Employees share why they chose Geisinger, and why they stay
“I was actually born in this hospital,” notes Anthony Pusateri, RN, at Geisinger Community Medical Center (GCMC) in Scranton. “I guess it’s fate that I’m here. I always had a passion for comforting others in their time of need, and I knew when I graduated high school that I wanted to work in healthcare.”
Anthony decided specifically on nursing after attending an open house at Penn State Worthington campus. “Many of my professors at Penn State spoke very highly of the hospital. I was a nurse’s aide while working toward my associate’s degree and then my bachelor’s degree. When Geisinger acquired the hospital in 2012, I knew becoming part of the Geisinger family would give me the greatest opportunity to impact patients and provide exceptional care. Geisinger’s reputation and values are well known.”
Originally assigned to the trauma unit, Anthony was later drawn to behavioral health and decided he wanted to change specialties. Mary Clare Rotell was his supervisor at that time, and he shared with her that he was considering other employment in counseling. “Mary immediately walked me upstairs to Geisinger’s behavioral health unit to meet with supervisor Julie Rutledge. We talked, and a few days later I formally interviewed for a job on the unit.”
That intervention made a lasting impact on Anthony. “I was blown away! Mary Clare genuinely cared about me and wanted me to stay with Geisinger to pursue my passion. That was something very special.”
When asked what he likes most about Geisinger, Anthony says it’s the family culture. “Hands down, the team I work with is considered family. The way we work together, coordinate care, and take great pride in how we work together in this unit is outstanding. Your voice is heard and your opinion is respected.”
Recently accepted into Drexel University’s Psychiatric Behavioral Health Nurse Practitioner program, Anthony will spend the next three years completing online courses with some on-campus studies. “Geisinger provides so much opportunity for career growth – continuing education, lectures, grand rounds, etc. There are many ways to learn about new issues and treatments that improve your knowledge to provide the best patient care. With Geisinger’s tuition reimbursement program plus the Drexel discount for Geisinger employees, an advanced position in behavioral health will be a reality for me. It’s where I see myself in five years, and Geisinger is helping me make that happen.”
Anthony sums up why he will stay in healthcare with Geisinger: “I’m impacting lives, connecting with people when they’re at their lowest points. It’s a privilege to care for them. I feel like I’m contributing to something bigger than myself when I come to work each day at Geisinger.”
