Jefferson Health is expanding its successful Nursing S.E.A.L. Team to the Lehigh Valley region. The Nursing S.E.A.L. Team was built on the concept of an elite team of special forces. It stands for Service, Excellence, Advocacy and Leadership. Nurses in the program are full-time colleagues who are deployed to work in various departments, including medical-surgical/ telemetry, critical care and emergency services. Jefferson’s S.E.A.L. program demonstrates leadership in addressing workforce challenges that echo issues seen across the country, while giving nurses greater flexibility and diverse experience.
“S.E.A.L. Team nurses will float among hospitals throughout Jefferson’s Lehigh Valley region, including our neighborhood hospitals,” says Sarah Rinker-Puentes, RN, Patient Care Manager, Nursing S.E.A.L. Team. “Every 2-6 weeks, S.E.A.L nurses are deployed based on a review of operational needs to ensure staffing resources align with patient care demands across the region.”
Jefferson Health launched the Nursing S.E.A.L. Team in 2022 with 25 registered nurses. The program expanded in 2024, and with the Lehigh Valley region addition, will soon be comprised of 236 experienced nurses.
“We recognize how newer generations of nurses value broader clinical exposure,” says Daniel Hudson, MSN, RN, CENP, Senior Vice President Nursing Operations, CNO Ambulatory Nursing, Jefferson Health. “We’re matching these preferences with this program, while ensuring we meet our patients’ needs.”
Along with improved flexibility and staffing, the program since its inception has contributed to a reduction in the reliance on agency nurses, resulting in a greater than 75 percent drop.
“Jefferson Health has continued to receive positive feedback from S.E.A.L. Team nurses, which has prompted this program’s expansion to the Lehigh Valley,” says Kate FitzPatrick, DNP, RN, Chief Nurse Executive Officer, Jefferson Health. “Jefferson’s Nursing S.E.A.L. Team is part of the organization’s comprehensive strategy for nursing workforce optimization. Additional initiatives include the Virtual Nurse Program and Nurse Emeritus Program.”
“Professionally, I have become a more well-rounded nurse,” Eric-Scott Purnell says about joining the S.E.A.L. Team. “Working with such a wide variety of patients, clinicians and colleagues has helped me grow immensely. Personally, I am happier and less stressed, as the flexibility of scheduling has made it easy to maintain my life outside of work.”
The Lehigh Valley region is recruiting a total of 86 registered nurses for the Nursing S.E.A.L. Team. The first cohort of nurses begins orientation in December and will be deployed in January.
Interested candidates can apply for S.E.A.L or other nursing positions by visiting Jefferson’s Careers Page and searching: “multisite.”