b'20A35YEAR JOURNEY TO HER DREAM JOB Rhonda Chase, RNCFor Nurse Navigator Rhonda Chase, theTwo nursing degrees later, she now isDuring the project, I confessed that I Hospital has provided more than a joba Medical Home Nurse Navigator forhad wanted to become a nurse and the for the last 35 years.CHMG, coordinating complex care fordirector said Why arent you a nurse? With supportive supervisors andhigh-risk obstetrical and gynecologicalWhy arent you doing this? She gave valuable advancement programs, thepatients while serving as advocate andme that push I needed to take the fi rst Hospital encouraged and supportedliaison for patients across the healthstep, Rhonda said.her and her family as she expanded hersystem and with community partners. So, she earned an Associate of Science education and medical training into aIn between, her jobs included executivedegree in nursing at NHTI and began healthcare career and her dream job. assistant to a Hospital vice president,working at The Family Place. I feel respected and appreciated inmanager for a former Hospital weightA decade later, after earning a Bachelor my roles here, Rhonda said. Ive beenloss clinic, licensed nursing assistant,of Science degree in nursing at UNH, lucky to have managers who didnt11 years as a registered nurse caring forshe helped write a proposal for a nurse box me in, but instead, looked at andmothers and newborns at The Familynavigator position at CHMG. valued my potential and gave me thePlace and clinical leader at Concord Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology.It sounded like my opportunities for growth. dream job, The opportunities included fi nancialThrough her journey, RhondasRhonda said, so support and fl exible hours that helpedmanagers supplied more thanshe applied andher earn a business administrationencouragement. With Hospital tuitiongot the job. degree, two nursing degrees and hersupport, they also off ered fl exible hours obstetrics nursing certifi cation, as wellthat enabled her to attend classes and as in-house training for leadership andtend to her daughters special food other Hospital skills.allergy needs. Rhonda started at the Hospital inI was very lucky to have that 1985 as an administrative assistantopportunity, she said.in the former Community ServicesAs part of her public aff airs job, Department that included publicRhonda worked closely with the aff airs, marketing and communitythen-director of The Family health education. While there, shePlace to plan an open house attended UNHfor the program.classes and earned an Associate of Science degree in business administration.'