From left: Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN; Melissa James, BSN; Claudia Garcenot, MSN, MHA, RN; and Nicole Jones, BSN
Melissa James, RN, began her career in health care as a patient care associate (PCA) at Mount Sinai Brooklyn in 2015, but nursing school was always in her plan. It was also in the family, as Melissa’s mother began her own health care career as a certified nursing assistant, eventually becoming a licensed practical nurse.
In fact, Melissa’s mother encouraged her to become a PCA in order for her to test the waters and make sure nursing was the right path. Melissa quickly decided it was, and began saving for her nursing education. She attended Long Island University part-time during the day for five years, while continuing to work at Mount Sinai Brooklyn, at times covering both evening and morning shifts, in addition to scribing for a local medical office.
”It was challenging,“ she says, “but doable. My family and work colleagues were tremendously supportive. And after 16-hour days while I was a student, my current 12-hour shift is a breeze.”
Melissa says her experience as a PCA was invaluable training for a career in nursing.
“It was like having clinical rotations before even starting nursing school. As a PCA, I spent a lot of time at the bedside, which really helped me develop strong patient communication skills, something that might have taken longer had I gone straight into nursing,” she says. “While I’m still very much involved with patients as an RN, the nature of my role has changed. There are certain hands-on tasks I no longer perform as often, but I now have the opportunity to apply critical thinking and collaborate with fellow nurses and the medical team to develop treatment plans.”
Melissa is on the same unit, 2 East, as she was as a PCA. “My unit is special. If you stick your head out the door asking for assistance, people come running,” she says. “We are all committed to helping one another. 2 East works as a team! And, we are a fun, friendly group.”
Nicole Jones, BSN, began her health care journey as a patient care associate at Mount Sinai Brooklyn in 2020. Like Melissa, she always knew she wanted to become a nurse. And she previously majored in Science as an undergraduate. In 2023, she took the next step by enrolling in the accelerated BSN program at the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing.
“Balancing part-time work with the intensity of a 15-month program was challenging, but the support at PSON made all the difference,” she says. “The faculty truly wanted us to succeed—tutoring was accessible, and the close-knit environment made it easy to build strong relationships with both faculty and classmates.”
After graduating in 2024, Nicole started her nursing career in February 2025 at Mount Sinai Brooklyn’s Stepdown Progressive Care Unit, where she cares for patients transitioning from surgery or the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“I absolutely love being a nurse and having the autonomy to make decisions in patient care,” she says. “Working as a PCA really shaped me—it not only taught me to prioritize safety and strengthened my appreciation for bedside care, but also prepared me for the demands of nursing school by enhancing my clinical awareness and time-management skills.”
Nicole, like Melissa, is focused on the present but remains open to what the future holds. “I’m considering the ICU as a potential next step to grow clinically, but I’m also interested in pursuing wound care—both areas really speak to different parts of my nursing passion,” she says. “It feels good to be in a place where there are so many meaningful directions to explore.”