Todd Ladage, RN

7 Crescent-Medical/Respiratory Unit

"I appreciate Methodist’s size—no one is a stranger here. Methodist is big enough to offer me a wealth of nursing experience and the newest digital technology, but not so massive that patients and employees feel like a number. The atmosphere here is personal and relational, which is good for teamwork. I’ve been a nurse at Methodist for 11 years, and I’ve got a lot of friends here.

"Through the years, our nurses have built relationships with patients who’ve returned to the hospital for care. They trust us. They sometimes request us by name. The nurse-to-patient ratio here enables me to sit down and have deep, sometimes spiritual, conversations with my patients. This organization welcomes that.

"I appreciate the leadership at Methodist. As a University of Phoenix online student completing my bachelor’s degree, I’ve been able to compare what it’s like to work here vs. other hospitals by ‘chatting’ with students who practice nursing all over the country. I’m very happy to report that we seem to be on top of our game."

"Methodist was recently named one of the ‘Best Places to Work in Illinois,’ and Methodist really is a great place to work! My nurse manager takes care of her employees. She relates to her employees and walks them through whatever situation, professional or personal, they might be going through.

"It’s very rewarding to be part of a winning team. Methodist was the first hospital in the area to achieve Magnet Status in nursing excellence, and we’ve earned several disease-specific care certifications from the Joint Commission. And Methodist is big on evidence-based practice that includes nursing research projects. We don’t follow the road—we pave it."