Ruth DiLorenzo Bushey, MS, RN, IP of Baystate Noble Hospital (Photo courtesy Baystate Noble).
WESTFIELD– While growing up, Ruth DiLorenzo Bushey, MS, RN, IP of Baystate Noble Hospital, was inspired by a role model who greatly influenced her decision to pursue a career in nursing.
That role model was actually a nursing supervisor at Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer, who would share her nursing stories with Bushey and engage her in conversation about the profession, furthering her interest in caring for others.
“When I was about eight years old, Marjorie Mancuso was married to my cousin, Frank. I grew up in her company and admired her as one of the most admirable, well-spoken, intelligent, accomplished and strong woman I had ever known. It remains true today. Marjorie is retired now, but I still meet many people in the Baystate Health family who remember working with her and who also admired her professionalism. She raised two brilliant sons, one of whom also entered health care as a physician,” said Bushey.
In addition to her relative’s influence, a few weeks after completing a class in CPR in high school, there was a defining moment in Bushey’s life as she witnessed a man collapsing outside of her church.
“I was able to put my newfound skills to the test, and it was after that experience, helping to save that man’s life – who I later learned did survive – that I knew a profession in health care was right for me,” recalled Bushey.
“My original dream was to go to medical school, but I could never have put my parents in a position to pay for such an expensive education, but I could afford to pay for my own education in nursing,” she added.
In pursuit of making her dream a reality, Bushey, who resides in Southwick, attended Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), where she received an associate’s degree in nursing. She later pursued both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing Education at Elms College.
During National Nurses Week, May 6-12 – sponsored by the American Nurses Association – nurses throughout the country like Bushey, including others at Baystate Health facilities in the area are being honored for the important role they play in making up the backbone of the American healthcare system. Today’s nearly 3.6 million registered nurses in the United States constitute our nation’s largest health care profession. Nursing offers a tremendous range of opportunity for those considering a career in the highly-respected profession, including practicing as clinicians, administrators, researchers, educators and policymakers.
“Nursing continues to be a combination of art and science. Art as seen in the caring connections nurses establish with patients and their families, while science is the knowledge exhibited in an environment of ever-changing technology. The use of critical thinking and sound judgment by nurses supports excellence in safety and quality, while never losing sight of the patient experience. We thank all of our nurses for their continued dedication to the nursing profession and for their ability to continue to give of themselves as they deliver a higher state of caring,” said Michele Urban, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient Care Services, Baystate Noble Hospital.
Bushey began her nursing career at Baystate Children’s Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.Since then, she has worked as a public health nurse for the City of Springfield, as well as a school nurse, camp nurse, rehab nurse, visiting nurse and in several specialty areas at Baystate Noble.
After returning to nursing at Baystate Noble in 2007 from an eight-year, family-raising hiatus from nursing – Bushey home educated their four children for 13 years – it became evident that her acquired life skills would transfer well into nursing management , so she returned to college to achieve her personal goal of earning a master’s degree in Nursing.
“I taught clinical nursing for a time for Elms College, but when an opportunity for advancement at Baystate Noble presented itself, I grabbed it. Having served as the infection preventionist at Noble for over a year now, I can honestly say that I have not regretted one day on the job. In the field of infection prevention there is always something new to learn, and truth be known, I am a consummate student. A good nurse has to be. I really enjoy my job and the people with whom I work every day. The support I receive from my colleagues is amazing and we are an effective team,” Bushey said.
The Baystate Noble nurse said she isn’t alone making sure Baystate Noble delivers quality, safe patient care.
“I may wear the Infection Prevention title, but every person here at Baystate Noble has a role in preventing infections. I’m really proud of how supportive they are,” she said, noting how willingly and faithfully the other infection prevention nurses throughout the health system serve as a great resource for her. “Truly, I could not do my job effectively without the expertise and counsel of many others who surround my efforts.”
Asked if someone were to seek her opinion about going to school to become a nurse, Bushey said she would tell them: “Go for it! We can always use good nurses.”
“But, I would tell them that it is hard work and to be ready to roll up your sleeves. It’s not all glamour like they sometimes portray it to be on popular television shows. I would also suggest to them that when they graduate, they spend time as a medical surgical nurse, so that they can understand the basic needs of patients before they specialize, and especially before undertaking any management position. Then, I would say what I once said to all of my nursing students and that I now say to our new nurses at Baystate Noble: ‘I hope you love nursing as much as I have. I have never had a nursing job that I didn’t love.’ And, that’s the truth,” Bushey said.
Bushey said she reminds herself every day when stepping into her nursing shoes that she is not treating any diseases, but instead treating people.
“Even when we can’t make a difference in regards to an illness, a nurse can always make a difference to a patient. That’s what I love about being a nurse,” she said.
