The Wilkes fall 2022 semester was met with many new faculty members, including Jill Ferretti as an assistant clinical professor for undergraduate nursing at the Passan School of Nursing.
Ferretti was born and grew up in Wilkes-Barre. She always had an affinity for helping others and knew the medical field was for her.
“I was always very compassionate as a child, always wanting to help others. I volunteered for the hospital that I currently work in when I was a teenager and knew that I would be in healthcare, in some capacity, some day,” said Ferretti.
Ferretti completed her undergraduate in nursing locally, earning her associate of science at Luzerne County Community College and then her bachelor of science at Misericordia University. She went on to earn a master of science in nursing/family nurse practitioner from Chamberlain University. She has worked at Quality Patient Centered Services as a registered nurse and at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center as a regional childbirth educator.
One of Ferretti’s past careers has also been in obstetrics as a registered nurse at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. She had decided on this specialty originally because she fell in love with it during nursing school. She described working in this field as “one of the most intimate relationships you can form in healthcare.” Childbirth is a very “vulnerable time” and she recounts this experience as being an “honor” and she felt “grateful to have been able to be a part of for so many parents.”
She is now working at Wilkes-Barre General in their Orthopedic unit, as well as for Medical Research Network focusing on in-home clinical trials. She also decided to work at Wilkes as a professor as she viewed teaching as being “at the core of nursing” and was “thrilled” at the opportunity.
Ferretti has been married nearly 18 years and has two children, one of whom attends Wilkes with the young scholars program. She and her family love the outdoors.
“Living in such a beautiful state gives us the perfect backdrop to enjoy many seasonal outdoor activities,” said Ferretti.
One thing she found was important to share with students is that they should “never forget the caring component of nursing.” She also shares that it is crucial to understand that it is not just about studying and the books.
“These individuals are moms and dads, sons and daughters, family members that are loved by many people. If they treat them with the care, compassion and respect that all people deserve, they will be better nurses as a result,” said Ferretti.