From volunteer to PA: Nicole’s 20-year journey at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital

What if your dream job could grow along with you?

Jobbie B. has always had a passion for nursing, but life's changes demanded resiliency. At Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network, she found a career path that not only fits her needs but also fuels her passion, proving that career growth and personal fulfillment can go together.

Jobbie launched her nursing journey in the Intensive Care Unit at Allegheny General Hospital, thriving in the high-pressure environment. Then with life changes and a growing family, the swing shifts began to take a toll.

“My body just couldn't take the back and forth from day to night of swing shifts,” Jobbie said. “Plus, I was a mom and had a kid who wasn't in daycare.”

So, it was time for her to find a new role that better aligned with her lifestyle, and thankfully, she didn’t have to leave the company to do so.

The desire for flexibility led Jobbie to a position as a nurse navigator with AHN’s Care Connect, which is a 24/7 nurse line.

“It was a Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. position, and it fit my schedule for my family,” Jobbie said.

But the transition away from the bedside took some time.

“It's hard to really triage somebody you can't see, but once I got it, I got it,” Jobbie said. “I love it! I love being able to help people, even though I can't physically put my hands on them.”

She loved her new position and the new flexibility that came with the role.

“I get to enjoy the weekend activities with my family since I didn’t work weekends anymore,” Jobbie said. “That meant a lot to me – to be able to be a present mom.”

In this new role, Jobbie truly discovered a passion for telehealth and a new talent for training.

This is when her career started to grow. She began as a nurse navigator, then became a trainer on her team at AHN. She then made the leap to the insurance side of the business where she helped build a team for the Highmark 24/7 nurse line and eventually became a supervisor.

Not only did Jobbie continue to find the flexibility she needed as she grew, but she was able to stay at the organization she loved.

“Ever since I was a kid growing up near AGH, I always said I want to be a nurse, and I want to work here. To be able to stay with the same company I knew everything about, and then to be able to transition and meet new people, move up, see different things, and see how the backend of things worked, it just meant a lot to me.”

Jobbie's experience underscores the diverse opportunities within the world of nursing at Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network. From critical care to telehealth to leadership, she's discovered a career path that fits her values and enables her to thrive both professionally and personally.

“I became a nurse to help people,” she said, "and being able to still do that in this type of platform is truly still amazing to me.”