Nurses day 2015 pdf

NURSES DAY

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

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Tulsa World Supplement, Sunday, May 3, 2015

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Nurses Day Making a difference in someone’s life every day.

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SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

NURSES DAY

Getting to Know Nurses Who Have Touched Our Lives Nursing skills have become more complex with the development of new technology and the equipment available for patient care. Nurses today must be trained to use the equipment and also have computer skills.

This technology has helped improve patient care. People are living and having a better quality of life that may not have survived 20 or 30 years ago.

I have been a nurse since 1976 and have had the privilege of witnessing and being part of these changes. This is an exciting time in medicine.

The biggest challenge in nursing is keeping up to date on technology and advances in medicine while also being able to continue to provide high quality care. I believe we will see more and more outpatient services with shorter inpatient lengths of stay. The focus will be on prevention and healthy lifestyle. The education of the patient and their families will be a key factor in their care, as well.

Jennifer OSU Medical Center I chose nursing as my career when I was 9 years old. My little brother was born in respiratory distress and was sent to the neonatal intensive care unit. He was there for several weeks. Siblings were not allowed at that time to visit, but could view the patient from a window. My older brother and I watched him and the nurses from afar for several days.

I admired the nurses who were caring for my long-awaited brother, and I was intrigued by the monitors, wires, machines and lights. I told my parents I wanted to be a NICU nurse when I grew up.

When I graduated from college, I began my nursing career in NICU at St. John, and I am on my 13th year in the same unit. There is no other place I would rather work!

Those precious, tiny humans in the NICU touch my life every day I am there!

If you ask most nurses about what nursing means to them, it’s to walk alongside a patient and their family in their unexpected illness, and to comfort and assist in healing while caring for them in their most vulnerable time. I feel that being a NICU nurse is a ministry. It allows you to reach out to families and show them compassion and love while caring for their loved one. In the NICU, we do experience sad times, but it is also a place of hope, healing and miracles. Our patients are strong and resilient, all while being so small and adorable.

Olivia St. John Medical Center Like most nurses, I first decided I wanted to become a nurse because I wanted to help others.

I couldn’t think of any better way to serve others while making a career for myself. I looked up to other nurses and wanted to be the person that patients trusted and respected. I never imagined that I would develop such a passion for nursing and that it would become such an important part of my life.

Nursing is not just a career for me, it’s a lifestyle. I love the challenges that a nursing career provides and the changes that occur daily in the healthcare industry. Most of all, I love being able to make a difference in the lives of others. There is no better feeling than knowing I have been able to meet someone’s needs, ease their pain or put a smile on their face.

I am proud to call myself a nurse and feel privileged to be able to care for others in some of the most difficult times of their lives. Nursing isn’t about changing the world, but it’s about making a difference in the world, one patient at a time.

Sara Jane Phillips Medical Center I became a nurse because, like many people, I have had to spend time in a hospital for myself and with family. The nurses have always been very encouraging and brought peace and comfort to me in a time that was sometimes scary. It was my belief that I too could bring comfort and care to patients and their families who needed support during difficult times.

Nursing to me means being able to show compassion, to be understanding and to selflessly take care of others when they are unable to. Nursing is going above and beyond for our patients and their families.

A special memory for me was just being able to spend time with an elderly patient that didn’t have family nearby to visit very often. I was able to be there and let her talk to me about her concerns and become someone she could confide in. She was the reason I became a nurse, to be a friend and confidant in a time of need. I was able to help her relax and ease some of her concerns about being in the hospital; making her time there more enjoyable opposed to a stressful anxious time.

I would encourage others to become a nurse because the joy gained from seeing somebody respond to your care is simply beyond comparison to anything else. Nursing can be demanding and exhausting at times, but there is no greater honor and reward than being invited into the lives and families of others, and to make a difference in their lives.

Jenny Hillcrest Hospital Henryetta

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God designed me to be a nurse.

We are all given spiritual gifts, and during every person’s life God will call on us to utilize those gifts for the good of His people. I didn’t so much become a nurse; I was called to serve as a nurse.

I have shared some of the most intimate moments in life, from joyous to devastating, with complete strangers. What privilege could be more humbling? I ask a patient in my care to trust me with their life or the life of their mother/father, wife/husband, daughter/son. The weight of this privilege is tremendous, as it should be. Every day that I go to work, I have the opportunity to make a positive impact in the life of another person. Every day, I must choose to serve others with integrity and competence, no matter what their situation may be.

I have grown up inside the walls of a hospital. I started as a certified nurse assistant at the age of 17. At 22 years old, I finished college, took the nursing boards and became a registered nurse. I’ve served in many different roles as a nurse, such as neonatal ICU, trauma medicine, administration, disaster management and oncology. I have hundreds of memories and countless once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

All of the really great nurses who I’ve had the privilege of serving beside have told a similar story regarding their choice of profession: they were all called to serve and provided the spiritual gifts to be phenomenal clinicians. To be a great nurse, you must bring your heart, mind and soul with you every shift, along with your sense of humor and comfortable shoes.

Traci Cancer Treatment Centers of America Nursing is my career. It’s what I love to do! I work weekend overnights in surgery and deal with a good number of lifethreatening traumas. I work with the best surgical team, hands down. I have days when I ask myself if I’m strong enough to keep doing this line of work, but when I return to work, I quickly find the answer.

Nobody wants to be in the hospital. It is a very scary time for the patient and a very stressful time for the family. My job is to make things better by being there as an emotional support for the family and by being everywhere at once for the patient, whether it’s to perform chest compressions or for pillow fluffing. I will do whatever it takes to make sure my patient receives quality care.

There is a big need for nurses. Nursing has blessed me with countless memories over the years that have made me who I am today. It’s definitely not an easy job, and it’s not for everybody.

It takes a very special person to be a nurse — one who is strong willed, selfless, full of compassion and who has a true love for others. It’s amazing how many different paths you can take with nursing, whether it be mental health or surgery. If you have what it takes, I strongly encourage you to pursue a career in nursing.

Bradyn St. John Medical Center I knew early on that I wanted to take care of people, and nursing allows me to care for people in many ways using a science education that can improve their health and spirits.

I have also met many people who have had a positive influence on my career through their knowledge and humor, which makes bad days turn into good ones.

I was working at Christmastime at the hospital, and a patient was alone in her room because her family wasn’t able to visit. I helped her with getting in and out of bed, and walking in her room. At the end of the night, she sat down in her bed and she told me, “Thank you for taking the time and patience to help me gain my strength. You are an angel.” It was a wonderful feeling to feel appreciated for helping her, even if it is my job, and it’s something every nurse needs to experience.

Kasey Brown Mackie College I became a nurse because I wanted to help bring compassionate care to people.

To me, nursing is not just a profession but a lifestyle of caring and compassion. It’s about taking every opportunity to be an encouragement and bringing holistic care to each individual person.

As a nurse, you have the opportunity to be with someone during sometimes traumatic or life-changing stages in their lives. I cherish being there for people and being able to be a listening ear.

Nursing is not for the faint of heart, but it is totally worth all the hard work. Every time I hear someone tell me “You have made this hospital stay so much better,” I know I have done my job right and it is worth the long hours.

Bethany OSU Medical Center Nursing is an opportunity to participate and make a difference in a challenging time in the life of another person. I consider this a privilege of the highest order, so that even on the busiest or slowest days, I find my job fulfilling. Not everyone is so fortunate to be blessed like that.

Most recently, having been in treatment for cancer, I find I can relate to some of the things our cancer patients go through and we can share experiences with each other. I receive from our patients so much more than I ever expected.

Peggy St. John Medical Center

I have always had an interest in the medical field and knew that I wanted a profession where I got to interact with and help other people. Nursing was a great fit for me. It has allowed me to invest in other people, which is extremely rewarding.

Being a nurse means getting to give back to others in a very tangible way. Nurses are often the ones who get to walk through very difficult moments, side by side with their patients. We get to meet their physical needs while providing emotional support to the patient and their family.

Working in surgery at CTCA I have had the unique opportunity to develop relationships with the patients at our hospital. In many surgery departments you may not see your patient again, but here there have been several that I had the pleasure of getting to know, and getting to know their families. I loved being able to be a familiar face during a stressful time.

I love being a nurse. Nursing as a career is full of so many opportunities, and so many different ways to spend your days. No matter which specialty is the best fit, we all have the opportunity to give back and invest in other people during a vulnerable time in their life. It is such a privilege.

Anna Cancer Treatment Centers of America I have been exposed to nursing from the beginning of memory. Because my mom has been a nurse since May1974, it just seemed appropriate to continue carrying Florence Nightingale’s torch. And with the opportunity to bridge from paramedic to R.N., I felt called to this natural progression of patient care.

Nursing, as a vehicle of patient care, has allowed me to more positively affect health and the well-being of those I have had the opportunity to encounter. I have found this positive effect tends to bleed into other aspects of my life and career, fulfilling a natural drive to help others in need. I am frequently asked “How much do you like nursing?” or “Why wound care?” The question usually receives a great big smile and a long and detailed discussion on how a RN Bridge program works.

Bill OSU Medical Center I became a nurse because the challenge of working in healthcare has always appealed to me.

I consider my nursing career to be a responsibility to continually improve and expand my professional knowledge base. I also view it as a personal mission to share that knowledge by mentoring others so we can provide the best possible patient care.

During my career, I have been fortunate to have experienced many special memories. The times I’ve been able to alleviate anxiety for a patient or a staff member through education about a particular disease or organism have always been rewarding experiences. One patient was kind enough to send me a thank-you note simply for explaining our policies for a specific condition. I have had the opportunity to work with some truly amazing people who have embraced me like family.

As any nurse will agree, there is never a dull moment, and there is always a challenging opportunity around the corner — regardless of what type of nursing one chooses to pursue.

Donna Saint Francis Hospital I became a nurse after years of helping take care of family members that had physical ailments or who became terminally ill. My husband, who is now deceased, was a brittle, noncompliant juvenile diabetic with multiple issues. I knew that if I went and got the training I needed, I would be able to help care for him. I started taking classes after years of being out of high school and slowly worked towards my degree, first becoming a licensed practical nurse, then on to receive my registered nurse degree through TCC. Nursing means being a part of a patient’s journey to wellness. To be able to be there to assist in their recovery, and be the link between them and the physician to coordinate the best care possible.

A special memory from my nursing career was being able to help care for my late husband in his last moments in the emergency room. The long road I had traveled, and the reason I traveled it, all came full circle. As I stood over him doing neuro checks that I have done hundreds of times on patients at the Oklahoma Stroke & Neurological Institute at Hillcrest, it suddenly hit me that it really was all for him. All the years of struggle and studying was all for him. I am so happy that he got to see me graduate and work as a RN before he passed away in January of this year.

I would encourage others to be a nurse because of the reward you get every day on the job from thankful patients who remember you long after they are discharged.

Patients remember that one person who touched their hand when they were scared and hurting and was there to make a difference for them. We as nurses are the advocate for each patient we come in contact with. As nurses, we don’t always see people at their best or their happiest, but they know we are there to help them. Nursing is a stable and honest career that offers women and men the opportunity to provide themselves and their family with financial stability. Nurses are in high demand. We see it everyday at our hospitals. I will never regret my choice to become a Registered Nurse, and now, am excited to see my daughter start her journey to become one also.

Tammy Oklahoma Stroke & Neurological Institute at Hillcrest See NURSES page 6

NURSES DAY

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

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SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

NURSES DAY

Day in the Life of a Nurse A

Inspiration comes in all sizes Twenty-eight years ago, Rhonda Fletcher, who is now a registered nurse at the Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center at Hillcrest Hospital South, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Although she didn’t realize it at the time, she was about to meet two of her life’s greatest inspirations.

“During labor and delivery, everything went the way it was supposed to,” remembers Rhonda. “It was a precious and unforgettable birth thanks to my labor nurse. She was so Rhonda Fletcher compassionate and supportive. I will never forget how important she was to me during my hospital stay.”

After leaving the hospital, Rhonda kept thinking back to the labor nurse.

She had always wanted to be a newborn nursery nurse, and after experiencing firsthand the difference that nurse made in her delivery, she knew it was her life’s calling.

But, just two months later, she could tell something wasn’t quite right with her baby girl. After countless doctor’s visits and tests, the family learned Kristen had irreversible brain damage that had likely occurred in-utero.

“At first, I thought ‘how could this have happened, I did everything right during my pregnancy,’ but I quickly re-focused on taking care of my daughter,” says Fletcher.

At first, doctors weren’t sure her daughter would ever be able to walk or talk, but after years of physical therapy and speech therapy, she is doing both.

As her daughter grew up and became more independent, Rhonda began to think back about her dreams of becoming a nurse. Rhonda went back to school and became a registered nurse in 1996. She has been taking care of moms and babies at Hillcrest South since 2001.

“When I am with a family who is welcoming a newborn with a disability, I share my experience with them. I tell them about my daughter who is so full of love that she makes everyone a better person,” says Rhonda. “I want them to know that their child is going to be extraordinary.”

Rhonda and her husband are the proud parents of a 28-year-old, a 26-year-old and a 10-year-old. And, they are excited about the upcoming adoption of a toddler who they have fostered since birth.

“Thanks to my labor nurse 28 years ago, and my daughter, I have learned the importance of treating my patients the way I would want to be treated,” Rhonda adds. “I hope that the families I take care of return home knowing that they were specially chosen to love and protect this tiny baby.

There will be challenges in life, but with love, patience and compassion, they are going to become an amazing family.”

Finding your niche in nursing A great nurse combines a caring heart, trained intellect and clinical skills, but each person is a unique individual with a variety of strengths and interests.

Fortunately, nursing offers a wide variety of career paths that will appeal to different individuals.

Jenni Friederich is a registered nurse and family care specialist in an adult intensive care unit at St. John Medical Center.

She started out as a bedside nurse at another Jenni Friederich hospital in 1999, but after a few years, Friederich was inspired to make a career change after working alongside a family care specialist.

“When I saw how much he helped families, I knew that was what I wanted to do,” says Friederich. “As a bedside nurse, I didn’t have time to spend with the family after I took care of the patient’s needs, but he did. That was such an important asset.”

Friederich joined St. John Medical Center in 2010 and immediately asked a family care specialist there how to become one. She has been serving in that position for four years.

Each adult ICU at St. John has a leadership team that includes a manager, ICU educator and family care specialist.

The family care specialist serves as the mediator for the patients’ families.

This specialist attends to the needs of the families of critical care patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Communication is a vital part of it.

“Every day as a family care specialist is different,” Friederich says. “I start each day by approaching the charge nurse to get a report about what is going on in my unit, specifically if we need to have any family meetings.

I will schedule those for our physicians. Family meetings are not unusual in ICU. We include our families in our plan of care so it doesn’t necessarily mean that something bad has happened to the patient. It just means that we include them in what’s going on with the patient. In fact, we tell families that they are part of our decision-making team.”

End-of-life issues are often a part of working in an ICU, and family care specialists are no stranger to the difficulties families experience during this time.

“Families appreciate just being able to sit down and have somebody to talk with about the decisions they are facing,” Friederich says. “I have such a huge faith in Christ, and it helps tremendously to be able to share that with them.

“The positive feedback I get from patients, family members, coworkers and physicians is so meaningful. I love being a family care specialist, and I see how much it helps people.”

EVERY DAY nurses touch the lives of hurting people, responding to their needs with a life-affirming touch and utilizing their professional skills to help patients and their families. Here is a peek into the lives of three local women who have found their calling in nursing.

Putting the pieces together Imagine finding out you have cancer.

One day you are managing all the details of your busy life and the next you learn that everything is going to be turned upside down.

What if your treatment included someone who was specially trained to work with individuals and families to assess the challenges the patient is experiencing, help them problemsolve, coordinate their care and walk Susan Brown with them through the entire journey? At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), those special people are called care managers.

Susan Brown is an R.N. care manager as well as a certified oncology nurse and breast cancer nurse. She has been with Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) for 23 years.

Because CTCA is committed to serving the community, Brown gives back by volunteering with the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC), which is Oklahoma’s only medical and public health volunteer program. OKMRC teams include volunteer medical, public health and lay professionals who help during emergencies and disasters, such as recovery efforts after the March 25 tornado in Sand Springs.

Brown’s professional training and nursing experience are just as welcome during the latest tornado recovery as they are at the hospital each day.

“At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we work closely with the medical oncologist to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care,” says Brown.

What does that look like? Brown says care managers follow the patients closely while they are at the hospital and when they are at home.

“Some patients have referred to us as their lifeline while they are at home,” she says.

When a patient is at home, the care manager is that patient’s contact person for everything. “We manage their side effects while they are at home, check labs drawn at home and coordinate care with the local physicians and facilities. In addition, we are ordering all their home medical equipment — walkers, beds, oxygen — whatever they need.”

The care manager also assists patients in getting their medications or chemotherapy.

“Some chemotherapy treatments can run $12,000 a month for 30 pills. So we assist them in getting that approved,” adds Brown.

“We also help them secure funding to help with their co-pay. We work closely with specialty pharmacies to get pay assistance programs initiated for them.”

The care manager provides a continuity of care as well as educating the patients and their families about what they are going through.

“Being able to pray with patients is also a big part of my job and part of my faith,” says Brown. “It’s always a blessing to me. In fact, I think I’m blessed more than they are.”

Sharing meaningful moments in people’s lives happens on a daily basis for Brown. “They touch our lives as much as we touch theirs. They become like family.“ In fact, Brown says that through caring for people during these difficult times, care managers also get to know the patients’ families.

“Even though a patient may have passed on, I still keep in touch with their family members. You develop those connections,” Brown says. “People leave footprints on your heart.”

“Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter’s or sculptor’s work ...”

Florence Nightingale

NURSES DAY

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

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SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

NURSES Continued from page 2 When I was 17, I took a job in a long-term-care facility working as a certified nursing assistant.

I thoroughly enjoyed caring for people and knew that I wanted to do more. The nurses that I worked with in the facility were so inspiring. They were constantly striving to ensure that patients received the utmost care and that the patients’ interests were always a top priority. I knew then that I wanted to pursue a career in nursing for myself.

Now that I am a registered nurse, I constantly strive to make sure patients are receiving the best care possible and hope that maybe I have inspired someone else to pursue this wonderful career.

Nursing to me means caring for a patient or individual holistically. Nurses not only care for their patients’ medical needs but their psychological and social needs, as well.

Nurses spend more time with their patients than any other healthcare provider and, therefore, nursing to me means being that patient’s advocate.

Alissa OSU Medical Center The medical field and science have always fascinated me, and I wanted to be involved in an area where I could directly care for patients and develop special bonds and relationships. Nursing was the obvious choice.

Being a nurse means supporting and caring for my patients and their families during the hardest time of their lives. It means bringing hope to them in seemingly hopeless situations. It means being available, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually.

I took care of a patient who had leukemia for an extended period of time. He was really struggling with hope and the desire to “fight”. I would write song lyrics that I heard on the radio, Bible verses and words of encouragement. Several months later, he passed away. His mother called me at work, and told me that she found the lyrics and Bible verses, and she believed that what I did made a difference in his life.

Being a nurse is not only an amazing career with job security, it is a privilege. I get to help people at such an intimate and personal level. I rejoice with them when they get good news, cry with them when they are having a rough day and be their advocate when they feel they don’t have a voice. I get to be their friend when they feel no one else is around, be involved in their treatment and see lives extended as a result. Being a nurse is a humbling career and, in my opinion, the best and most rewarding one anyone can have.

Lauren Cancer Treatment Centers of America I have been a registered nurse for 21 years. I became a nurse because I knew that is where God wanted me.

To me, nursing means taking care of those in need, spiritually, emotionally and physically. I pray daily on my way to work that God would direct me to those patients who I am to take care of that day. He never fails to answer me!

The days that stand out are the ones when I know I’ve made a difference in someone’s life. It’s the “thank you for being there,” or seeing someone on the street who says, “You were there when I had my baby, thank you!” It’s the hug I receive when I discharge a patient. Sometimes it’s just knowing that I was there. Because being there was enough.

Whether my shift is easy or difficult, and whether I’ve cried tears of joy or heartache, at the end of the day I know why I chose to be a nurse. It’s not just a job, it’s a calling. One I am blessed beyond measure to be a part of.

“Prove by the way that you love that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” Matthew 3:8 April St. John Owasso I knew from a very young age that I loved helping people. My Nana was a registered nurse, and growing up I wanted to be just like her, so I always knew I was going to be a nurse.

Nursing to me means helping people who need medical care. Another aspect of nursing is teaching people how to take care of themselves or others, and that part is very rewarding to me.

My husband and I were blessed with a son who lived 14 months and needed constant medical care. I’m very thankful to my nursing career because we were able to take care of him at home and helped him live a better life while he was with us.

I’d encourage anyone who has a calling to help people to pursue a nursing career. There are so many aspects of nursing and different specialties that there is a place for everyone. It is rewarding when patients and their families thank me for taking care of their loved ones in their time of need.

Amber Hillcrest Hospital Claremore In junior high, I was a volunteer each summer at a local hospital and fell in love with nursing. I have always had a passion for education and caring for people. Nursing is a profession that is founded on the virtues of caring and compassion. Being a nurse means I have the privilege and honor of touching lives on a daily basis and caring for people during some of their most lifechanging moments.

I am truly blessed to be a part of the nursing profession.

After 30 years as a nurse, the miracle of a new life entering the world is still an incredible experience for me to see — every single time. The nursing profession provides a wide range of opportunities and areas in which to serve. Nursing is exciting, challenging and offers a lifetime of learning.

Lisa Saint Francis Hospital

NURSES DAY

I became a nurse to serve those in need. I’ve always had a heart to help others and provide medical care along with having the possibility every day to put a smile on someone’s face by providing compassionate care.

To me, nursing means coming into work every day willing and ready to work hard, think critically, treat patients with genuine care, treat them as individuals with dignity and do everything that you can to provide the best possible care that you can in the time that you are with your patients. Nursing care doesn’t stop when you clock out, being a nurse is a 24-hour profession and is something to wear proudly.

When I was only three months into my nursing career, I was able to make the mom of a baby who I was caring for in the NICU happy and thankful for the extra time that I took to invest in her peace of mind. My spending close to an hour with her explaining things put her mind at ease when she had to leave her newborn that night. She gave me a big hug and told me how thankful she was for me. It was then that I had that first feeling of what being a nurse really meant.

Nursing is a rewarding job. It’s hard work and bad days happen, but at the end of the day, knowing you were able to help even one person, it is a good day.

Nikki Brown Mackie College Caring for people is my passion, and the only way I could fulfill this passion was by becoming a nurse.

Nursing to me means giving hope to the hopeless, bringing joy to the sad and caring for the people in need.

My special nursing memory was recently when I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing along with my husband, Having that discipline to do it together and seeing the smile on my kids’ faces during our graduation gave me the most joy.

I would encourage others to become a nurse because as a nurse you have nothing to lose. I see nurses as angels of God on earth helping people in need.

Esther OSU Medical Center My desire to become a nurse started when I was a child. My mother, who was a nurse, would take me to work with her at the hospital and let me watch the cardiac monitors. Even at that young age, I had a fascination with cardiac rhythms.

As I got older, my interests changed. In my 20s, I had two young children, so I started asking myself whether I could take care of them if they were injured or sick. I wanted to be educated in ways to keep my family healthy and safe. I wanted to be a good mom.

I received much encouragement and support after discussing my decision with my family, and I have never looked back or regretted my decision to become a nurse. I am proud to be a Jane Phillips Medical Center nurse.

Sheryl Jane Phillips Medical Center My daughter was very ill and had to have a bone marrow transplant. I saw a difference in nurses who took care of her — some gave excellent care, and others seemed like they were there “just for a paycheck.” I decided that I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives by becoming a nurse like the ones who had given excellent care to my daughter.

Being a nurse means that I will be there with patients and families during tough times, good times and sad times. I consider it a privilege to be a part of their lives, even if only for a little while. I remember what it was like being on the other side of healthcare as the mother of a patient. I will always be an advocate for the patient and their families.

One of the happiest memories from my nursing career was discharging a baby home from NICU. The baby had been born weighing only two pounds and had not been expected to live. I felt like my care had made a difference; not only had I cared for the baby, I had cared for the parents, too.

There are so many opportunities in nursing; whether it be bedside nursing, critical care, long-term care or clinic nursing. You can also choose to go into management or education positions. Besides opportunities, it is a career of giving back to others. You become a part of your patients’ lives just as they become a part of yours. I will never forget the patients I have taken care of. My hope is that I have left a good, lasting impression on them and their families.

Kelly Cancer Treatment Centers of America Since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a baby nurse! My biggest passion in life is helping and caring for others. I get to be a part of an amazing experience for many families and that in and of itself is the biggest reward of my job!

Nursing means promoting health and wellness and advocating for the care of individuals and families. A nurse is simply there to help in any way he/she can to provide the best care to their patient.

My biggest reward has been having new mom’s and or dad’s come to me and tell me how thankful they are to have had me as their baby’s nurse. I love educating families about baby care, and I have had many crying mommies give me the biggest hug and thank me for easing their worries. Also, to have siblings look at me and say “ I want to be just like you when I grow up” means the world to me!

If you love people and enjoy caring for others, nursing is one of the most rewarding jobs out there. There are so many options and fields you can go into as a nurse, and you will always be able to find a job.

Jennifer Hillcrest Hospital South

While in high school, I thought that a career in the medical field would be interesting, but I chose marriage and motherhood instead. Because of my interactions with nurses during the birth of my children, I realized that becoming a nurse was how I would be happiest helping people.

One definition of nursing means “to care for.” That is what my goal is with each patient and family that I interact with.

Sometimes that means using all of my critical-care skills to help stabilize a patient, and sometimes it means just taking an extra few minutes to listen to my patients’ concerns.

A special memory I have is from when I frequently cared for an older patient in the ICU over the course of three months. After the patient was discharged home, I received a letter from him and his wife letting me know that they thought of me as their angel. Why? Because I took the time to give the patient a bath every night to help him rest.

I would encourage others to become a nurse because nursing is a career that can always present new challenges.

Cindy OSU Medical Center Growing up in a medical family, I witnessed firsthand the positive impact that healthcare providers can have on a patient and family.

I wanted a career that I could wake up and be excited about.

Nursing gives you the opportunity to help others in their time of need. A nurse is more than a nurse — you’re a friend, brother, sister, mother, father, therapist and biggest cheerleader to your patients.

I think my most special memory is the relationships that have been formed both with coworkers and with patients and their families. I love being able to laugh with a patient, or give a hug and tears when needed. I also love when our patients come back after a long hospital stay in their street clothes with huge smiles on their faces.

There are so many different career choices in nursing.

You can work as a nurse for 100 years and never be able to work all the different areas available. Working three, 12-hour shifts per week gives me the time to take care of my family.

You will be given the opportunity to positively imprint on someone else’s life during their most vulnerable times.

Nurses are superheroes in scrubs.

Jessica Cancer Treatment Centers of America When I was little, I dreamt of growing up to be a nurse that rocked babies. As I got older, my dreams grew with me and fueled my desire to take care of mothers and their babies. To be a small part of something so beautiful and to be able to take care of my patient in that moment is a wonderful feeling Nursing means being selfless and focusing on the needs of your patients before your own. No matter what your field of nursing may be, being completely available to your patient and their loved ones can greatly impact their lives.

One special memory sticks out the most. I first met a woman when she was at the hospital supporting a friend.

The next time I saw her, she was having an emergency C-section and unfortunately, she lost her babies. I was there with her through that experience, and we developed a friendship of sorts. I was by her side again two more times as she welcomed her children into the world. I run into her from time to time, and it is like she is an old friend. I will never forget her or her children.

Nursing is such a rewarding job. You get to help others, and you can changes lives in so many ways, including your own.

Sarah Hillcrest Hospital Cushing I enjoy critical-care nursing because it gives me the opportunity to grow, think and learn while providing care for sick patients. As a nurse in the CICU, I have the opportunity to work closely with the physicians to help our patients recover quickly. One example in particular that I’ll always remember was a man who had been in the hospital for several weeks.

One day toward the end of my shift, I asked him if he had come to the hospital with a full beard; he said he hadn’t. I offered to assist him in getting cleaned up and afterward he thanked me and told me that I made him feel like a human being again.

To me, it felt like such a small gesture, but his sincere gratitude and the impact it made on him is something I’ll never forget. It reminded me that sometimes the smallest things can make the most difference in a patient’s experience with us. I can honestly say I go to work every day and look forward to having a hand in touching people’s lives.

Betsy Saint Francis Hospital As a young girl, I always thought I wanted to take care of people. So I volunteered to be a candy striper to get my foot in the door of the local hospital, and I loved it! I knew this was what I was supposed to be doing for the rest of my life.

One special nursing memory was when I was taking care of a critically injured young girl. At the time, she was close in age to my own children. I wanted to hold her and tell her it would be okay. But, honestly, I wasn’t sure that was the case.

Many years later, we met once again in an operating room. When I realized that she was that patient from many years before, I told her I was there the night of the accident.

After a few tears and hugs, she said she was attending nursing school — inspired by all of us who took care of her during such a difficult time. That’s what nursing is all about.

Rose OSU Medical Center See NURSES page 8

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NURSES Continued from page 6 I became a nurse because my husband developed end-stage renal disease at the age of 39, and the only thing I knew about it was this would be a lifelong health issue for him. We sold our restaurant business, and I returned to school to obtain a nursing degree, which was the best decision I ever made. Subsequently, after two years of dialysis, my husband will celebrate his 20-year kidney transplant anniversary this year!

To me, being a nurse means making a difference to those you care for day in and day out. It may only be something as simple as a gentle touch, encouraging words or a smile, but for many those gestures are so greatly appreciated when going through health problems.

As an oncology nurse, it is always exciting when patients find out they are in remission. Patients often seek out the nurses and techs to celebrate the great news with everyone who cared for them throughout their treatment.

There are so many areas of nursing to choose from that anyone could find their niche. The opportunities are endless in the world of nursing.

Dana Cancer Treatment Centers of America I chose nursing because I wanted to pursue a career in which I felt I could make a difference. I think nursing is an important job with many challenges and responsibilities. It’s both challenging and rewarding.

Working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mercy/OSUMC, I see much sickness and death, but I also see survival, recovery and hope. It’ an honor to help people through what is probably the scariest or one of the scariest moments of their lives. And it’s a good feeling when I see them leave the ICU on their road to recovery.

I would encourage others to consider a nursing career because not only is it a job in high demand, but an R.N. has a seemingly endless array of opportunities in many different areas (such as schools, hospitals or even home health), and one can advance his/her career or change specialties, if so desired. Many times, nurses can also have flexible schedules. The main reason to become an R.N., though, is that an R.N. can be a major positive influence in what is arguably the most universally important aspect of everyone’s lives — their health.

Deborah OSU Medical Center I pursued the field of nursing after several years in the logging industry. I wanted to be part of something that had more personal reward and made more of a positive impact on the lives of others.

Nursing is more than proper medicine, time management and good bedside manners. It means being there for patients and their families, taking time to explain the details of what is occurring to them and helping them navigate what may be one of the largest trials in their life.

It is always rewarding to hear a genuine “thank you” from a family member who has just gone through one of the toughest and most stressful times of their life with a family member in intensive care.

Nursing is rewarding in many ways — personally and professionally. It provides fresh daily challenges requiring problem-solving skills tailored to each patient’s care. It also offers a doorway into many diverse avenues of healthcare from work in homes or doctors’ offices to ICU or air-rescue services.

Jeremy Hillcrest Hospital South When I was younger, I experienced multiple hospital admissions for life-threatening asthma attacks. It was overwhelmingly the nurses’ excellent care that made the greatest difference.

Through this personal journey, I made a promise to myself that one day I wanted to become a skilled and kindhearted nurse caring for the sickest of children.

Reflecting over my career, a patient that stands out in my mind was a young child who was extremely ill. Her condition deteriorated to the point of requiring a 64-day stay in The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis. During her time in the ICU, there were many discouraging days; yet, despite all obstacles, she not only survived, but thrived. Eight years later, she still remembered my nursing care and invited me to her high school graduation. This is an incredible testimony of the resiliency of a young patient and of the lives touched each day at The Children’s Hospital.

Kellie The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis I am a new nurse, but I was a certified nursing assistant more than 10 years ago in a hospital. In some ways I don’t think the training has changed a lot — nurses still need to know how to start IVs and think critically — but the technology training that nurses need today is vastly different.

Patient care is still very handson. Nurses are still involved in all aspects of patient care on a daily basis, from bathing and feeding to helping a patient to the bathroom.

I believe that some of the new technology that we use — for instance, to help move a patient from one bed to another — is safer for the patient and definitely for the nurse and tech. I also think having a computer at our fingertips saves time when looking up patient information. It makes our jobs easier and allows us to provide better patient care.

I think staying compliant with all the new healthcare changes will be a challenge until it is something that everyone is used to.

Carissa OSU Medical Center

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I had always known the nursing profession was a respectable career choice and one that offered a lot of diversity and demand. There was always a part of me that knew I could help others in ways that many people could or would not do. For me, it made sense to start out as a certified nursing assistant and gain perspective before making the decision to go into nursing.

Since then, I’ve worked my way up the career ladder and have never looked back. I learned early on that nursing can be challenging work both physically and emotionally, but it has also been a very rewarding career.

To me, nursing encompasses an array of actions, but overall it’s about compassion and caring, about being accountable and doing what is right rather than what is easy. Nursing is being selfless rather than self-centered.

These are just a few of the many examples of what nursing means to me.

Jessica St. John Sapulpa

Nursing is part of my identity.

As a nurse, I am an educator and an advocate. Nurses are hard working, ethical and trust worthy. It is a selfless occupation. Nursing allows me the privilege to be part of a comprehensive medical team on the cutting edge of technology.

In caring for critically ill patients, I have been able to support patients and their families through some of the most difficult times in life.

When patients and families come back to visit and seek out “their nurse” and express gratitude for the care and support that I provided, I know I have been successful.

Nursing is an incredible occupation with tremendous opportunities. It is never boring or predictable. You will be encouraged to continue lifelong learning. Nursing will give you the opportunity to work in various settings with flexible scheduling. You will be a valuable part of a team working to positively impact the lives of others.

Dawn Oklahoma Heart Institute Clinic

I have known from a very young age I wanted to be a nurse or someone in healthcare.

I was a medical assistant for 31 years before becoming an RN. I even had a fleeting thought at one time of being a physician.

But, being a nurse is so much more rewarding and fun!

Nursing is hard work and can be exhausting, but I have never doubted my decision as an “older adult” to go back to school. I graduated as a Registered Nurse when I was 50 years old. As a nurse, you get to interact with people in some of the happiest and in some of the most stressful times of their lives. It is such an honor to be able to care for others in their time of need.

My fondest memories come from the relationships with my patients and their families. The biggest compliment I ever received is when a young woman told me she became a nurse because of the way I treated her at the doctor’s office growing up.

Nurses make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families, and this is very satisfying. We have the opportunity to build lasting relationships and meet some amazing individuals. Those relationships, people and experiences enrich our lives and change us for the better.

Robin Utica Park Clinic

I think the reason I am a nurse today starts with my mother. While growing up, I heard my mother talk about her job as a nurse, and I would see the pride in her face when she was able to help those in need.

It was through her compassion and caring that I realized that being a nurse was in my blood. I am one of three Cook girls who are now nurses and carrying out the same compassion and caring. I can’t imagine a better role model than one’s own mother. Many things I have done in my career would have not been done without having her as an inspiration.

A nurse is the frontline caregiver that a patient sees on a daily basis. Nursing to me means making a difference by providing comfort and care to those in need. It’s the satisfaction that I receive when I see my accomplishments through the patients themselves. To me, nursing is a lifestyle that I hold true to, whether I am at work or out in public. I chose nursing to change someone’s life and to make a difference.

Sarah St. John Medical Center

As a child and teenager, I watched my mother fight cancer. This experience scared me, and I remember thinking I could never do what nurses do.

But, my mother survived and always remembered her nurses and the care they provided.

Eventually, I overcame this fear and realized nursing was my calling.

Working in in-patient psychiatry, I have so many memories of patients who come on my floor — unable to eat, sleep or talk. Yet, after caring for these patients with medications, therapy and physical and emotional support, we are able to discharge them back to the world as fully functional members of society.

I would encourage others to consider nursing because there is no other job that is as fulfilling. There are also very few other jobs that offer the flexibility of the nursing profession with as many fields in which to thrive.

Charel Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital I started working in a hospital pharmacy in Joplin while in college earning my bachelor’s degree in marketing and management. When I started at the hospital, I remember feeling sick from the “hospital smell” every time I walked through the doors.

By the time I was finished with my business degree, I couldn’t wait to walk through those hospital doors every afternoon.

I knew then I wanted to be a nurse. I immediately started nursing school and never looked back. I knew I wanted to be in a hospital setting, caring for patients hands-on.

Being a nurse means being an advocate for others and using critical thinking skills while working with others as a team for the best patient outcomes. Most importantly, being a nurse has taught me to remember a lot of small frustrations really are not a big deal in the grand scheme of life. I meet people every day who would absolutely love to have tomorrow to live and the opportunity to deal with life’s little frustrations.

I have a special memory that happened my first year of nursing school. I took care of an elderly woman in the ICU. During my time caring for her, I spent a lot of time talking with her daughters and sharing critical information about their mother’s condition, as well as special stories about the patient. They grew to know that I was new to Tulsa and a newlywed. After their mother passed away, they came to me with a beautiful cookbook that was also a memoir and history of Tulsa, my new city. Their note simply said “Thank you for the wonderful care you gave our mother. We hope you love Tulsa and learn to cook for your new husband.”

While I never really learned to cook, that book is still dear to my heart as it represents to me that there was more to my nursing care than just the technical part of calculating drips and running code blues. I had done everything I could to treat this patient and her daughters as I would want my own family treated. I learned early in my career it really is about the “Mother Standard of care,” which we strive to meet each day at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

The flexibility of my nursing career has been such a blessing for me as a wife and mother of three daughters.

I would encourage any young person looking for a career in healthcare to consider nursing. There are constant changes in healthcare, so there is always something new and exciting to learn. The options are unlimited with a career in nursing. I have been able to work in the ICU, ER and PACU prior to becoming a care manager-discharge planner at CTCA. Others who like less change are able to focus on a specialty their entire career. If a hospital is not for you, a nursing career can lead you to offices, schools, marketing or education, to name a few other areas.

Debbie Cancer Treatment Centers of America

I have always wanted to help people. Growing up, I always wanted to be a pediatrician and take care of children. My second child was born with Down syndrome. He was in the hospital at 11 days old with bronchitis; at 5 years old he had open heart surgery to repair a hole in his heart that he had since birth. During these many doctor visits and hospital stays, the nurses were so good to him. Not only did they treat him with kindness, caring and compassion, they treated my husband and me the same.

Through all of this, I felt in my heart that nursing was what I needed to do. I wanted to give back to patients and families the caring, compassion, kindness and understanding that we received during these difficult times.

Jennifer Jane Phillips Nowata Health Center Becoming a nurse has always been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. Although the road to becoming a nurse has been a rough one, I wouldn’t change it. I have always had the want to, willingness and determination to see my dream become a reality because to me, being able to be there and help others when they are most vulnerable and when they are unable to help themselves gives me a great sense of accomplishment and fulfillment knowing how hard I worked to be able to provide that care.

Nursing means being there for your patient and their families through their illness and helping them to cope regardless of the outcome. It means knowing at the end of the day that you gave your all and did your best for each patient. For me, nursing isn’t just a job, it’s something I was called to do. It’s in my heart and soul, and I couldn’t have chosen a better career path.

Jodi Brown Mackie College Nursing is the art and science of caring for and healing of the human body, mind and soul. This profession is not just about sutures, bandage changes and vital signs. Being a nurse presents the privilege of providing care to patients and their families during vulnerable moments.

Illness and hospitalizations are terrifying events in a patient’s life. Nurses have a chance to make a difference in the patient’s perception of their healthcare experience. Providing compassionate, expert care helps reduce patient anxiety, fosters trust in the nurse-patient relationship and promotes more positive health outcomes.

The role of nursing is diversified. A day in the life of a nurse is never the same. Technological advancements, improved treatment modalities, and patients’ health status rapidly change. Nurses meet this challenge without a blink of an eye. Patient’s wishes are advocated, the care received is compassionate and the autonomy to make decisions about delivery of care is why nursing is important.

I would not change being a nurse for anything in the world.

Michele St. John Broken Arrow

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Nurses must continually learn in changing healthcare environment edical researchers continually seek ways every day to advance health care, and that means nurses, the primary people responsible for delivering those services, must continually be updating their skills and learning how to utilize the latest technology.

Most nurses’ training comes through hospital residency programs, where they receive hands-on learning opportunities that allow them to put into practice what they learned in academic classrooms. This allows nurses to be mentored by experienced professionals, and it allows them to identify medical specialties they might like to pursue.

“The pace of change is a big challenge,” says Lynn Sund, senior vice president and chief nurse executive for Saint Francis Health System. “A commitment to lifelong learning is essential.

The nursing profession is the largest healthcare profession in the United States with over 3 million members.”

Stella M. Dotson, a registered nurse and nursing program administrator at Brown Mackie College’s Tulsa campus, says today’s nurses are providing “patient care that is evidence- and research-based rather than ‘that’s the way it’s always been done.’ ” Sund would agree. When Saint Francis is looking to hire and train its nurses, “there is a more pronounced focus on the patient experience and patient safety as skill requirements,” she says. “This means that new employers are looking for nurses who have excellent communication skills and interest in improving quality and patient safety.”

Sund explains that paying more attention to patient safety means nurses must increase their roles as patient advocates. “This means that there is a zero tolerance for working in an environment that is not safe,” she says.

“The term ‘stopping the line’ is used to ensure that nurses call attention to adverse situations.”

The healthcare industry borrowed the idea from the manufacturing industry, where any worker on an assembly

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Nurses bring smiles to the faces of their patients. Show your appreciation and garner a few smiles in return.

Show a nurse that you care (MS) — Nurses are often the first people patients see when visiting hospitals.

About 2.8 million registered nurses, including advanced practice RNs, and 690,000 licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, worked in the United States between 2008 and 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources Services Administration.

Nurses fill many roles in the medical community, assisting doctors and helping to make in-patient stays more comfortable for men and women who are ill or injured.

Specialized nurses, such as nurse practitioners, may even serve as the primary healthcare provider, offering diagnoses and writing prescriptions.

While May 6-12 has been set aside annually since 1982 to show appreciation to nurses, many people agree that they deserve recognition throughout the year. Any instance is a good time to give back to nurses, and the following are a few ways to honor the nurses in your life.

• Play caretaker to him or her. Nurses tend to the needs of others all the time, but some nurses do not get the respite they deserve. Those who want to show appreciation to a nurse who has helped them in their lives can present the nurse with a gift card for a massage and soothing spa treatment.

• Cater a meal. Offer to cater a meal at the hospital or medical office so that all nurses

on staff can benefit. If there is one nurse in particular you want to treat, give that nurse a gift card to a nearby restaurant.

• Provide foot relief. Nurses spend hours on their feet, and that can cause pain or stiffness throughout the body. Present a gift card to a store that specializes in comfort shoes or custom orthotics. A certificate for a pedicure or foot massage would no doubt be appreciated as well.

• Create a charmed existence. Charm bracelets are the rage right now, and nurses may appreciate a bracelet that highlights their career path with specific charms. For something they can wear on the job, treat nurses to a Steth-o-Charm, which is a charm that slides securely onto stethoscopes. These charms come in many designs and can make for a memorable gift.

• Give a decorative badge reel. Nurses must wear identification or have swipe cards on their person to gain access to areas of hospitals. Many badges are standard items without any flare or style. A colorful or decorative badge reel can be a nice way to brighten up a nurse’s day.

• Give verbal or handwritten thanks.

One of the easiest and most heartfelt ways to show your appreciation to nurses is to simply tell them how you feel. Offer a handwritten note or speak with a nurse in person. Such a simple gesture does not take much effort, but it is bound to make an impact.

Nurses who provide more direct patient care help maximize patients’ time in the hospital and ensure that patients’ families have the knowledge they need when their loved one is discharged.

Nurse-Patient Relationship Key to Improved Health Outcomes (Brandpoint) — The Journal for Nurses in Professional Development defines the art of nursing, the human connection between nurse and patient, as a combination of compassionate concern, openness, physical availability and empathetic attention.

Nurses from a related study who demonstrated this type of care fostered stronger relationships with patients, encouraging them to be more proactive participants in their care plan.

Nurses provide their patients with a sense of safety and calmness through simple, nonverbal communication cues such as eye contact or a reassuring touch.

While the modern healthcare industry depends on nurses far beyond the bedside, enhanced patient engagement remains nurses’ strongest tool for improving a patient’s well-being. Enhanced direct patient care helps maximize patients’ time in the hospital, and it ensures their families are equipped with the knowledge and support they need when discharged.

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the significance of the connection between nurse and patient is more important than ever. Nurses number more than 3 million in the United States alone and constitute the largest segment of the U.S. healthcare workforce. They possess what Dr. Joanne Disch, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation executive nurse fellow, refers to as the nursing lens: the unique perspective to treat the whole person and not just a specific illness or injury. This person- and family-centered care extends beyond the limits of the physical body to a person and family’s social, mental and spiritual needs.

Most nursing schools incorporate tools for building nurse-patient relationships into their curricula. Leaders at Chamberlain College of Nursing have gone a step further and made care of students a part of their educational culture, with the belief that extraordinary care of nursing students is more likely to lead to extraordi-

nary patient and family care.

“Nursing, at its core, is about caring,” says Dr. Susan Groenwald, president of Chamberlain College of Nursing. “But caring has to be more than an intention. It has to be demonstrated in concrete acts. By infusing care into all facets of our educational experience, we serve our students in a way that helps them exemplify care within the healthcare setting as clinicians and educators, positioning them to achieve the ultimate goal: improved wellbeing, empowerment and education for enhanced self-care, and increased satisfaction for patients.”

Once in the field, nurses need continued support and encouragement to enhance patient care. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, developed Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB) to bring the art of nursing back to the forefront of the profession.

The program is designed to help hospitals increase the amount of time nurses spend in direct patient care to 70 percent.

In turn, hospitals are altering practices to give nurses more time to develop strong, authentic relationships with patients and redesigning orientation programs to emphasize the importance of the nurse-patient relationship. New nurse hires are encouraged to put themselves in patients’ shoes to gain perspective and refine their bedside manner.

Hospital stays often evoke feelings of anxiety, whether it is you or a loved one being admitted, and navigating the care system during the stay and post-discharge can be daunting. Yet continuous improvement in healthcare delivery is possible through compassionate care.

Nurses who provide enhanced patient care — even through subtle body language gestures like sitting alongside the patient — can ease these stresses, bolster the nurse-patient relationship and increase overall patient satisfaction and outcomes.

line is empowered to halt production if the worker perceives a problem. It helps workers feel empowered and less intimidated to ask questions when they feel quality is being compromised or a problem has occurred or is about to occur.

That’s what nurses – and all other healthcare workers – are being asked to do today. It’s not acceptable, for example, to simply say “the doctor knows best.” If a nurse senses that something else needs to be done for the patient, it’s that nurse’s responsibility to speak up.

Learning how to utilize new technology is another constant for nurses and contributes to their ability to sense when something’s not right with how a patient is feeling.

“Technology has allowed nursing to spend more time focusing on and applying safe quality care for the patients but also allowing time to involve family in the patient care as well,” says Amy Stanley, clinical resource manager of the ICU at OSU Medical Center in Tulsa.

That technology isn’t limited to improvements in monitoring patients’ vital signs. Electronic medical records (EMR), for example, allow nurses to more clearly document a patient’s care so that everyone involved is aware of a patient’s needs and the treatment being administered.

Sund says it also contributes to patient safety because the EMR alerts the nurse to best practices and makes sure protocols are followed to prevent falls, promote skin care, and manage acute and chronic conditions such as glycemic control (managing blood glucose levels), which is particularly important for critically ill patients in an ICU. Dotson adds that electronic records provide quicker access to medical information for anyone involved in the patient’s care, and the electronic records provide increased safety checks before any medication is administered.

“Technological advances allow for earlier identification of subtle changes in the patient,” Dotson adds, “however, nurses must still focus on the patient and not rely entirely on technology.”

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NURSES Continued from page 8 Becoming a nurse is all I ever wanted to be. It was my only choice for a career, and I wouldn’t change anything for the world.

Nursing means helping people. It means making a difference in their lives in more ways than you can imagine. I also really enjoy teaching new nurses when they start in our department.

It’s so rewarding to see the light bulbs go on in their heads.

Through my career, I have received many hugs from patients and their family members. This always warms my heart. I have years of patient stories — some good and some sad. But, they have all played a role in making me the nurse I am today.

I would encourage others to become a nurse because it is a career that provides a lot of variety and many challenges.

It can be very rewarding, as well.

Yvonne Saint Francis Hospital I have always been interested in the medical field since I was a little girl. I love being able to help others.

A nurse means being able to help patients under many circumstances. As a nurse you often wear many hats. One day I might be pastoral care and the next comic relief. I enjoy being able to help my patients take their minds off being sick, even if only for a short time.

I have too many special memories to pick just one. One thing I’ve learned from being a nurse in oncology is that every day is special. Any day that I can make a difference for my patient, is a special memory to me.

Why you would encourage others to become a nurse: I would encourage others to become a nurse because it is so fulfilling. I love being able to make a difference in the lives of others. I have always said the Lord leads you where you need to be and for me He has not only led me to nursing, but CTCA as well.

Misty Cancer Treatment Centers of America To treat people, not just their disease. I started my career in healthcare working in a lab setting with little patient contact and admired the nurses I saw who cared for their patients. I wanted to become one of them.

Nursing is a profession of caring for others in their weakest, most needful moments. I work in direct patient care and my job gives me the opportunity to help impact positive changes in patient healthcare every day.

I helped a patient find a support group for a new disease that she had recently been diagnosed with. She cried tears of joy because she no longer felt so alone and different.

Nursing is one of the most versatile professions. As a nurse, you are encouraged to seek out new opportunities within the field because each new position helps to shape you as a better, more knowledgeable and more experienced care giver.

Bonnie Bailey Medical Center My exposure to nursing started at the age of 18 working as a housekeeper. I was able to see how the nurses impacted the lives of patients and their families. This experience showed me that being a nurse truly allows you to care for, and help, others.

To me, nursing means lifelong learning and development.

Nursing provides opportunities to participate in process changes and improvements with the best possible patient care and experience in a larger view. This work continues to positively impact patients and their loved ones.

There are so many special memories in my career that I can not speak of just one. I will never forget my patients and their loved ones who allow me to share life-changing moments with them. I have encountered so many wonderful people as a nurse and each one has created special memories that I will forever treasure.

I believe that nursing is a very rewarding job because you are making a difference every day. It is also a profession that offers so many opportunities to learn and grow both professionally and personally.

Tonya Oklahoma Heart Institute – Hospital

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Nursing is much more than simply giving medications and making patients well again. It means holding a hand, giving hugs, providing words of encouragement and condolence — and working tirelessly and selflessly to ensure patients are receiving the best care possible at all times.

As nurses, we are fortunate to be visitors in the lives of our patients, and can only hope to leave a positive impression on them with the compassionate care we provide. Nursing is not for everyone. It takes someone who can put their own needs aside at times to make sure the needs of others are met. However, I believe nursing is one of the most rewarding careers a person can possibly have. We are privileged to meet and care for people from all facets of life — from their best days to sometimes their worst. I believe a good nurse is better than any super hero, and the work we do often makes us feel as such.

Brittney Saint Francis Hospital I became a nurse out of the desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

Being a nurse means being an advocate for my patients and their families. I feel a responsibility to help them understand their plan of care and answer any questions they may have at a time when they are often overwhelmed.

Recently my very best friend, who was like a sister to me, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Sadly, she passed away on her birthday at the age of 45. I was so blessed to be her nurse, advocate and best friend during the last four months of her life. I was able to help her with many aspects of her care, and be available to her and her family to help them on their journey. Nothing could have prepared me for this experience, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Everything you give to your patients and their families is given back to you many times over. Nothing is more rewarding than to than to have the ability to help someone in crises and to contribute to alleviating pain and suffering.

Shelly Cancer Treatment Centers of America I was in my 30s when I believe God called me to the nursing field. I am so glad I listened to His calling. The journey has been like no other I have ever experienced. It has been extremely challenging and even exhausting at times, but the reward has been far beyond what I could have imagined. I believe my career as a nurse has expanded my ability to reach and care for others in a way that nothing else could. At the end of a 12-hour shift, there is nothing more rewarding than a patient who smiles and expresses with kind words how grateful they are for the care you gave them and how they wish you didn’t have to leave. Nursing has allowed me to care for others while sharing the love of God. I would encourage anyone who feels they are being called to nursing to embrace it and enjoy the journey because the possibilities are endless and the rewards immeasurable.

Tammy Saint Francis Hospital South At a young age, I remember thinking what an honor it would be to care for a human life during a time of need. To me, being a nurse means coming to work to serve and love others — just as Christ loves us. Nursing is a profession that allows me to work alongside an amazing group of individuals who exemplify the true meaning of compassion.

I remember the first patient I cared for who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Caring for a patient with Alzheimer’s taught me patience. I learned to slow down, speak calmly and focus on the individual for who they are within, not the illness being displayed. Little did this patient know she would forever change my life — change the way I practice as a nurse and give me a passion for a disease that affects so many people.

Nurses are given continuous learning opportunities, challenges, rewards and the knowledge that their input — no matter how small — has an effect on the lives of those around them.

Olivia Saint Francis Hospital

My desire to become a nurse started way back in high school.

My grandfather became very ill and was admitted to a hospital.

That was the first time I first had any contact with nurses. They were so caring and patient that I simply knew nursing was the profession for me.

Nursing truly is a profession where the needs of others are placed above your own and there are many instances when you realize how much patients appreciate this. For instance, I was checking in a patient for surgery one day, when he suddenly said, ‘I remember you took care of me when I had surgery five years ago, and I just want to say thank you.’ I was very surprised especially since surgery nurses usually only have brief contact with patients. The fact that he remembered me and appreciated the care I provided meant a lot to me.

Huifen Saint Francis Hospital Ever since I was three years old, I have always had the desire to be a nurse. Just the thought of becoming a nurse made me happy. I love being able to bond with and help my patients and have discovered that each patient is unique.

There are so many patients you reflect on and wonder where they are and what they are doing now. Taking care of a patient during her pregnancy often enables you to learn a lot about her as a person — her hopes, her dreams, as well as possible limitations she may be experiencing during that time. Sometimes patients come back and visit us with their babies. To me, there’s nothing better than helping a woman as she becomes a new mom.

I believe nursing is an art. I take great pride in being a registered nurse; it is a profession that is near and dear to my heart.

Kelly Warren Clinic I became a nurse because I believe that I was born with a calling. My No. 1 strength is empathy, which is why I get attached to all my patients.

I believe if you are good at something, do it well. I treat my patients like family because only then are they receiving above and beyond quality care. It’s the tight hugs and “thank you’s” from family members that validate my career choice.

Andrea Brown Mackey College Becoming a nurse was a calling for me. I knew that I wanted to serve others and felt that God was leading me to serve as a nurse.

I am a servant for those I care for and work with each and every day. By using my knowledge, skills and collaborating with others, I hope to ease pain, suffering and assist in creating moments of joy during my patients lives.

I began my career in geriatrics on a skilled nursing unit.

One of my first patients asked me, “Are you old enough to be my nurse?” I just smiled.

Nursing allows one to experience some of the most exciting, trying and sad times of a person’s life. There is a special relationship that develops between a nurse and a patient...a relationship that many find impacts how they deal with their medical condition. What a wonderful opportunity it is to share this relationship with another human being.

Stephanie Cancer Treatment Centers of America

“They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

- Maya Angelou

Interested in Nursing? Find Out About Some of the Different Types of Nurses The nursing field is composed of many different types of nurses. They range from in-home nurses who supervise individual patients to nurses in high-traffic hospitals who manage many patients at once. Here are descriptions of the various types of nursing jobs:

sion of a registered nurse. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, adult living facilities, even in private homes. Their close interaction with patients puts them in a position to observe their patients’ health status and inform their reporting nurse of any changes.

Certified nurse assistants are also known as nurses’ aides, patient care technicians, home health aides or home health assistants (HHAs). CNAs provide patients with assistance in their daily living tasks, working under the supervi-

Registered nurses have the most flexible type of nursing career. They perform a variety of duties including providing treatments, educating patients and their families about various medical conditions, and providing advice and emotional support to patients and family members. RNs may choose to specialize in areas of health care relating to a particular condition, an area of the body, a certain type of patient (for example, children), or an area of the hospital (such as the ER). RNs may also provide direction for licensed practical nurses and nurse assistants.

Find Out Who Was Named Favorite Nurse In celebration of National Nurses Week in May, Tulsa World asked readers to nominate a special nurse who they believed deserves a night out. Readers submitted a photo and/or reason for nomination online through May 1.

The winning nurse will be selected during the week of May 10 and will receive two tickets to the award-winning musical “Million Dollar Quartet” at the Performing Arts Center and a $100 VISA gift card for an evening out.

Check tulsaworld.com/contests to learn who has been chosen.

Hillcrest and Cancer Treatment Centers of America sponsored the contest.

Travel nurses are RNs who take travel assignments, working in hospitals across the country for periods of around three months at a time. They work in hospitals that are experiencing a strong shortage of nurses, and their working conditions may vary greatly from one assignment to the next. These nurses are highly paid and enjoy generous benefits, since their services are in such high demand.

They may work in any specialty held by a hospital RN, including emergency, intensive care, post-operative care,

surgical care, or almost any other nursing specialty.

Public health nurses are RNs with specialized training in community health. In addition to providing the standard RN functions within their hospital or care facility, PHNs frequently travel to patients’ homes, schools or community centers, where they work with families and individuals to find viable, accessible solutions to community health concerns. They work with local resources, articulating community health concerns to local health planners and policy makers, and assist members of the community to voice their own problems and concerns.

Licensed practical nurses work in all areas of health care, and have more training than CNAs, but less than RNs. LPNs provide basic bedside care such as taking vital signs, preparing and giving injections, applying dressings and ice packs, and monitoring the patient’s overall condition. LPNs also observe and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments, sometimes performing routine laboratory tests. They also help patients with daily activities such as bathing, dressing and personal hygiene, and some LPNs help deliver and care for infants. Licensed practical nurses may work in hospitals, nursing facilities or physicians’ clinics, and experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides.

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