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One Family, Two Generations of Nurses
When children not only follow a parent into the same profession, but also want work in the same place, that says something good about the job and the employer. Meet mother-daughter nurses who are case in point that dedication to Montefiore is generations deep.
Andrea Montalvo grew up at Weiler Hospital on Montefiore’s East Campus. She was born there, volunteered during high school, worked as a medical tech and met her husband there. An invitation to her wedding was even posted in the Operating Room staff lounge—that courtesy of her mother, Doreen Lleras, a Weiler OR head nurse.
Montefiore and nursing have long been a part of this family—and never more so than today. Doreen can mark more than 30 years of service at Weiler. Since 2000, Andrea has been a pediatric staff nurse at CHAM (Children’s Hospital at Montefiore ).
“I spent so much time at Weiler as a child, I knew I wanted a career in the medical field,” says Andrea. “I first trained as a phlebotomist (technician who draws blood). That experience—plus my mother’s devotion to nursing—helped me make more choices about what I wanted to do.
“I still look forward to going to work every day. Nursing is an exciting and rewarding job.” —Doreen Lleras, Weiler OR Head Nurse
“I love being a nurse,” Andrea continues. “It’s very holistic. It’s about caring and teaching—helping the patient and family understand the health problem and linking all of the pieces together to understand the treatment solution. It’s especially true in pediatrics. We always say that when we admit a child, we’re admitting the family too,” she explains.
Doreen is proud of having her daughter follow in her nursing-shoe footsteps. “From the moment Andrea decided to become a nurse, she’s had a passion for it,” says Doreen. “I’m very proud of the reputation she is developing as an excellent nurse.
“I grew up in the day when women chose between being a nurse or a teacher,” Doreen adds. “I chose nursing and I still look forward to going to work every day. It’s an exciting and rewarding job. You see what the human body can withstand and how it can come back from so much.”
Both mother and daughter cite a similar reason why they enjoy nursing at Montefiore. Doreen calls it “camaraderie.” Andrea uses the phrase “team approach” to patient care. “When you know you’re part of the team, you know you have a role in determining the outcome for the patient,” Andrea explains. “It creates more pride in what we do.”
Doreen Lleras R.N. & Andrea Montalvo R.N.
Director of Clinical Trials
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
At the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, we ensure that our patients are given the highest quality of care, which we continue to help define through our clinical research efforts.
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