Business at the ballpark: Healthcare heroes hired at Temple’s Nurses Night
Some things make sense to leave a ballgame with … fun memories, a full stomach, perhaps new merch or, if you’re really lucky, maybe even a foul ball. But a job? That’s a little unexpected.
Well, for most, anyway. Not for Aila Brown and Margaret Gwion, who, oddly enough, did just that.
Both Brown and Gwion attended Temple Health’s Nurses Night at Citizens Bank Park in 2022 and found themselves leaving the ballyard that night with new memories, a full stomach, and … employment.
Aila Brown, a maternity nurse at Temple Health’s main campus, ventured to Nurses Night with a game plan in place.
“I heard about it by word of mouth. A retired nurse recommended me to the hiring manager and the manager told me to come out to Phillies night,” she said. “I met up with a few of the HR reps … We did our interview right there, and I got hired. So, it was pretty easy. It was a great experience.”
It all played out a bit differently for Margaret Gwion, who has worked as a registered nurse at Temple’s Episcopal campus in the Crisis Response Center since receiving an offer at Nurses Night last June.
“My husband, who is also a registered nurse and works at Temple Episcopal, won a raffle as part of Nurses Week and received two tickets to attend the Phillies … I didn’t even know I was going to get hired at the game — I simply went to enjoy the Phillies game with my husband!”
May 9th marks the second annual Nurses Night partnership between the Phils and Temple Health. A partnership that, for Brown and Gwion, among others, was a massive success in its inaugural year last summer.
For Aila, working at Temple was always part of the career plan.
“I worked in and out of Temple for the last 10 years,” she said. “I always knew I’d be back … it just was how I was going to get back and when I was going to be back — but I knew I would be back.”
Margaret, on the other hand, is new to working at Temple.
“The funny story is that my husband has long been trying to get me to work at Temple Episcopal [with him] … Through my interactions [at Nurses Night], I felt comfortable,” she said.
Aside from the obvious win of securing a new gig, the night marked the beginning of far more than just that for Gwion.
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“When we walked in, I only knew my husband. But by the time I left, I felt like I was a part of the family,” she recalls. “The other nurses were friendly, warm, and welcoming … Plus, the environment was exhilarating! How cool is it to be interviewed and hired at a ballpark?!”
The two nurses hail from different places with incredibly diverse origin stories. Yet regardless of their paths to Temple, they both shared a common bond — they couldn’t remember a time when they didn’t want to pursue a career in nursing.
“I always wanted to become a nurse, ever since I was small — maybe four,” Brown said. “It’s a way that I can show my love for people and let people see that there are still good people in the world.”
The uniform flexibility? Well, that’s just an added bonus.
“I also like working nights and wearing scrubs. Wearing the same thing to work every day really pushed the drive — I’m sort of kidding — but it did,” she added with a laugh.
Margaret’s track to the profession was a bit more complex. Her nursing journey was set to begin in Liberia in the late eighties but was initially derailed due to the start of the country’s civil war. After fleeing to the Ivory Coast for a short stint to avoid the conflict in Liberia, she eventually found herself in the United States as part of a resettlement program in 1993. It was in Brooklyn where she finally began her nursing studies.
All of this led her to Philadelphia, and as luck would have it, that Phillies game for Nurses Night in June of 2022 — an unconventional path that brought her exactly to where she feels she is supposed to be.
“My experience at Temple has been very gratifying. The staff, the administration, and all of my colleagues have been very easy to work with and supportive, just as I expected … Every day is a brand-new experience and I look forward to going to work each day!”
The two are proud to work at Temple and consider themselves lucky for the opportunity to continue their careers with such a supportive community at such a special place. As far as any advice for future nurses looking to seek employment at Temple?
Margaret’s advice is simple.
“Go to a Phillies Game and get hired!” She joked. “In all seriousness, it is imperative to be willing to get out of your comfort zone and try new things.”
Aila finds deep value in the power of persistence.
“Always follow through. If you want something, always take the extra avenue to go get it. I’ve never given up because I feel like Temple is where I’m supposed to be. If you feel like somewhere is where you’re supposed to be, you’ll get there.”
Gwion shares a similar sentiment, “To all of the nurses out there, if you are looking for a good experience and a supportive team, Temple is the place for you.”
-Beyond the Bell contributor Missy Perez
