The Blonde Lady with the Bling!

Interviewer: Claudia Cotarelo, Atlantic Health System
Interviewee: Susan Erickson, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

At my first IMAGE conference, I recall noticing a fellow NAHCR member and remember calling her “the blonde lady with the bling.” Little did I know, this “blonde lady” would be my mentor on NAHCR’s Board of Directors.

Susan Erickson is someone whom you don’t easily forget – she came across as friendly, vivacious, passionate, caring and then some!  Sue and I served on the board for one year. She was my mentor and was all that I thought she would be!

Over the last few years, we’ve become friends and stay in touch whether during a conference call or seeing each other at IMAGE.

So when it was time for me to write my first NAHCR blog, I was excited to write about Susan Erickson and her “recruitment journey.” In doing so, I found out a few things I didn’t know about her.

How did you get to this point?

During the early 90s when “replacement by attrition” was popular, Susan found herself being asked to pick up an additional department. The selection would either be Staff Education or Nurse Recruitment. We all know she picked “B,” Nurse Recruitment, but little did she know that this career selection would turn into her passion.

Where to start?

Being who she is, she was quick to reach out to colleagues in the community. She found out about NAHCR; next thing she knew, her ticket was booked to the IMAGE Conference in Orlando, Fla., only 14 years ago! She has never missed a conference since.

Where do I begin?

Susan attended our two-day recruiter pre-conference workshop. She thought, “Why not? This should help me,” even though she was excited and overwhelmed by everything she “didn’t” know. Since her work place did not have a nurse recruitment plan, she had to start from scratch.

During the conference, the first thing she noticed from fellow NAHCR members was the warm reception she received – she went to IMAGE not knowing anyone. That same reception she received during her first IMAGE conference is what gave her the drive to get started on her recruitment journey. She also remembers coming home and connecting with other members through the membership directory. She reached out to as many people as she could, searching for subject/project experts.  

She finds her NAHCR membership invaluable to her success and to her organization’s success. The ability to reach out to membership and to ask a question is priceless. She has implemented so many basic programs from sign-on to referral bonuses, 60-day post hires to exit interviews, and recently onboarding specific to her facility while learning so much from other NAHCR members.  

It’s easy for members to share when they are just as passionate about what they do!

So I asked her …

Would you have chosen “B” all over again?

“Of course,” she said. She likes what she does, and she loves the networking and resources provided by NAHCR members. She also likes to give back and be of service to others.

These days she’s not only involved at the national level but also at the state level – again giving back, serving others.

Full Circle…

This past July, Susan received NAHCR’s Distinguished Member Award – an award given to an individual for outstanding service to NAHCR and contributions to health care recruitment at national, state or local levels. You can IMAGE imagine her surprise … someone who chose “B” was given an award for everything that she’s done. She was speechless. Anyone who knows Susan knows that she is someone who’s never at a loss for words.  She was overwhelmed with emotion; she didn’t get her graduate degree in recruitment.

“How can this happen to me?  I love my job, should I be rewarded for loving what I do?”

Yes, you should!

She talks about her “Warm Fuzzy” board” in her office.  

This board includes pictures from most of the past 14 IMAGE conferences; it brings a smile to her face. So many great memories. When she needs a boost, she looks at her board. She finds it inspirational to keep on moving forward to effect positive change for her department, work place and state. Good to know that after all these years, Susan still finds her friends at NAHCR inspirational!  

Good job my friend and mentor, the blonde lady with the bling!