Jason Solomon
After a 17-year career as a youth minister, Jason Solomon felt a divine calling to transition into nursing.
“At 40 years old, I discerned that God was telling me nursing was my new form of ministry outside the church walls and a new way to be more present to my family,” he said.
Jason joined Akron Children’s in 2015 and has been a resource pool nurse on night shift for almost a decade. He was initially attracted to the role as a new nurse seeking to explore different areas of pediatric nursing.
“The float pool (as it was formerly called) was a great place to start, to try out many areas of the hospital and see where I wanted to go,” he explained.
According to Briana Reardon, clinical nurse manager of the resource pool and nursing supervisors, the resource pool offers numerous benefits for nurses seeking a dynamic and challenging career path.
“Being a resource pool nurse is arguably one of the toughest jobs in the hospital,” she said. “Resource pool staff must be flexible but also comfortable and confident in their knowledge and skills to competently care for patients on any of the units they are assigned.”
Jason said one of the key benefits of being a resource pool nurse is the extensive orientation and ongoing education he received which equipped him to handle diverse patient needs.
“I had at least a year of training that included every floor,” he said. “All the feedback, training and support helped me to become a proficient nurse with every age and diagnosis within Akron Children’s.”
Resource pool nurses are categorized into two levels.
“Level 1 staff support all of our acute care areas, while level 2 staff primarily support critical care areas but may also assist in acute care if needed,” says Briana. “This system allows our nurses to develop a wide range of skills and adapt to various patient assignments.”
The flexibility inherent in the resource pool role is a significant draw for many nurses, including veterans.
“Experienced nurses have the knowledge base, skill set and critical thinking capability to keep up with the fast-paced environment of being a resource pool nurse,” Briana said.
Jason (pictured with his family) says one of the big draws of a career in nursing was the flexibility to spend more time with his family.
Jason agrees, emphasizing the variety and adaptability that comes with the job.
“We can be assigned to any unit and even move from unit to unit within a shift,” he said. “This constant movement not only keeps the work engaging but also enhances a nurse’s ability to manage different patient demographics, ages and diagnoses.”
Jason has also been able to advance his career and take on leadership roles within the resource pool.
“I’ve become a primary preceptor on night shift to the new level 2 critical care floats to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), along with various super user positions (Pump Integration, Omnicell and Glucometer),” he said.
Despite the transient nature of their assignments, resource pool nurses form a close-knit community within their department.
“We work together as a team with unit-based council, staff meetings, celebrations and education. We support each other and try to help each other out,” Jason explained.
This sense of unity extends to the entire hospital.
“I feel like we are welcomed on any unit because we provide help when needed,” Jason said. “I’ve bonded with more staff as a resource nurse because I know people from all different units, and that includes administrative, police, environmental services and support staff.”
Briana said resource pool nursing also supports career growth and competency development.
Briana Reardon
“Resource pool nurses receive a higher base rate because we recognize the challenges, expertise and critical thinking required to go anywhere and take any patient assignment,” she said. “Many start as level 1 nurses to master acute care and then move up to level 2, taking on higher acuity patients.”
Briana encourages veteran nurses to consider applying to the resource pool.
“The confidence and experiences veteran nurses bring to the resource pool is very beneficial,” said Briana. “We value their expertise, which can greatly enhance patient care across the hospital.”
“I love the flexibility and adventure that my role provides,” said Jason. “It keeps up my skills, and because you move from unit to unit, it keeps the job fresh. I can avoid the stress and tension that sometimes comes from working on a specific floor.”
Interested in joining the resource pool? Contact our recruitment team at talentacquisition@akronchildrens.org.
