Eileen Van Allan, BS, RN

Background

was raised in a family with a strong work ethic. I learned from my parents the value of a job well done and to be dedicated to my work. Since I can remember, nursing was part of my life; I always played the nurse in our outdoor games. As soon as I was old enough I became a Candy Striper. My high school Biology teacher was an inspiration to me, which led me to get my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Curry College.

My first job after college was working for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in a lab where we reproduced HeLa cells for experimentation in cancer research. The lab environment however, was not for me, and led me back to what I loved most - nursing.

I went back to school and earned my nursing degree at the Children’s Hospital of Nursing in Boston. At that time my father became terminally ill, so I moved back to Rochester.

I began my nursing career at Strong Memorial Hospital as a Pediatric Nurse in the NICU. During this time I met my husband who taught in Oswego. Oswego did not have a Pediatric Unit so I decided to work in the ICU/CCU at Oswego Hospital. I later accepted an Industrial Nurse position at the Nuclear Power Plant in Oswego.

We moved back to Rochester when our three children were born, and my Highland Hospital career began. While working at Highland I pursued other nursing interests including working for the Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester, as a substitute school nurse in Brighton Middle School, and finally the Brighton Surgical Center. I have been a volunteer nurse for the Brighton Soccer Camp, in which I helped to develop their first aid unit and recruited other volunteer nurses.

Career Path at Highland Hospital

Twenty one years ago I started with the float pool, and worked through the ICU, ED, Pre-Anesthesia, Operating Room, and SWATPICC Nurse. I currently work in the Medical Imaging Department.

My Dominant Personality Traits

I genuinely care about others. Whether it’s my patients, or my family and friends, I want the best for each individual. I never hesitate to go the extra mile and I do not expect anything in return. I have learned that every individual has a story, and I am interested in learning about each and every one. I have learned that all people have similar needs: to be loved, respected, and valued. This has allowed me to connect on a personal level with everyone I encounter.

About the Medical Imaging Department

The Medical Imaging Department is a great example of teamwork at its finest. The staff is professional, experienced, and outstanding in every way. To anticipate workload and exam needs, we use an electronic system that provides patient information from the Emergency Department. We are also in constant contact with the inpatient units, to keep the staff up-to-date on patient care and procedures that took place in Medical Imaging. We know that other health care professionals and their patients are awaiting the results we provide, and we work as a team to make them available as quickly as possible.