When Jessica Dagene, (left) Taylor McCreight, (center) and Tyler Melnicove (right) chose to begin their nursing careers at Shore Medical Center, they each brought unique experiences and dreams. What they discovered was more than just a place to work — they found a culture that values compassion, mentorship, and teamwork, helping them grow into nurses who are making a meaningful difference every day.
For Jessica Dagene, a Stockton University graduate who completed her accelerated nursing program in just 15 months, Shore was her first choice even before earning her degree. Her first hospital clinical rotation was at Shore under the guidance of Elaine Toolsie, MSN, who set the tone for what nursing could look like.
“Elaine walked us through every step of what it’s like to be a nurse,” Jessica says. “She showed me that at Shore, you’re never alone. Even now, as a new grad, I always feel supported. There’s never a day I think I can’t go to a coworker, charge nurse, or manager for help.”
Working on the Med/Surg and neuro floor, Jessica’s days are busy balancing patients recovering from surgery or navigating strokes and other neurological issues. She draws on the time management skills forged in her demanding program to keep her patients on track — not just medically, but personally.
“I want every patient to know I care about what’s important to them — whether that’s their grandkids or finding out if the cafeteria can bring them something special,” she says. “It’s about showing them they’re not just another room number.”
In Maternal Child Health, Taylor McCreight lives her dream of helping families welcome new life. Taylor worked at Shore first as an aide while completing Stockton’s accelerated nursing program, floating through nearly every floor. That experience gave her insight into the hospital’s culture — and the certainty that this was where she wanted to be.
“I was born here, live nearby, and knew so many people already,” she says. “I saw how management treated everyone, how teams worked together. It just felt right.”
Taylor loves the pace and unpredictability of maternity — from patients arriving fully dilated and needing rapid support to coaching a first-time mom through a long induction. She treasures the camaraderie of the unit: “All the nurses are like sisters. The older nurses are eager to teach, and the younger ones are hungry to learn. The doctors are supportive, and management’s so approachable.”
Her favorite part? Helping patients and families through moments of uncertainty and awe. “You’re part coach, part educator, sometimes part distraction — talking about their pets, their kids at home — anything to keep them comfortable and confident. It’s amazing how everyone steps in to help when a birth happens quickly. It shows how strong our teamwork really is.”
Tyler Melnicove came to nursing by way of years in emergency medical services (EMS), where he worked across South Jersey counties in roles from 911 response to critical care transport. Inspired during the pandemic by a nurse who showed him what compassionate, patient-centered care could mean, he earned his nursing degree at Jefferson.
But it was a tour of Shore’s ER with a former colleague that sealed his decision. “I saw the sensory care room, and thought, ‘If this hospital is investing in that, they’re investing across the board,’” Tyler says. “I knew this was where I wanted to work.”
In just over three months at Shore as an ER nurse, Tyler’s appreciation for the hospital has only grown. From day one, he was impressed that the hospital leadership team spoke directly with new hires and spent time on the floors. The organized education program laid out clear expectations week by week, ensuring he and other new nurses never felt adrift.
“The clinical education team, my preceptor — they’ve been phenomenal,” he says. “I’m challenged every day, learning constantly, but I always have support. And the teamwork in the ER — nurses, respiratory, techs, everyone — is incredible. It means we can deliver exceptional care quickly, which makes all the difference for patients in an emergency.”
Each of these nurses came to Shore with different stories and different reasons for stepping into nursing. But in their own ways, they’ve all found a place where they’re valued, supported, and part of something bigger.
Whether it’s Jessica taking time to learn what matters most to a patient, Taylor guiding a family through life’s most profound moment, or Tyler helping someone in their hour of need, these new nurses are already shaping the compassionate, expert care that Shore is known for — and proving to themselves that they made the right choice.
