Summer Unit Coordinators Fill Important PositionsBWH Nurse - For and about the Nursing Staff of Brigham and Women's HospitalSummer Unit Coordinators Fill Important PositionsBWH Nurse - For and about the Nursing Staff of Brigham and Women's Hospital

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Summer Unit Coordinators Fill Important Positions

Rather than scooping ice scream, babysitting or life guarding this summer, a select group of high school and college students is working full-time at BWH as unit coordinators.

Approximately 40 students, many of whom aspire to a career in health care, were accepted to the popular program, now in its fifth year. These highly motivated young adults answer phones, transcribe physicians’ orders, and help patients’ families in nursing units on inpatient floors, in the emergency department and operating rooms.

While the students develop professional skills in a busy hospital environment, they also provide an invaluable benefit to BWH as well. “They allow our full-time employees to take time off for vacation or to attend a service training,” said Leo Buckley, director of Business Services, Patient Care Services, and the program’s leader. “It’s a great way for them to experience health care, and a great way for us to get the back-up help we need.”

More than half of the program’s participants returned from last year, and many of them come back to help out during winter vacations. This left only 15 positions vacant this year. Recruitment begins in January, and typically 60 to 70 students interview for the program.

“Our goal is to find the best-qualified, well-rounded students from a mix of public and private schools in the area,” said Rob Croteau, operations supervisor for the Summer Unit Coordinator Program, and a teacher at Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury. “We look for solid students who are interested in the health care industry, who want to earn money, and who want to be a part of a team.” Once the students have been selected, “we match them with the unit that best fits their personality and interests,” explained Croteau.

Corey Sylvester, who is working her third summer as a unit coordinator for the Cardiac Surgery Unit, enjoys the busy atmosphere that surrounds her. “I have learned to work in a professional atmosphere, improve my communication skills and deal with a plethora of personalities,” said Sylvester, now a student at Boston College. “Witnessing the daily trials and tribulations of patients recovering from surgery has also allowed me to put my own life into perspective.”

“They’re educated, reliable and eager to work,” said Florence Connolly, operations supervisor, Cardiac Surgery Unit, of the summer unit coordinators. “We look forward to them coming back every year.”