FORT MYERS, Fla — When she first walked into a Lee Health Hospital 16 years ago, Anna McClure could not have guessed where she would be today.
“When I first started, I was 24, you never think about how long you’re going to be with a company,” McClure says.
To work that long in a career as demanding as nursing says a lot.
We’re telling McClure’s story to preview The Southwest Florida Virtual Job Fair. Fox 4 is teaming up with Better Together, Cape Christian, and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to bring at least two dozen employers together. On August 13, they will meet with job seekers over Zoom to describe their openings and answer questions. In some cases, they will interview people on the spot. You can register right now by clicking here.
Lee Health, the largest employer in Lee County, will be there looking to fill hundreds of positions in a wide range of fields and experience levels.
McClure works as a Pediatric ER Supervisor at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
“Children are unique. They’re scared,” she says. "And so being able to minimize their fear, explain things to them on their level. And to do that in a way that is as kid-friendly as possible, and make them feel safe and eventually better, that’s always a good day.”
After 16 years, it’s still her favorite part of the job. McClure started with Lee Health as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She says Lee Health encourages that kind of career growth. And they reward their people. The hospital system and her co-workers have given McClure awards for her work.
“It’s really great because that's my direct staff that I work with every day,” she says. "So for them to recognize the work I put in, and the fact that I care is really really awesome.”
She says all of it is why people like working there.
“One, the good news is there are jobs. And two, more than jobs, there are careers. And we’re here to help you navigate that,” Jennifer Thayer says.
Thayer helps recruit workers and educate them about Lee Health. She says the system has hundreds of open positions and not just in specialized medical fields. She says there are entry-level patient care and clerical jobs, like where Anna started, which will give people a chance to move up.
There are a number of what Lee Health calls ’service’ jobs as well. These are positions in food, housekeeping, and environmental services.
Lee Health has two separate hour-long Zoom sessions scheduled for The SWFL Virtual Job Fair and Thayer says they’re looking for special people.
“We can teach you skill, we gladly will,” she says. "But you have to have the empathy and desire to really want to work with people and be part of a great team.”
