nursing

Inspiration
"I was fascinated by what nurses did and how much they helped me," explains Hambleton, now the vice president of nursing and patient Service at the Fox Chase Center, a comprehensive cancer center in Philadelphia, PA. Only 19 years old when she entered the hospital as a patient, Hambleton admits that it was the first time she had received health care, but the experience proved to be the inspiration that she needed to get her future off the ground. Emboldened by the possibilities that a career in nursing could hold, Hambleton quickly enrolled at Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY), where she would earn her bachelor's degree in nursing.

But that wasn't enough for Hambleton. While working as a nurse in the critical care unit she came to realize how important a role health care administration could play in the nursing world. It bothered Hambleton that while she and the rest of the staff struggled to care for a sudden influx of patients one weekend, their supervisor chose to stay in the background, never offering words of support or confidence.

"I never wanted to forget how important it is to reward and recognize," says Hambleton. "I loved being a nurse, but then I realized there had to be people like me in order for [patients] to be taken care of."

Voice of Understanding
Now with a master's degree from Villanova University (Villanova, PA) under her belt, Hambleton is doing just that at the Fox Chase Center. As the vice president of Nursing and Patient Service she works to provide a clinical voice in meetings that address the business and finance sides of health care administration, ensuring that both the needs and concerns of patients and nurses are addressed. It's a job that Hambleton doesn't think she could have achieved without the proper education and training.

"When you're in a formal education environment it gives you the ability to think differently," says Hambleton, who also participated in the esteemed Johnson & Johnson - Wharton Fellows Program that provides nurse executives with management and leadership training.

Looking Back
Although Hambleton is happy with how her increased responsibilities have enabled her to aide other nurses and patients, she still yearns for the more hands-on aspects of a nursing career. "I miss it," she admits, "It's immediate satisfaction when you can help a patient. My satisfaction now takes time."

But Hambleton wants others to see the potential that a career in health care administration holds, especially those who are interested in the coaching aspect of the profession. "In this type of role you see it's so team-oriented," says Hambleton. "I hope that people consider it as a career because you can make such a difference."

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