Alexandra started her career with Aveanna as a new grad nurse in 2016. Today, she is an Area Clinical Director, overseeing clinical operations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. Her growth didn't happen overnight. Over the years, she worked hard and took advantage of unique opportunities at Aveanna. We're excited to spotlight Alexandra's story of growth and her advice to other nurses on setting goals, excelling, and remembering your purpose!
Alexandra's Journey
Alexandra's passion for nursing began at a young age. "Since I was a little girl, I've always wanted to be a nurse," she recalls. "I've always had that natural caretaking instinct. I love helping people." That drive to help brought Alexandra through nursing school and, soon after, to Aveanna.
As a new grad nurse, Alexandra imagined herself working in a hospital. She hadn't realized homecare nursing was an option until an Aveanna recruiter reached out to her. When she gave it a try, she quickly fell in love with the work-life balance and personal connection of homecare. She grew her skills and learned as much as she could.
Alexandra is ambitious and steadily progressed through clinical leadership roles, from Clinical Supervisor to Clinical Director and finally in 2024 to her current position as an Area Clinical Director. She took advantage of Aveanna's tuition reimbursement program to continue her education and better serve her team members and patients.
Today, Alexandra is focused on supporting team members, patients, and patient families across multiple states while continuing to grow both personally and professionally. "I'm excited and grateful for my new role," Alexandra shares. "I love knowing that I make a difference every day. It keeps me excited for what's next!"
Alexandra's Tips for Advancing Your Nursing Career in Homecare
Alexandra has learned a lot over the almost nine years she has been part of the Aveanna team. And she is passionate about sharing her knowledge. If you are a nurse interested in exploring homecare and growing your career, read on for great tips from Alexandra!
Set Goals
Growth starts with a goal. You can't move forward without knowing where you want to go. Set ambitious goals, then break them down into actionable steps. Keep up your forward momentum, always remembering what you're working toward.
"I knew I wanted to be an Area Clinical Director by the time I turned 30," Alexandra recalls. "I broke that goal down into steps and worked toward it every day. I was able to consistently meet milestones and eventually achieve my dream. It shows that if you really work hard and keep pushing yourself, you can reach any goal you want."
Learn from Everyone
Before she could attain her current position, Alexandra had to become a great leader in addition to being a great nurse. To that end, she developed an attitude of constant learning. "My leaders and mentors at Aveanna have helped me," Alexandra shares. "I learned a lot through conversations with them, feedback from them, and simply watching how they lead."
But leaders aren't the only people who teach Alexandra valuable lessons. She learns from everyone she encounters. "I've found that it is key to listen to the people I'm leading to understand what's working and what's not," she explains. "And at the end of the day, if what we're doing isn't working for our patients and patient families, then we aren't fulfilling our purpose."
Don't Give Up
Growth isn't always easy, and Alexandra faced her fair share of hurdles and setbacks on her journey. "During my second year as a Clinical Director, I applied for an Area Clinical Director opportunity that I didn't get," she remembers. "When I left the interview, the leader conducting the interview asked me what I would do if I didn't get the position. I said I would go back to my office with positivity, identify what areas I could work on, and be as successful as I could be. And that's exactly what I did.
"Having that experience made me stronger and a better leader. I spent the next two years learning and growing. When the next Area Clinical Director position was available, I was ready. I share that story to inspire others who are hesitant about trying for that next opportunity or who tried and didn't make it. It might be a 'no' today, but there's always another day. Keep working hard!"
Pay It Forward
Alexandra has benefited from Aveanna's new grad nurse program, training, mentorship, and tuition reimbursement. She takes advantage of each opportunity for herself, then in turn shares whatever she learns with her team to pay it forward.
"I want all of my team members to grow," Alexandra states. "Aveanna has a culture of investing in employees, promoting from within, and putting a lot of effort into retention. I want to continue that culture and invest in my employees so they can be the best in their role. That makes us all stronger."
Remember Your Purpose
None of Alexandra's goals and achievements would mean much without a sense of purpose. She became a nurse to help others, and that mission has kept her grounded and remained at the heart of each career move over the years. In fact, a longing for a sense of purpose in her work brought Alexandra back to Aveanna after a brief hiatus in 2016.
"I left homecare for a time," Alexandra remembers, "but I kept thinking about my homecare patients and helping another family. I thought about what I could do, what impact I could make. With homecare, it's not just patient care. You're providing emotional, spiritual, and physical support. I love seeing the difference I'm making in real time. Homecare is my passion, and I'm never leaving!"
Join the Right Team
Career advancement is easiest when you are part of an organization that values your contributions and actively supports your professional development. Alexandra has learned firsthand that joining the right team is imperative to growth.
"Aveanna invests in its employees," she shares. "We have great opportunities here and so many things to offer team members who want to grow. We have tuition reimbursement, 24/7 support for nurses in the field, resources, training, annual skills checks, amazing mentors, and more. We give our nurses anything and everything they need to be successful. We set every nurse up for success."
In addition to the resources available, Aveanna is full of leaders just like Alexandra who see and value hard work and dedication. "I go above and beyond for myself and my patients," Alexandra explains, "but the fact that it is noticed and rewarded by my leadership lets me know I'm in the right place. Sometimes people work hard and no one notices. That's what's different about this company — Aveanna actually takes the time to notice and reward the people who put in extra work."
What Is It Like to Be an Aveanna Nurse?
"Aveanna offers great balance and flexibility for nurses. You won't be stressed out with seven patients to one nurse. You'll build rapport with your patient and the patient's family. You'll build your own schedule. I think you'll find that you really enjoy your job and you're happy to go into that home every day. I love seeing when a nurse who comes into orientation feeling burnt out, under-appreciated, and stressed finds that balance and finds their way to truly love nursing again.
"I share my story with other nurses to show that Aveanna is here to help nurses thrive. You have support here. You have one patient. You always have clinical support available whenever you need it. If you're interested in increasing your skills and knowledge, we're here to make that happen. You don't have to stop at LPN — we have a tuition reimbursement program if you want to go back to school. You don't have to stop at RN — we have supervisor and leadership positions across the country, and we love to promote from within. There are so many opportunities here.
"I feel like homecare is the best gift that has been granted to me, so I love to share it with other nurses. Working at Aveanna has pushed me and made me develop skills I never thought I would have. When I graduated from nursing school, I thought I would end up in a hospital. I never dreamed I would be here, doing something that I love and looking forward to more opportunities in the future."