at the heart of the multifaceted Food Insecurity effort at Trinitas, focused on education, collaboration, and provision of fresh vegetables and herbs for those in need. Other programs in development for 2025 are food distribution sites, Common Market food boxes, and a Food Farmacy. Many employees and teen residents of the New Point Specialty and New Day programs have been involved in the project’s development – engaging donors, fixing and building the beds, tilling the soil and planting, weeding and watering the plants and teaching teens to master gardening techniques. Jasmine Gonzalez, Assistant Director of New Point Specialty took the lead with the teens for maintenance and development, while Chris Haverlock, Coordinator of Physical Therapy, shared his personal gardening expertise to help prepare the teens for this task. “The garden is more than just a place to grow vegetables – it’s a space for connection, wellness, and community,” says Gonzalez, who has formed a deep connection with the young patients of New Point Specialty and New Day. “We were very excited for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the fruits of our labor. Together, we are not just growing a garden, but also nurturing a community. We look forward to many seasons of future growth.” The vegetables are grown, harvested, washed and made available to patients of the Trinitas Behavioral health programs. As the teens agreed, “It’s so good to see people so happy to have fresh veggies and to help make life better for others.” New Point Specialty is designed to address behavioral health and mental challenges, such as drug and alcohol addiction, as well as prepare youth for success outside of the program. New Day is a teen residential program designed to support an all-female population who have endured physical, emotional and sexual abuse. To learn more, call New Day at (908) 994-7552; or New Point Specialty at (908) 994-7395.