New Faces, Same Commitment To Providing Exceptional Care

Recent additions are already making an impact on patients and their teams

Asha Anderson-Ramos, RN, MSN, and Shelby Sweitzer, RN, are recent additions to the approximately 600 nurses who deliver care to St. Clair Health patients each and every day. Like their colleagues across the health system, these two young nurses share a passion for helping others. But that’s not all they have in common.

Both Asha and Shelby were inspired to pursue nursing careers after seeing the women in their families flourish in their respective health professions. When Asha’s great-grandmother experienced a stroke during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, her mother provided care at home as an experienced nurse. Between seeing her mom in action every day and becoming a caregiver for her great-grandmother before her passing, Asha was moved to change careers.

The former teacher explains, “I didn’t realize how much care happens at home. I think that’s what made me want to be a nurse. I wanted to educate people on what happens after leaving the hospital and going home.”

For Shelby, nursing was always on her radar as healthcare is sort of the family business. Her aunt is a respiratory therapist. Her mother returned to school to become a vascular ultrasound technician following her divorce. And her grandmother was a registered nurse.

She says, “My grandmother grew up in a time where women graduated school and got married, but she put herself through nursing school and also got her teaching degree so she could become school nurse. She and my mom are both role models.”

Though Shelby and Asha went to different nursing schools at different times, they both completed hands-on training at St. Clair Health as part of their education. Shelby not only completed a three-month clinical rotation on a medical-surgical unit; the Bethel Park native also worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in a standby capacity while earning her Associate Degree in Nursing from the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC).

Asha moved from her hometown of Philadelphia to Pittsburgh to complete the Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing Program at La Roche University. While participating in the accelerated program designed for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, she participated in a 14-week rotation on
a post-surgical unit at St. Clair Health.

Both Asha and Shelby honed their nursing skills during supervised experiences at St. Clair Health and other local health systems, but they ultimately chose to return St. Clair Health for their first full-time nursing jobs. It’s because the people and workplace culture left a lasting impression on them.

Asha began working as a full-time nurse on Unit 6F, a medical/surgical unit, in May 2024 after taking nearly one year off from work following the birth of her triplets. She says, “I was so worried and nervous about coming back to work as a parent, and Unit Manager Jesse Gaefke, RN, BSN, BS, just made the transition super easy.”

Asha continues, “When touring the unit during the interview process, I saw firsthand that Jesse was a very hands-on manager and effective leader. His ‘open door policy’ really creates a safe, open space.”

Additionally, Asha appreciates being part of a team that includes multiple nurses who have worked at St. Clair Health for an extended period of time. These tenured nurses are always happy to share their institutional knowledge with newer nurses like Asha to ensure the patients and staff get what they need to be successful—an attitude that is contagious on her medical/surgical unit.

“The people who you work with can make or break your shift. And I’m proud to be part of a unit where every team member thinks about how to make today a good day for everybody,” says Asha.

Also in her first year as a full-time nurse at St. Clair Health, Shelby echoes the sentiment that teamwork makes the dream work on her unit—the Intermediate Care Unit (IMC) unit. She says, “The whole team has been very warm and welcoming.Plus, everyone is very understanding and supportive. Whenever I have a question, they are always happy to answer it or show me what to do.”

Because Shelby and Asha feel empowered by their respective teams, they make a difference during each and every shift. According to Laura Scarton, RN, BSN, MSN, Unit Manager of IMC, “Shelby is always willing to learn and help out others. She has been has been a great addition to the IMC team, fitting right in with the group and providing excellent patient care with joy and excitement.”

Laura adds, “Shelby has done a phenomenal job adjusting to new experiences and building a workflow that will work for her now and in the future. She continues to learn how nursing works, while taking care of a multitude of patients.”

Like Shelby, Asha often handles multiple patients and activities at once. Whether caring for patients, administering medications, or collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, Jesse notices how Asha is always looking for ways to improve the care and well-being of her patients.

“We are very happy to have Asha on our team,” says Jesse. “What makes Asha a great addition to the team are her clinical skills, her personality, and her kindness—all of which lend themselves to the patient-centered approach to care that our patients deserve.”

Both Asha and Shelby exemplify our commitment to delivering Expert care from people who care to every patient, every time. It’s another commonality they share—not only with each other but with every team member at St. Clair Health.

Expert care from people who care. It’s more than our tagline—it ’s the relentless drive we bring to carry out our mission e very single day. Interested in joining the team? Follow St. Clair Health Careers on Facebook and LinkedIn or visit stclair.org.