“Every patient deserves someone
who takes the time to go the extra
mile for them, especially in a
time of sickness,” said registered
nurse Taylor Bowen, RN, BSN,
who works on Level 2, one of
the medical-surgical floors at
CalvertHealth Medical Center
(CHMC). “And I wanted to be
that nurse.”
Bowen especially loves the personal connections
she’s able to make with patients. “Every day, I get the
privilege to help others when they need someone the
most.” The four-time scholarship recipient obtained
her bachelor’s degree in nursing from York College of
Pennsylvania last year.
“I am forever thankful for the support from the
CalvertHealth Foundation,” said Bowen. “Receiving the
scholarships helped so much in pursuing my dream of
becoming a nurse.
“Thanks to CalvertHealth, some of the financial
stress was alleviated, allowing me to focus on my
educational goals,” she said.
Since the allied health scholarship program began
in 1991, it has awarded more than $755,000 to 510
students in Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s and Anne
Arundel counties who are pursuing higher education
in an allied health field. Recipients are not required to
repay the foundation or work for CalvertHealth.
The scholarships also provide valuable assistance
to those already working in health care who want to
advance their career. Such was the case for registered
nurse Kathleen Hyde, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C, (pictured
far right) who has worked in the emergency
department (ED) at CHMC since 2014.
Three years ago, Hyde decided to get a master’s
degree to become a nurse practitioner. When she had to
reduce her hours at work to accommodate her clinical
schedule, her husband, who is a police officer, picked up
overtime to help offset their change in income.
“But with a new baby at home, the scholarship
helped ease the cost of school and allowed my husband
more time to be at home with our family,” said
Hyde, 32, of Huntingtown. Since graduating, she has
accepted a position with CalvertHealth Primary Care
in Prince Frederick.
Workplace of Choice
Initially, Hyde said she chose to work
at CHMC because it was close to
home. “But I chose to stay because
the people here became my family,”
she said. “I enjoy working at a place
where everyone from the CEO, the
housekeepers, the doctors and the
medical staff know your name.”
Taylor expressed similar
sentiments. “What originally drew
me here was that it’s a community
hospital. I knew I wanted to give back
to the community that has blessed me
with so much.
“And everyone was so welcoming.
That absolutely amazed me because
you don’t see that at larger hospitals. I
truly believe that every employee has
a voice here,” she added.
Opportunity to Grow
“I feel like I’ve grown so much as a
nurse while working on Level 2 at
CHMC,” said Bowen. “As any new
graduate RN, I was extremely nervous
on my first day. Would I mess up?
Would the staff like me? All of those
negative thoughts instantly left my
mind when I stepped onto this floor.
“I was truly welcomed from day
one and instantly felt like part of the
team,” she said. “This made it easy
for me to ask questions or ask for
help when performing a skill for the
first time. As a result, I’ve grown in
confidence as a nurse.”
Hyde can relate to those feelings.
“I remember when I first started
in the ED, I was overwhelmed and
scared and I looked up to my peers
for guidance,” she said. “I took every
learning opportunity I could get, joined
all the committees, pursued new
certifications and finally went back to
school for my BSN.
“Then one day, someone came
to me for guidance and I realized
at that moment, I had become the
‘experienced nurse,’ ” said Hyde.
“It was daunting and exciting at the
same time. That was also the point in
my career, when I realized I needed
more and decided to get my master’s
degree.”
Culture Encourages Teamwork
A sense of teamwork and camaraderie
permeates the culture at CHMC.
The hospital leadership believes this
supportive environment plays a major
factor in the longevity of employees at
CalvertHealth.
“I’m excited to come to work
because I know that no matter what
type of assignments we have on the
floor, the support available is just
tremendous,” said Bowen. “No matter,
how the shift goes, we always rely on
each other and there’s never a time in
which I feel alone.
“I love how it feels like a team,”
she added. “I know that if I need help, I
always have my co-workers or charge
nurse in my corner. Everyone truly is
there for one another and that makes
a world of difference.”
Making a Difference
“The most rewarding aspect of my job
as a nurse is knowing that I’m making
a difference in each patient’s life, even
if small,” said Bowen. “Knowing that
my compassion, my voice and time
can help a patient is one of the most
rewarding feelings.
“If I was to give one piece of
advice to anyone considering a
nursing career, I would say it won’t
always be easy, but it will always be
worth it,” she said.
When she reflects back on her
nursing career, Hyde said, “I’m
flooded with pride. I am proud of
the work I do in my community and
I am proud of the skills I’ve learned
through working at CalvertHealth.
“In March 2020, we became
‘Healthcare Heroes’ for serving on the
front lines to care for the community,”
she added. “Two years into the
pandemic, I am still proud to be a
nurse and I love having a career that
is so rewarding.”