Meet new Staffing Coordinator Joana Drisker, who assembles the best nursing team to provide 24/7 care for residents of Broadway House for Continuing Care.
What’s your backstory?
I was born and raised in Newark, but my mother decided to move to Lancaster, Penn., when I was in eighth grade. I loved my high school there, so when my mom decided to move back to Newark I stayed in Lancaster to finish school, coming back to Newark on weekends. After high school graduation, I went to work for a staffing agency in Secaucus. Eventually, I worked my way up, becoming a staffing manager at another agency.
Everything I know today, I learned on the job. When you work in staffing, you have to know how to talk to people. Everywhere I go, I look for the best way to make everyone around me feel comfortable. It also helps that I speak three languages: English, Spanish, and French.
Why did you choose to work for Broadway House?
The Broadway House mission really moved me. Our residents are what keeps me going every day. I receive so many “good mornings” from them as I walk through the door. Seeing the residents smile makes my day. I feel that they are genuinely happy to see me. I’ve been working here since December and I love it.
Please describe your current role.
As the Staffing Coordinator, I handle the day-to-day scheduling of the nursing staff. That includes making sure we can meet patient needs at all times. We supplement our Broadway House employees with agency staff, so it’s important for me to keep a positive, open relationship with agencies. Filling the holes in the schedule with the right people is critical. We need to make sure the staff works well together. As a result, I try to be hypervigilant, observant, and open-minded. I make sure employees are happy and want to come back.
Our Chief Operating Officer Donnamarie Lynch, MBA, PhD, often says, “I like it when people love it here.” That’s something I can subscribe to. It’s all about developing relationships. Every day, I try to keep a positive outlook and let people know that we really need and appreciate them.
How do you unwind?
I’m a mother of seven—I don’t get to unwind! My whole life revolves around my work and my children. I’ve also been a part-time scheduler for another organization for the past 15 years, but I can do that job from home. There’s not much time for anything else, however, I do like to read horror books. Stephen King is one of my favorites. I’m also blessed that my eldest children take care of the little ones on Sundays so I can get some rest.
