Tori Sherwood – ICU RN, Memorial Hospital West
RN Fellowship – Cohort 1

Author: Valarie Grumme, PhD, RN, CCRN-K
Director, RN Fellowship Program

At Memorial Healthcare System, our focus on employee growth and development is key to attracting, retaining, and “growing-our-own” RNs for difficult to recruit specialties.

Recruitment begins before nursing students have even graduated from their degree programs, with an invitation to apply for our Nurse Residency Program.Experienced nurses at Memorial Healthcare System also have opportunities for professional development and growth, by applying to learn a new nursing specialty via our RN Fellowship Program.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Tori Sherwood, an inaugural member of both Memorial nursing professional development programs! Tori was one of our very first RN Fellowship cohort nurses and was also a member of our very first Nurse Residency cohort. Tori’s story is a shining example of the growth-driven nursing career pathways available here. Let’s hear what Tori says about her journey:

What made you consider applying to our Nurse Residency program?
“I grew up in South Florida. I knew great things about Memorial, being a patient myself and having family members that have been here as patients. I also knew some of the staff and they said Memorial’s the best place to work in South Florida. Even though I went to Florida State University in Tallahassee, I really wanted to come back down here and experience nursing firsthand. Get great knowledge and have a great team of coworkers that would support me and my growth as a new grad nurse. I knew it was the right thing for me at the time.”

Tell us why you applied to the RN Fellowship Program?
“I thought it was a great opportunity. I knew from the Residency program that the guidance was valuable. The Fellowship was the right option for me, especially during the pandemic. I really wanted to be with another group of people going through the same things I was. We were allcoming from a different unit, having a background in nursing and trying to advance our knowledge. Thanks to you, Valarie, we had the resources to make sure that we could thrive and survive at the same time.”

What brought you to the ICU?
“I was a resident I was on 4W at Memorial Hospital West, which is a Med-Surg unit. But I always really knew, back in nursing school, that I wanted to take care of patients when they’re in their most vulnerable state. There’s a lot to learn, a lot of know as an ICU nurse. So much to see, so much to do. You get to learn about your patient in depth…not only their treatment and care, but about them as well. During my time in Med-Surg, I loved it. I met some great people, I learned and got a really great foundation. But in my heart I knew I always wanted to be in ICU nurse. That’s who I am now, which is really exciting.”

Tell us about your experience with your Preceptor.
“Amazing! Her name is Jessie and she is very knowledgeable. She has 30+ years of experience in critical care. She really took her time with me, but she also challenged me. She knew I had the knowledge from being a nurse for more than two years, but definitely pushed me to be the best I could be. She also listened to me when I needed help. She was a great support system for me!”

Anything else you would like to say about the RN Fellowship program?
“I say if you’re thinking about it, definitely go for it! It’s a great opportunity to stay at Memorial and grow. The program is a great resource. Don’t be hesitant. Just to go for it…because you won’t regret it!

Transitioning to a new practice area can be challenging, as well as very rewarding. The Memorial RN Fellowship Program offers nurses this exceptional professional development opportunity with the support to grow in their careers. For further information, visit our website at https://careers.mhs.net/career-areas/rn-fellowship/