4 Reasons Why Different Nursing Career Paths Converge at Outset Medical
Nursing is a rewarding, challenging profession that demands a lot from the courageous people who choose this field. Over the course of their careers, many nurses will find themselves delivering care in high-stress environments where they’re under-resourced, under-appreciated and overworked. Yet it’s nurses who support the entire field of healthcare; it’s nurses who bear witness to the structural issues affecting patient care; and it’s nurses who are best positioned to help transform the system. At Outset, we’re bringing innovation to the field of nephrology with the Tablo® Hemodialysis System, and that has attracted nurses from varying backgrounds to join us and play a critical role in ushering in this transformational new era. We’d like to introduce you to some of the talented, inspiring nurses whose nursing career paths brought them to Outset Medical, and hear – in their own words – why they took the leap to join this mission.
1. Outset’s Culture Makes Nurses Feel Valued, Recognized & Heard
Senior Clinical Specialist Damon Davis came to Outset because he was ready for a new challenge. With a background in intrathoracic ICU nursing and diabetes education and prevention, Damon had never done Intermittent Hemodialysis (IHD) when he joined Outset in 2019. But that didn’t matter once he joined our team, because he had knowledgeable support from fellow RNs all around him. “I asked a ton of questions, and all the HD nurses were patient with me and truly embraced mentoring me,” Damon explains. He also emphasizes how strong connections with colleagues make the hard work worth it: “The people I grind with day-in and day-out are the ones invested in me. We are a team, and we genuinely care about each other. We have room to voice our frustrations, opinions and ideas. Even on days that are long and difficult, you always feel a sense of accomplishment.”
Clinical Specialist Valdano (Dario) De Pina also feels a strong sense of support and appreciation from his colleagues, sharing: “My opinions and ideas are valued. This makes me feel supported by the company I work for and makes me want to always strive for better for myself and for the company.” Former ER nurse Emma Davis, who joined Outset looking for more career mobility, echoed this sentiment: “They let me prove myself and literally create a position that never existed before. That’s all I need to say!”
Lionel Bihm Jr., now a Clinical Excellence Manager, is a former dialysis nurse and Marine Corps. Veteran who came to Outset after many years working in the dialysis space. At previous companies, he felt there wasn’t enough focus on the customer’s well-being, and saw at Outset an opportunity to make a difference and leverage his expertise. “I’m thankful to have a manager that appreciates my insights and to have the wonderful leadership at Outset that seeks out my unique understanding,” Lionel shares. “I am the kind of guy that gives his all to something he believes in, and I believe in Outset and I believe that Tablo can help hospitals and ICUs to be more successful.”
Our goal is for Outset to be an inclusive and supportive setting where nurses can thrive on their own terms and ascend in their careers. Amanda Torney, a former clinical nurse manager in a surgical ICU, explains how our company culture differs from her previous experiences: “When I grew up, I thought I wanted to become a CNO one day, but the state of acute nursing and my role as a leader made me wonder if that was a task I even wanted to take on.” Since joining Outset as a Clinical Sales Manager, Amanda says, “I’ve been allowed to be 100% myself and celebrated for just that.”
2. It’s Motivating to See Tablo Improve Patient Care
Samantha Thomas first encountered Tablo during a travel nursing assignment. That experience made her want to be part of the change it would bring: “After being introduced to the Tablo dialysis machine my first thought was ‘This is a game changer!’” Then, after joining Outset’s clinical nurse training team, Samantha describes how she knew that her hunch about Tablo was right: “While I was on site at a regional medical center in Wyoming, a patient was in total disbelief at how easy it was to operate the Tablo dialysis machine. While receiving treatment, he immediately called his daughter and told her about the new machines at the hospital.”
Emma shares a similar enthusiasm for the Tablo device, saying, “The technology we have to offer is actually incredible, not just some cute sales tactic. We are literally changing an entire sector of healthcare day by day, and that is so much fun.”
John Cruz, now a Clinical Support Manager, feels similarly: “Having started as a tech 12 years ago, I left nursing management and joined Outset for the impact the technology brings to the nephrology space.” John recounts how, in a previous role working per diem as a nurse manager, he saw instances where he thinks patients could have benefited from the clinical versatility of Tablo. “This role empowers me to make that a reality.”
Janet Brown, who applied to join Outset after seeing Tablo in action at her former hospital, shares a similar sentiment: “I felt from working with Tablo that it had the potential of being a game changer in the field of dialysis, and I wanted to join that party.” One of Janet’s favorite things about her job is having the ability to travel to various places throughout the U.S., and seeing nurses get excited after using the Tablo system. “They marvel at the difference when compared to previous dialysis machines,” shares Janet. “I have literally walked in their shoes,” She says, which makes it easier for her to communicate with nurses who are new to the system, and to help them transition smoothly to realize the benefits of Tablo.
Nurses join the field because they want to help people through health challenges, and that’s exactly what they’re able to do by bringing Tablo to patients and facilities in need. “In every situation, it is clear that our device and our company has made a positive impact. THAT is fun,” shares Caroline Maicki, who joined Outset after 25 years as a bedside RN in the acute setting. Now a Senior Clinical Sales Representative, Caroline adds: “I believe 100% in Outset’s mission and am humbled to be a part of a movement that will directly impact the lives of ESRD patients and their care providers.”
3. You Have A Community of Mentors in Your Corner
Carol Mackin-Uecker, Senior Director of Nursing & Clinical Excellence, is the original future-seer who first envisioned how different nursing career paths would come together at Outset to bring industry-leading clinical instruction to the customer – and ultimately, to the patients. In her 5+ years at Outset, Carol has built our clinical training and support programs from the ground up, taking nurses under her wing, cultivating their knowledge of Tablo and its benefits, connecting them to one another and empowering them to be change agents in healthcare delivery.
If you ask Carol what motivates her to do her best work, she’ll say, “it’s my team.” If you ask the nurses on her team, they’ll say “it’s Carol.” As a skilled nurse who has worked in the medical industry for many years, she knows how to identify key talent, and put those nurses into positions where they can also lead others – which brings us to one of Carol’s first hires, Marc Maynard, our Senior Manager of Nursing.
When Outset nurses are asked who helped them get acclimated to their new role, who they turn to with questions, and who inspires them, one name comes up a lot, along with several of his mentees:
- “Hands down, Marc Maynard” – Caroline Maicki
- “I cannot thank Marc Maynard and Lionel Bihm Jr enough” – Emma Davis
- “Marc Maynard and Dario De Pina, these two Outsetters have been instrumental in paving my career path that led me to Outset Nation” – Raquel (Rocky) LaBree
- “Marc Maynard drives me to be more productive” – Bonnie Carnes
- “With Marc as my direct preceptor, I gained a lot of confidence in the dialysis clinic setting” – Lionel Bihm Jr.
Emma Davis explains why so many nurses value Marc’s mentorship: “ He never settles for good enough, and he will not let you accept it either. Answer something half correctly? He will tell you (respectfully, of course). He is tough because he demands excellence. We all should.” Samantha Thomas echoes this sentiment, sharing: “Because of him (Marc), I learn and feel supported and know that Outset has my back and truly wants me to be successful in my role.”
Another pillar of the Outset nursing community is Bonnie Carnes, who joined Outset as a consultant post-retirement and has since become a vital resource to the growing team. “She has been my mentor from day one,” says Clinical Instructor Raquel (Rocky) LaBree. Lionel Bihm Jr. also admires Bonnie’s leadership, adding: “Bonnie has been leading nurses for over 30 years and brings a certain amount of cachet to her role here. She leads organizations to safe dialysis practice and I love working with her.”
Dario De Pina’s kind-hearted approach has also earned him admiration from his peers. Damon Davis highlights some of Dario’s special qualities: “Dario is so patient-centric. He loves to teach, and he always has time for you.” Amanda Torney adds: “Watching Dario become a leader and part of the team almost instantaneously reminded me what it was like to work with my favorite nurse colleagues. Dario would have been a nurse I would have chosen to be on my team in a heartbeat and he made me proud to be an Outset RN.”
The admiration, respect and love that Outset nurses have for one another is perhaps the most notable throughline we discovered in preparing this article. Everywhere we turned, an Outset nurse had another Outset nurse to thank and recognize for their incredible mentorship. “Lionel comes to mind when I think about who my mentors are,” shares Outset Key Account Representative and RN Laura Posidelow. “He has shared his expertise in the critical care space as well as when learning competitive differences between devices. He is a clinical powerhouse and servant leader.”
“Vanessa Davis [Outset Patient Experience Specialist and RN] inspires me daily to be my best self and to do my best work,” shares Anne Edwards, who was formerly in advanced nursing practice, prior to taking a few years off to start her family, then joining Outset as our Patient Experience Manager. “Working with Vanessa reminds me of my WHY, and I’m super grateful to work with such amazing people as Vanessa at Outset.”
This strong network of nurse mentors at Outset Medical — which extends well beyond the names shared above — helps new joiners from different nursing career paths feel supported, inspired and resourced in their work. Truly, one of the hallmarks of being a nurse at Outset is this caring community that’s paving the way forward to a new vision of patient care.
4. There Are So Many Professional Development Opportunities for Nurses
At Outset Medical, continuous learning and professional development are critical aspects of team growth. Through opportunities like in-person trainings, group workshops, online resources and offsite experiences, Outset nurses can broaden their skill sets, pursue their passions and grow in their roles. “Outset gave me, a nurse with NO sales experience, the opportunity to prove myself to the organization and myself,” says Amanda. “Everyone in the org’s leadership (including Leslie, our CEO) has supported me in promotion opportunities and in our professional development.”
Similarly, Raquel (Rocky) LaBree has excelled in developing new skills as an instructor at Outset. “Standing in a room full of nurses teaching and training them on Tablo is a skill I never thought I had, but after a while and a lot of practice, everything just started to flow,” she says. For Laura Posidelow, it’s the dynamic nature of her role that supports ongoing growth: “I enjoy developing and mastering a new skill set and always being challenged to evoke creativity and problem-solving skills. My daily activities are always changing and it provides fulfillment, unlike any role I have ever had.”
Outset’s longstanding focus on professional growth and development helped shape the most experienced nurse leaders into the team leaders they are today, as Marc Maynard can attest: “Working at a start-up medical device company is not something I ever thought I would do. I was a patient care nurse in both the acute and outpatient dialysis space, and I thought that was where I would spend my life.” While Marc immediately saw how Tablo would improve the quality of life for hemodialysis patients, he had never worked in industry before, so he was less practiced in skills like presenting, public speaking and clinical sales. “Outset has provided me with a lot of on-the-job experiences, helping me to learn the business and the medical device space,” Marc shares. “I have learned to be a lot more confident in myself and how I present to others. I now have the ability to stand in front of a group of clinicians, patients, employees and speak with strength and assurance. Outset provides a lot of sales and technical training that has allowed me to grow and succeed in a field I never expected to be a part of.”
These opportunities for professional development enable Outset nurses to envision new possibilities for themselves, and for Tablo patients and providers by extension. Emma Davis shares her optimism: “My interpersonal skills, sales tactics and overall drive have skyrocketed since working here. I can see a future for myself that I could never see before.” Similarly, John Cruz reflects on some of the previously latent skills he now gets to put into practice at Outset: “I enjoy a challenge and genuinely love problem-solving. Having the flexibility to utilize my industrious and creative work qualities in an environment where they’re really valued is gratifying. Having a talented team and amazing company culture is the icing on the cake.”
A shining example of how far different nursing career paths can go at Outset, and how new skills can be developed, can be seen in Anne Edwards. Her role in Patient Experience is a further leap from her original career in clinical nursing than some of the other nurse career switches hat have been highlighted. “My career in clinical nursing gave me a particular interest in managing patients with chronic or challenging long-term health conditions that require an extensive and ongoing support system,” Anne shares. “In my three years at Outset, I’ve continued to advance in becoming the leader I hope to be. Outset has supported me in my role by allowing me to lead in defining and growing the Patient Experience team, and encouraging me to participate in leadership engagements and additional trainings to better equip me to dynamically support the needs of our growing home business.”
Nurses are the backbone of our entire healthcare system, and at Outset, the role of nurses is just as vital, though perhaps even more systemic in nature. Here is where nurses from varying backgrounds can bring their skills and knowledge to a place that wants to learn from their experiences. Nurses who join our mission can find fulfillment knowing they’re positively impacting patient care, can be recognized for their meaningful contributions, can explore exciting new opportunities, and can be a part of a passionate and patient-centered community that’s changing the face of dialysis care to the benefit of all involved.
If you are a nurse seeking to make a meaningful difference in peoples’ lives while enjoying a rewarding and enriching career, we invite you to visit outsetmedical.com/opportunities to explore more about our mission and the people who lead it.
