Whether you’re in patient care or the corporate office, you’ll find Bethesda is a warm and welcoming place to build your career. We’re featuring the stories of team members whose ambition and motivation have led them to incredible heights with us.
Today we’re talking to Melissa Kurrus, Director of Nursing at Alton Memorial Rehabilitation and Therapy. Melissa started at Bethesda nearly six years ago and has held several positions and responsibilities along the way. For Melissa, working at Bethesda means getting to choose what you want to do and where you want to be—even if you change your mind.
Bethesda Health Group: Melissa, how did you get started at Bethesda?
Melissa Kurrus: I started at Bethesda as a Staff Nurse in 2014. I had just graduated from school, so I was applying anywhere and everywhere. When I got the job at Bethesda Dilworth, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had never even been in a nursing home. I had worked in a traditional hospital for 12 years and fallen in love with the fast pace, so working in a long-term care facility was quite the adjustment.
BHG: How did you adapt to working in long-term care?
MK: I learned to slow down a little. I started to get to know my residents and build those everyday connections with them. Over time, I realized how strong those connections had become. My residents became my second family. I’m so invested in them, and I want to see them cared for in the best way possible.
I also took it upon myself to do more and ask for more. I went to my nursing manager and explained my goals, and she was very receptive. She started training me to fill in for her as a charge nurse for the floor, and that really set me on my path.
BHG: What did you want from your career at Bethesda?
MK: When people ask me what I want to do, I always jump back and forth between teaching and managing. I really love doing both. Before I ever made the decision to become a nurse, I knew I wanted to be an educator and a resource for others. At Bethesda, I was looking for a way that I could move my career around to find the best fit for me. If you look at how I’ve bounced around the company as a nurse, manager and training coordinator, you’ll see that I’ve done just that.
BHG: How did Bethesda help you achieve your career goals?
MK: Bethesda truly cares about promoting from within and giving people the resources they need to be the very best at their job. When I decided to go back to school, my managers at Bethesda were very encouraging and made sure I took full advantage of our tuition reimbursement program. If you know what you want to do and you communicate it to your manager, then the company will do everything it can to support you and keep you here.
BHG: What excites you about the future at Bethesda?
MK: I look forward to advancing my career at Bethesda, even if I don’t know what that looks like right now. No matter what I decide to do, I am very confident that I’ll find the right fit here. There’s just so much going on within the company and each of our communities that I know I’ll always have something new to learn.
Join Our Family
There’s always more to explore at Bethesda. Any one of our employees can follow Melissa’s path and build a career that evolves with new responsibilities and new positions. Visit our careers website and discover your potential at Bethesda.
