Discover Christine’s career journey as a behavioral health RN at Northwell Health

Meet Christine, who grew her career from a patient care technician to a behavioral health registered nurse at Northwell Health’s Lenox Hill Hospital. Throughout her time at Northwell, Christine has been grateful for the opportunities and resources that have helped her grow professionally.

Christine began her career with us in 2017 as a patient care technician for Lenox Hill’s float team while also attending nursing school. Her responsibilities included ensuring the comfort and well-being of her patients by providing hands-on patient care under the supervision of registered nurses. She did this by monitoring vital signs, collecting specimens and assisting patients with dressing, mobility and more. This experience exposed Christine to various hospital services and career paths, helping her decide on a nursing specialty to pursue after graduation.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2019, Christine began working as a medical-surgical nurse at Lenox Hill Hospital. There, she managed pre- and post-operative patients, administered medications and monitored vital signs. While working as a medical-surgical nurse, Christine developed an interest in working in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU). To do so, she underwent the Critical Care Access Pathway (CCAP) training program — designed for nurses with limited critical care experience, which focuses on pathophysiology and nursing care. Upon completion, she began working as a neurosurgical ICU RN. Her skills in de-escalating behavioral health events and her passion for guiding patients through their experiences helped Christine solidify her true calling in psychiatry.

In 2022, Christine underwent more training to adapt to the specific requirements of psychiatric nursing, learning new terminology and patient techniques, including building relationships with patients. After completing this training, Christine began working in her current role at Northwell as a behavioral health registered nurse (RN) where she helps patients manage their mental health issues and/or substance abuse disorders. Today, her focus is on improving patient well-being by providing a therapeutic environment, administering medications, and assisting patients in developing coping mechanisms. “Within each role I’ve held at Northwell, I feel wholly supported by my team and I’ve seen how our patients feel that same quality of support in their care,” reflected Christine. Taking her interest in psychiatry a step further, she is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialization as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, with assistance from Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program.

Christine is proud of her achievements during her time at Northwell, including being nominated for our 2025 Truly Award for teamwork. Her unit had finalists for other awards and designations, such as the Above and Beyond Award for exceptional patient care, resulting from high Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Hospitals (HCAHPS) scores which measures patients’ perception of their hospital experience. Lenox Hill Hospital was also awarded the Magnet designation, which recognizes healthcare organizations demonstrating excellence in nursing practices and patient care.

“I’m extremely proud of our team and the recognition our psychiatry department has received based on the quality of patient care we provide every day,” said Christine. In addition to Christine’s pursuit to further her career through education, she also participated in mentorship programs and attended leadership conferences, plus behavioral health symposiums.

Discover a career well cared for with our behavioral health nursing team and learn more about opportunities with Northwell Health today.