Nicole Hoefler, RN, Mather’s new director for nursing, Cardiac Cath Lab Services, arrived at the hospital in March ready to help get the cardiac catheterization lab up and running and hire new staff. But the COVID-19 pandemic has put those plans on hold.
“With COVID, everything has come to a halt,” she said. “I’ve been following the ICU director and learning the hospital with her and trying to help as much as I can and give input with the crisis.”
Nicole came to Mather from Long Island Jewish Hospital, where she was a nurse in the cardiac cath lab for 16 years, then assistant nurse manager and interim manager for the last two years.
Mather was approved earlier this year for a 3,644-square-foot addition that will include catheterization and electrophysiology labs. Cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic procedure used to visualize the arteries and chambers of the heart and treat any narrowing of blood vessels (stenosis) or other abnormality. A catheter – a thin, hollow tube – is inserted into a large blood vessel that leads to the heart. The catheter can accommodate instruments such as those measuring the pressure and blood flow in the heart, and can be used to inject contrast, if needed.
Nicole began her nursing career at Long Island Jewish Hospital. After six years in the med/surg ICU, she transferred to the cardiology cath lab. She attended Nassau Community College for nursing and received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Empire State College. She is due to graduate from Stony Brook University in May with a Master of Science degree in nursing leadership.
She lives in Selden with her husband, Rob, and 10-year-old twins, Ryan and Keira.