For the month of June, Blue Ridge Job Corps welcomed Smyth County Community Hospital’s (SSCH) Interim Chief Nursing Officer Trista Ruff as a virtual guest speaker. During this session she discussed a variety of employment opportunities available at SCCH and Francis Marion Manor, both located in Marion, VA, as well as the entire Ballad Health system, with facilities throughout Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
These opportunities include Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nursing, and Patient Care Technicians, where Ms. Ruff started her health care journey. “Working for Wellmont Health Systems (now Ballad Health) gave me a great opportunity for growth,” she explained. Now in a her dream leadership role, she has the opportunity to help shape the way that patients receive care on a larger scale, and it was made possible before of the financial assistance as she worked her way from patient care tech all the way to a Master’s in Nursing.
Not only did she discuss the opportunities, but she went a step further by walking students through the website and showing them exactly how to apply. “I cannot stress enough the opportunity for growth within our organization,” she said. “Get your foot in the door, and you will definitely have a chance to move up.”
After discussing benefits such as tuition reimbursement, retirement, and health insurance, she provided guidance on the interview process, and what Ballad Health in looking for in an employee. She mentioned arriving 10-15 minutes early, dressing appropriately, maintaining eye contact, and asking their own questions during the interview. “Remember, we WANT to hire you, but we are looking for employees who want to be with us as much as we want them.”