Meet Matt Machado, Operational Support Nurse

Some careers follow a straight path. Matt Machado’s has looped back on itself in the best possible way.

During nursing school, Matt Machado, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, completed clinical rotations at both Bradley Hospital and Hasbro Children’s while working as a certified nursing assistant at Saint Anne’s Hospital. Years later, after building experience at Rhode Island Hospital and Saint Anne’s, he found himself thinking about Bradley again. A former contact led to an interview and eventually a return to where he started. 

Following Opportunities Within Brown Health

Machado's early clinical placements at Bradley and Hasbro introduced him to Brown Health. After graduation, he joined Rhode Island Hospital as a registered nurse, caring for surgical patients and individuals with chronic and critical illnesses. He then moved to the hospital's neuro/stroke unit, where his work with stroke patients helped him develop strong clinical skills in a specialized area of nursing.

Later, while working through the COVID-19 pandemic, Machado began reflecting on the type of nursing career he wanted to build long term. He really enjoyed his time at Bradley and had kept in touch with a former professor who had a connection there. Machado reached out to the professor and within a week, he interviewed at Bradley Hospital.

Linking Patient Care and Leadership

Five years later, Machado remains at Bradley, where he has advanced from staff nurse to operational support registered nurse (OSRN), a relatively new role created to help bridge clinical operations and leadership. When the opportunity arose, Machado was intrigued by the variety the position offers; it allows him to remain involved in clinical care, while expanding his skill set and taking on broader leadership responsibilities. As an OSRN, he coordinates patient flow, supports frontline staff, addresses urgent operational issues, and helps advance quality and safety initiatives throughout the hospital. He can advocate for his colleagues, help communicate and implement new initiatives, and contribute to decision-making that supports patient care. 

“I think the biggest thing that keeps me here is being able to see the transformation and the progression of care that the kids go through,” said Machado. “You get to see that from admission to discharge – the kiddo who comes in really struggling, and by discharge, they're able to use a handful of coping skills that we hope they're able to take with them across the multiple settings that they go back home to.”

Mentors Who Made a Difference

Throughout his career, Machado’s mentors have helped him recognize opportunities he might not have otherwise considered and gave him the confidence to pursue them. His professor helped connect him with his first job at Bradley, and, later, an assistant manager encouraged him to pursue graduate school.

In another full-circle moment, that professor now leads the psychiatric nurse practitioner program at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where Machado is pursuing his doctoral degree of nursing practice (DNP).

Having benefited from strong mentors, Machado now enjoys helping others start their own careers. He has served as a clinical instructor, preceptor, and mentor to nursing students and new graduates. He also taught students in the certified nursing assistant program at his former vocational high school and has written letters of recommendation for aspiring nurses.

A System Full of Opportunities

Brown Health's tuition reimbursement benefit has helped Machado continue advancing his education while building his career. He says the ability to continue learning while remaining within one health system has been a significant advantage.

As Machado has worked across Brown Health, he has come to appreciate the unique strengths of each organization, the connections that tie them together, and the different patient populations they serve. What stands out most to him, however, is the culture shared across the system.

“All of them deliver health with care, whether I was at Saint Anne's, Rhode Island, Bradley, or Hasbro Children’s,” said Machado. “It's a very tight-knit community and everybody just wants to help.”

For employees considering their next career move, Machado believes Brown Health offers opportunities that can be difficult to find elsewhere. Through mentorship, tuition reimbursement, clinical experiences, and career advancement opportunities, employees can continue developing professionally while remaining part of the organization. Learn more about benefits at Brown University Health.

Read more Built at Brown Health stories