GOUVERNEUR – The three-year journey to gain Pathway to Excellence® designation is proof that all nurses throughout Rochester Regional Health’s St. Lawrence Region are committed to providing the best possible care to their patients. 

The Pathway program is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and given in recognition of healthcare organizations that have created a healthy work environment for nurses. The St. Lawrence Region group is the only system of hospitals in New York State to achieve this exceptional designation. Every nurse throughout Canton-Potsdam, Gouverneur, and Massena hospitals was involved in making the designation a reality. 

Melissa Breckenridge, RN, works in Gouverneur Hospital’s Medical-Surgical/Detoxification units, where she started as a per-diem nurse, and soon afterward accepted a full-time position. 

“The Pathway to Excellence® designation equates to a positive, professional, engaging, and collaborative work environment. New nurses joining our team can expect to feel heard, supported, and valued, which in turn has a positive impact on our patients,” RN Breckenridge said. 

“It is exciting to see our healthcare organization recognized for a positive and supportive work environment for our nurses. This shows there is a commitment to our nurses, and the crucial role that they have in positive patient outcomes does not go unnoticed,” she continued. 

“The Pathway designation means improved patient care. When nurses work in an environment that reinforces them and offers the resources they need to provide high quality care, our patients benefit,” Breckenridge said. 

Nurses throughout the St. Lawrence Region can also look forward to professional development and opportunities for growth in their careers, just like Breckenridge is doing. As she works full-time, she is also in the process of earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.   

Breckenridge decided to become a nurse for a very personal reason. “I decided to pursue a nursing career after our son was born ill and needed to spend three weeks in the NICU,” she said of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. “This experience was scary and unexpected, and I will forever be grateful for the care we received, especially from the nursing team, who inspired my decision to return to school to become a nurse.” 

She served as a school nurse for six years before making the transition to Gouverneur Hospital, and noted she has never regretted making that leap. 

“We have a wonderful, hard-working, patient-oriented team at Gouverneur Hospital and I am honored to be a part of it,” Breckenridge said. 

Making the decision to become a nurse is a calling for a special kind of person who truly loves the work they do each day. 

To learn more about nursing throughout Rochester Regional Health and the St. Lawrence Region, visit https://www.rochesterregional.org/healthcare-professionals/nursing.