Nurse Manager Finds Her ‘Niche’ in Albany Medical Center’s Medicine Units

Jen Miller, ACRN, BSN, has worked at Albany Medical Center for 31 years—all of her professional life. As the nurse manager of two units, she takes great pride in the work of her colleagues and those throughout the hospital.

“I chose Albany Medical Center when I was very young,” she said. “When local people ask me which hospital I work at, I tell them, ‘There is only one hospital.’ We do incredible work at Albany Medical Center every day.”

Jen’s original goal was to be an operating room manager. She spent her externship in the OR and the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). During this time, she felt like she had more to contribute as far as interacting with patients. While in college, she worked with HIV/AIDS patients and spent her infectious disease rotation with a 2-year-old boy who was HIV positive. This experience had a profound effect on her.

“One day, I asked the manager of the PACU if they had an HIV/AIDS unit. I knew the moment I stepped onto C4 that I was exactly where I was meant to be,” Jen said about the unit she now manages. “It is an honor to care for the HIV/AIDS population past and present. I did not lose sight of my goal to be a manager. I stayed focused and applied for promotions, and I have been the manager on C4/C3W in Medicine for more than 20 years.”

In C4, Jen works with patients with not only with HIV/AIDS, but with other infectious diseases like tuberculosis, MRSA, and most recently Covid-19. Of the 25 beds, 24 are equipped with negative pressure, making them suitable for patients with infectious diseases. Jen said that while the patient turnover rate is relatively low, the patients are acutely sick, and many require long-term admissions. Additionally, C4 is the training ground for proper use of personal protective equipment.

“It is a safe environment for learning and understanding how to maintain your safety, patient safety and team safety,” Jen said.

C3W, meanwhile, is a 10-bed unit where staff focus on acute care and treatment. Staff are hired on both C4 and C3W, cross-trained and rotate.

Jen encourages anyone interested in a nursing career at Albany Medical Center to apply without delay.

“The experience working at northeastern New York’s only Level 1 Trauma Center is unparalleled,” she said. “One of the best things about nursing is that you can be any kind of nurse or specialty provider you dream of; Albany Medical Center offers you the choice to explore them all. When you find your niche, being a member of the Albany Medical Center community is like finding your family.”