Nurses day 2017

Tulsa World Supplement, Sunday, April 30, 2017

Nurses Day Celebrating these caring professionals who make such a difference in our lives

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Nursing is a work of heart Being a cancer survivor, I knew what it was like having someone take care of you when they really didn’t want to be there working, much less taking care of someone else. A little empathy can make all the difference in the world to a patient who is fighting for their life.

Being a nurse means making a difference in the lives of patients.

A special memory I have is when I had a patient come in who was extremely scared of having an IV started.

She had “numbing cream” slathered from her fingertips to her shoulder and then covered it with nearly a whole roll of plastic wrap. It took us about 10 minutes just to get the wrap removed.

I would definitely encourage others to become a nurse. If you can make a difference in just one patient’s life, that is what it is all about.

Jolisa Cancer Treatment Centers of America I enjoyed science and math in high school. I was a biology major, but I found that I really liked the personal touch of nursing. My aunt was a community health nurse in the 1960s and later worked in the inner city of Chicago as a school nurse.

Her stories were fascinating to me, and I was excited to follow her in the same career path. She spent her life learning and later moved into administration after obtaining two master’s degrees. She really demonstrated to me how nursing has many diverse applications and potential for all kinds of career options.

I have so many fond memories of my nursing education and career. When reflecting, I recall wise words in nursing school from my professor. A student was apologizing for tearing up when giving a report regarding a dire patient. Our professor stopped her apology and said very firmly, “The day you stop crying for your patients is the day you need to stop being a nurse.” Those words energize and encourage me often. My impact as a nurse is dependent on my passion for improving lives.

Although many things in life are uncertain, there is always a need for nurses. Continuous learning and job security are important. However, improving others’ quality of life returns immeasurable rewards and increases your passion for what you have the pleasure to do day after day.

Meredreth Utica Park Clinic I believe that I was called to be a nurse. I have always loved helping and serving others. I also believe in treating others the way that I would want to be treated and the way I would want my family to be treated.

Nursing is an amazing opportunity to get to know people and help them when they need it the most.

I became a nurse in 2003 and was blessed with the opportunity to care for patients in the Intensive Care Unit. Being a nurse means being there for someone to help them with their physical needs when they are at their weakest. Being a nurse also means I am an emotional support when my patients and their families are overwhelmed. Sometimes we laugh together to get through the tough of times, and sometimes we end up crying together, too.

It means the world to me to be blessed to work in a profession where we make a difference daily. I am now the Critical Care Education Specialist at OSU Medical Center. I try to infuse my passion for nursing in everything that I teach. One of my goals as an educator is to motivate other nurses to bring their best to work every day and to always give 110 percent — no matter what.

I encourage others to become a nurse because I don’t know of another profession that is as rewarding and allows you to positively impact the lives of so many people every single day.

Shapley OSU Medical Center Because I am from the Philippines, the chance of working abroad in nursing was a tremendous opportunity. As soon as I graduated and started working, I realized nursing requires a lot from a person, both physically and emotionally.

It requires a great deal of compassion, understanding and patience because ill patients need and depend on their nurses.

Before arriving in the United States, I had worked in different areas such as medical pediatrics, the emergency room and the operating room.

I have worked in Saint Francis’ Renal Dialysis unit for the past 18 years, which is the longest time I’ve ever worked in a unit. I get to know my patients very well since they come to the hospital three times a week for their treatments. In fact, they become like a part of my

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family. I have found that taking time to explain things to new patients is critical in minimizing their fear and anxiety. After the treatment, many patients express their gratitude. This is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Once a patient recovers from illness, all nurses have a sense of happiness and relief that we were able to help them.

Being a nurse is a calling and a vocation of service.

Joseph Saint Francis Hospital I have been a nurse for 25 years. Growing up, I always knew I would go to college and become a nurse. My first job in high school was in the dietary department of a local hospital. Working in that hospital cemented my desire to go into nursing, and I have never once regretted my decision.

Nursing is not a glamorous profession, but it is incomparably meaningful and rewarding. Every day I go home from working my shift and I know in my heart I have helped someone. I have made their day better and that keeps me coming back.

Nursing is not just a job to me. It is a passion. Every day I work on a team, with my patients and families being the MVPs, ensuring they are treated with dignity, kindness, respect and compassion. I am their advocate when they are voiceless, scared, alone or confused. I do my best every shift to make my patients as comfortable as possible. Nursing for me is making a positive impact on someone’s life, and I am so grateful for my calling.

My most special memory is that my oldest son has followed in my footsteps and has become a wonderful, caring nurse himself.

Nursing has been an awesome, rewarding career for me, and I always encourage others to take the plunge.

Yes, there are ups and downs, as with all careers, but the field of nursing provides the satisfaction of actually helping another human being at a deeper level.

Wendy St. John Sapulpa I was raised in a family of medical professionals who inspire me daily. Initially, I was sure of my desire to help people — that’s what I believed nurses did, day-in and day-out. After nine years in my calling, my love for nursing has grown. I serve as a nurse to influence lives, and my patients influence me. My calling is to care for someone when no one else can. I serve in any capacity I’m needed: to save a life, offer love, show respect, distribute hope and, most importantly, to be compassionate to someone in their most vulnerable time.

As a nurse, I am truly the heart of patient care. I have become selfless, because my day consists of willfully putting others before myself. I take pride in the values that nursing has instilled in me. Plus, I enjoy knowing we are doing our job correctly when we help to keep a hospital running, a physician on their toes and our patients above everything else.

I get to live a special memory each day. When I walk through the doors at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, I’m greeted with inspiring and endearing coworkers who are like family.

Nursing has its ups and downs — sometimes all in one shift. It not only strengthens you, but it is uplifting and rewarding. Nursing is a challenging profession — mentally, physically and emotionally. But if you are looking for a field that will constantly challenge you and give you the ability to help someone in need, then nursing is for you.

Jessica Cancer Treatment Centers of America Growing up, I never gave much thought to becoming a nurse. I can even remember saying so many times that it was something I could never do.

My biggest inspiration in the medical field was my late mother-in-law. I always enjoyed visiting her at work.

I enjoyed seeing how happy the residents were that she was there caring for them and seeing the difference she made in their lives.

After I’d been out of high school for 19 years, my best friend encouraged me to enroll in college so we could do it together. After some thought, I picked up the phone one morning and started making phone calls. By the next day, I was enrolled. However, I still didn’t know what I wanted to major in, although nursing kept creating an excitement in me and became my focus.

Choosing nursing was the best decision I could make.

With long hours, it’s both backbreaking and heartbreaking at times, but it’s always rewarding. I enjoy being part of a team that cares deeply for the health and well-being of the people in our care. Everyone deserves compassion and respect, and I strive to treat my patients as I would want myself or my loved ones to be treated.

Gail Hillcrest Hospital Henryetta Growing up as a child on the beautiful shores of Liberia, West Africa, I dreamed of many exciting careers.

However, the shortage of clinicians in my hometown has always driven me toward bridging the gap in healthcare. My grandmother worked tirelessly as a traditional midwife and “lay pediatrician,” sometimes walking several miles to take a sick child to the clinic for treatment or medication that she could not provide. During those formative

years, I began to cultivate the passion for caring for the sick, thus giving birth to my calling to become a nurse.

Upon immigrating to the United States in the ‘70s, my wife and I realized that nursing and healthcare in general was highly specialized and that males were indeed quite welcome to this great service. It’s been nearly 30 years since I began my career in nursing — from a nursing study to CNA to PN to RN, and this journey has been very fulfilling as evidenced by positive feedback from patients/family, administration and coworkers.

While it is true that all caregivers have experienced some negative issues in their career, I have a treasure of positive memories that stand out, including two letters written personally to me from bereaved families and sometimes the warm and endearing response I get from clients who show appreciation for professional and compassionate nursing care.

I have encouraged many of my family and friends to become nurses as a way of repaying some of the sacrifices others have made in their lives. Nursing also promotes one’s socioeconomic status in society.

Emmanuel OSU Medical Center I became a nurse because I desired a meaningful career that would allow constant growth and learning opportunities, as well as the chance to work with exemplary staff who share a common goal of providing the best possible care for those in need. Most importantly, however, I have found that being an RN allows me to have a positive impact on the long-term health and care of patients and their loved ones, and to be present for them wherever they are in their life’s journey.

As a nurse in the field of neuroscience, I am provided this opportunity every day, especially with the Saint Francis Stroke Center. A stroke can occur among all age groups, and rates fifth among all causes of death in the U.S., as well as being the leading cause of serious longterm disability.

It is a privilege to have the opportunity to care for and educate our patients and community about stroke prevention, signs and symptoms, and/or prevention of an additional stroke. I can honestly say I end each day feeling grateful that I have a career in nursing at Saint Francis.

Beth Saint Francis Hospital As a young child, I knew that I would be a nurse, even though no one in my family had much healthcare experience. Several of my dolls and stuffed animals had “injuries,” requiring Ace bandages and casts made from tape. I still have some of these dolls, with the bandages still in place.

As a nurse, I know that I will always feel challenged to learn something new. Being a nurse means being compassionate, trustworthy, ethical, a good communicator, a problem solver, a team player and a critical thinker. Most of all, it means that I have an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life daily.

Nurses are always in demand, which gives you the flexibility to get a job almost anywhere you live. Nursing also offers a wide variety of positions in a variety of departments, from bedside nursing to administrative positions, and everything in between.

Having been a nurse for 27 years, I have many memories. I’ve played video games with my pediatric patients while monitoring their chemotherapy infusions. I’ve enjoyed caring for elderly patients. I remember caring for patients with complicated problems that required long hospitalizations and the feelings of pride I had when they were finally well enough to go home. I’ve attended funerals of patients over the years and felt grateful that the family allowed me to take part in this final celebration of their life. I feel privileged to have been a part of all these lives and cherish the memories I have.

Tammy St. John Owasso Growing up, I knew that I wanted to enter the medical field so I could help others. I chose to become a nurse because of the huge demand for nurses from local hospitals — numerous job openings in every specialty imaginable — and because of multiple master’s and doctorate degree programs available to nurses who want to advance their careers.

For me nursing means using the latest evidencebased practice to care for my patients as if they were my own family. It means giving my patients hope when they are scared and being their advocate when they are most vulnerable.

I have so many special memories from nursing that it is hard to pick just one. My favorite is when a patient just finds out that their cancer is in remission. They are excited about life and go around the hospital thanking everyone they remember who were a part of their care.

It is a great feeling to be part of something so special.

I would encourage others to become a nurse because there are plenty of jobs available, you can choose a nursing specialty that suits your interests, and you can find a job with a schedule that works around your life.

Justin Cancer Treatment Centers of America

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I didn’t always aspire to be a nurse, but the progression was natural. I was extremely squeamish as a child and would nearly faint at the sight of blood, but I was a nurturer by nature and was always trying to help and take care of others.

As a teenager, I started working in a nursing home as a nurse’s aide, and I eventually ended up working as an OB tech at the hospital, where I fell in love with labor and delivery. I worked with many wonderful nurses who encouraged and inspired me to get my nursing degree. I went to nursing school while raising two young children. It was extremely challenging, but I made it through.

Nursing, to me, is about supporting people during their most joyous times in life and, sometimes, their most difficult. It’s a blessing to be able to help parents welcome new life into this world and help them transition to parenthood, and to be able to help comfort the parents who lose a baby before it is able to take its first breath.

Some of the most special memories I have are from patients expressing their gratitude for the care they have received. Nursing can be emotionally taxing, but hearing “thank you” reminds me why I do what I do. I would definitely encourage others to join the field of nursing. There are limitless specialties and career paths to choose from, and I can think of few other careers more rewarding.

Jessica Hillcrest Hospital Claremore When thinking about becoming a nurse, I could have never imagined the multiple aspects that encompass a nursing career. A nurse is a witness to those who are at their most vulnerable, a voice when they cannot speak, a protector. Seeing people at their worst encourages me to strive to be my best and to treat each patient as I would want my loved ones treated — with dignity and respect.

As a nurse, there are many highs and lows — from the heartache of losing a patient and the despair of the family, to the joy of seeing a patient recover and go home. These highs and lows remind me that life is a precious gift, and each moment shared with my patients is something to be treasured.

Being a nurse is much more than caring for patients.

It means being there for my fellow nurses — whether it is staying calm in stressful situations, giving support for whatever is needed or mentoring new nurses to help them grow to their full potential.

Looking back, I could never have imagined the stressful and rewarding times that I would experience as a nurse. The lives I have been blessed to touch have shaped me into the nurse I am today.

Robin Heart Hospital at Saint Francis I remember the exact moment I was called into nursing. While I was serving in the Marine Corps, my son was born prematurely at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. As I watched one of the NICU nurses console my new baby with a lullaby, I truly admired her compassion. She brought him so much comfort and me so much peace. I knew then that nursing would be my next career path following enlistment.

After moving home, I was accepted to OU-Tulsa College of Nursing. During my clinical rotation at OSUMC’s Emergency Department, I witnessed a cardiac arrest and was able to participate in my first resuscitation. The staff’s teamwork was so exemplary and the experience so profound, I realized I had found my niche. Not only do I love the adrenaline rush of ER nursing, but also the privilege of caring for members of my community from every walk of life. Comforting patients during their worst of times with a simple touch to let them know I’m there or an open ear to listen gives me so much purpose.

I encourage others to pursue a career in any nursing specialty to experience the reward of caring for others.

Nursing really is a work of heart.

Jessica OSU Medical Center I’m happiest when I am helping others. I was a volunteer in junior high at a local hospital and had the best experience. I saw a baby born, fed an elderly man who couldn’t feed himself, and saw nurses and aides working together to help these patients get better. It was amazing, and I was hooked.

Nursing is a labor of love — you must love what you do. My background is ER and urgent care medicine. This is an all-or-nothing job because you must come to work ready for anything.

I have a lot of memories because I’ve been a nurse for a very long time. Some are heartbreaking and some are funny, but my favorite memories have been when I have had the opportunity to teach others how to do the things you can only learn when you start hands-on training. I love the look a new nurse gets when they’re able to get that IV they thought was going to be difficult or when they look at lab results and figure out that the patient may not be having a stroke — it might be low blood sugar — and they say “Hey, I know how to fix that!”

Nursing has options; not all nurses give shots and start IVs. Some nurses are research specialists, others work in communities to solve problems, and some teach. If someone has an interest in nursing, they should

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find a good source/mentor to help them figure out if it would be a good fit for them.

Tommie St. John Clinic Urgent Care I’ve always been drawn to the healthcare field. During high school, I took a job working in a nursing home kitchen. That experience exposed me to patient care, and I got a lot of satisfaction out of helping the residents.

That’s when I decided to pursue a career in nursing.

Being a nurse is amazing. It enables us to do something for someone when they are at their most vulnerable. It allows us to provide compassionate care for the patient and their family. Healthcare challenges can be very scary. As their nurse, it is my honor and duty to be their advocate, doing everything in my power to help them navigate their journey.

Early in my nursing career I had a young patient with breast cancer. She had a long fight, and I had the honor of caring for her for many years. I became close to her and her husband, and saw their children grow. I was able to visit her at her bedside when she came to the end of her fight. It was a very special experience that I have carried with me throughout my career. She called her nurses her “soldiers.” As nurses, we fight their fight right along with them. So I soldier on for moments like this.

Although it can be taxing both emotionally and physically, the rewards are tremendous. There are so many opportunities in nursing. If you have the compassion and the drive, I would encourage you to do some research on an opportunity that might be right for you.

Cindy Cancer Treatment Centers of America As a scrub tech, I observed nurses in the operating room and admired the level of patient advocacy and leadership they demonstrated. I knew I wanted to be a part of the nursing team.

Nursing, to me, means being a patient advocate. A nurse is someone who will be with you in some of the best of times and worst of times in life. Nursing means providing the best, unbiased, non-judgmental care possible to all patients.

Probably my favorite memory from nursing was when I was part of a team that worked on a little boy’s elbow so he could get back on the baseball field. Later, that same boy ran up to me at the ball fields and said, “Look!

It’s fixed! Watch how far I can throw the ball!”

I would encourage others to pursue nursing, because it is a very rewarding career. There is nothing greater than having that sense of fulfillment when you can help someone get back on their feet. Every day I have an opportunity to make a difference in my patients’ lives.

Matt Bailey Medical Center Reflecting on my career in nursing has been an enlightening journey. I was born a caretaker and fortunate to become one in my adult life. Nursing and my patients have taught me so many lessons that are too numerous to list. Some of the most important things I’ve learned are humility, compassion, sadness and coping. Luckily the most important thing is to realize that any type of medical event affects the patient as well as the family as a whole. Understanding this has allowed me to become a better nurse, day after day. I truly love my profession.

Nursing is not for the faint of heart. Nursing is challenging, fun, and difficult. Honestly, it will test our limits as people. Nursing has allowed me to meet wonderful people to work with. When a team develops and flows, a special bond has formed and is not to be taken lightly.

At the end of the day, I am truly blessed.

Sherry OSU Medical Center I never even thought about becoming a nurse until after I was 40. That’s when I discovered that nursing truly is a calling. Compassion and knowledge go handin-hand when caring for someone. You have to know what to do and genuinely want to see them experience the best outcome. It always helps to be part of a great team, but each member must really do their part.

Being a nurse isn’t just a job title — it’s a forever thing.

You don’t stop being a nurse.

A career in nursing presents opportunities that are vast and varied — such as caring for babies, working in community health and prevention, trauma, and endof-life care. You can travel, work part-time, work two jobs, volunteer to go on missions, work at schools or even transfer to another area if you feel like you need a change. The point is wherever your particular calling leads you, you are always a nurse.

David Saint Francis Hospital South When I was a young girl I was always the one who wanted to help people if they were sick or hurt. It is an incredible feeling to be able to help someone during a difficult time in their life. Being a nurse for me is a ministry.

It’s hard to think of my favorite nursing experience because there are so many. I have met so many patients and families who have made an impact on my life, and I have learned from them. As a nurse, you get to be

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intimately involved in people’s lives and are included in their families, and that is a privilege.

I would encourage others to be a nurse because there are so many different areas and roles in nursing. Each one of those are important and fulfilling.

Becky St. John Medical Center In high school, I took a sports medicine class and discovered my interest in a career caring for others.

Nursing allowed me to be bedside with the patients daily. It seemed like the perfect profession for me, especially with the various specialty areas I could choose from.

Becoming a nurse was hard work! I take pride in the profession and my daily work. It is gratifying to see that as a caregiver I am able to positively impact others’ lives.

While working at CTCA, I met an incredible husbandand-wife duo. The woman was very ill, and her husband wanted to do something special for her. He arranged for a baby white tiger to be brought from Oklahoma City to CTCA in Tulsa. She was able to hold and bottle-feed the baby tiger for an hour, all with a beautiful smile on her face. He was constantly thinking outside the box to cheer up his wife. It was amazing to witness that kind of love and thoughtfulness. This is just one of many moments where patients and their families have made a lasting impression on my life.

Not only are there practical reasons to become a nurse, such as necessity of the job role, pay and flexibility of shifts, but it is very fulfilling to know that you have helped someone.

Valerie Cancer Treatment Centers of America I chose a career in nursing because I’ve always been intrigued by the medical field, and I wanted a career that would allow me to make a difference in others’ lives and challenge myself educationally.

A memory that stands out to me occurred during a very busy night on-call in the cardiac catheterization lab. We were treating a patient who was very unstable. We worked diligently on him, exhausting all of our resources. It was one of the most difficult cases I have encountered in the Cath Lab. We were not only able to repair the patient’s occluded artery but give this patient a second chance at life. If he hadn’t arrived when he did and received the prompt medical intervention, he wouldn’t have had such a positive outcome. It’s always a good day when you know that you have given a person a second chance at life and more time with their family.

I would encourage others to pursue a career in nursing because the possibilities are endless. It is a highly respected community with a strong support system.

The opportunities for advancement are always available, and you make connections that last a lifetime and span the globe.

Paul Oklahoma Heart Institute To me, being a nurse is not just a job, it is a calling that allows me to go to work and do the work that is part of my inner self. In the field of nursing, there are a variety of professions you can choose from, although, common characteristics of nursing, such as compassion, caring, trust, ethical and hardworking, remain part of your identity. Nursing allows you to reach out to others and help them in ways that they remember.

I remember an incident on a shift when I was charge nurse. One of my nurses had a patient that was continually complaining of pain. This patient had her gallbladder removed and was to be discharged that day. The patient continued to complain of severe stomach pain.

The primary nurse told me she had a “gut feeling” that something was wrong with this patient. Physicians were notified and came to evaluate the patient, tests were run and the patient was found to have a bleed in her abdomen, so she was taken to emergency surgery. The patient stated that because of the nurse caring and immediate action, she felt that her life had been saved.

Nursing is giving of yourself to reach out and impact the lives of others.

Joy OSU Medical Center I think my becoming a nurse was a God thing. I always wanted to become a veterinarian and take care of animals, but I ended up taking care of people. I attended the nearby junior college and began working at the local hospital at age 20. I worked for a few years before completing my Bachelor of Science in nursing. It has enabled me to take care of lots of people worldwide in my 38 years of nursing.

Nursing means giving a part of yourself to those in need — whether it be giving a blood transfusion, pain medications, a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear.

When I was working in the cardiac rehab department 25 years ago, there was a patient who was oxygen dependent and had very little stamina. His diagnosis was grave, but he came faithfully, exercising with his oxygen tank in tow. He knew that the exercise made a difference in his quality of life. He made an impact on me as well as those who were there exercising alongside him.

Nursing takes hard work, dedication and a love for others. Nursing has changed over the years, but one thing is a constant: it requires giving of yourself to those who are hurting.

Elaine St. John Endoscopy

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As I was getting ready to graduate with my first degree in health promotion, I learned that my desire to provide health education to people would best be accomplished by becoming a nurse. Before I knew it I was starting nursing school, and it was the best career decision I could have ever made.

Being a nurse means putting others before myself in their time of need, showing compassion and care to all no matter their past or differences. Romans 15:1 says “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”

There is nothing like being there for the healthy delivery of a baby after working with the mom for months to keep her baby from delivering preterm, or being able to comfort a patient as they are having a heart attack while in the cath lab. In my current role as a wound and ostomy nurse, I’ve helped a patient who was terrified of having both a urostomy and colostomy pouch related to her cancer become not only self-sufficient in care but become an advocate for others and a role model in her community.

Nursing isn’t glamorous or necessarily the most financial rewarding job, but it is rewarding to the soul and spirit. It gives you the opportunity to touch lives of those who are in need — your patient as well as their family. Nursing is an ever-changing field related to technology and advancements, which allows you to continue to grow and push yourself.

Jennifer Cancer Treatment Centers of America I became a nurse after working several years as a paramedic because I wanted to pursue other options in a medical field. Nursing was a natural fit after serving as a paramedic.

As a nurse, I have opportunities every day to provide a measure of compassion and comfort during times ranging from someone’s final moments to celebrating the birth of new life.

As a career, nursing offers many opportunities and options — from advanced degrees like nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist to licensed practical nurse.

Randy Hillcrest Hospital Claremore I became a nurse because of my family’s experience when my father was placed on hospice. During that time, the nurses who took care of him eased not only his pain and suffering but our family’s pain as well. I knew then that this is how I would like to make a difference.

Becoming a nurse gives me the ability to provide quality care, advocate for my patients and be part of a healthcare team.

I cherish being able to fulfill my goal in becoming a nurse and becoming part of an outstanding team at OSU Medical Center. This has given me the opportunity to give back to the community.

I would encourage others to become a nurse because every day is an opportunity to care for and help someone in their time of need.

Katy OSU Medical Center When I was younger, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. I always “doctored” our animals if they needed it. Our family had an encyclopedia with a picture of a skeleton and a picture of all the muscles in it, and I would stare at those pictures not really understanding how they were all connected, but still fascinated by them. I always knew I wanted to help people.

I care for elderly patients who may have dementia or other related conditions. Often patients are frustrated and have trouble expressing themselves. Sometimes, being a nurse is simply about meeting people where they are. I love that I can be helpful to someone during a time that may not be so great for them. Maybe I can make a rough time a little better. Maybe I can give them information that is useful for them. Sometimes it’s just about holding their hand or being there to let them vent their frustrations or fears.

Debbie Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital I knew from an early age that God had called me to help others. However, it wasn’t until I took a job as an ER tech while in college that I learned about nursing.

I worked with some amazing people who taught me the strength and leadership nurses hold while caring for their patients. I learned from them that nurses were the ones who truly impact patients the most.

Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling. Nursing is not what we do, it’s who we are. Nurses are compassionate, caring, hard-working, ethical and trustworthy. We have the privilege to be an advocate for our patients.

I have had the privilege to travel on medical missions to Malawi twice as well as Peru to set up clinics in small villages. Patients and their families waited in line for days for our arrival in hopes of medical care. To receive acetaminophen, worm medicine or a prayer

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from a medical professional on our team was a miracle to them. The smiles, hugs, and thank-yous from these patients and families will remain etched on my heart.

Being a nurse can be one of the hardest professions, but it is the most rewarding. There is nothing that can compare to witnessing medical miracles, and being able to help people when they need it the most is an honor.

There are many options to start with and grow throughout your nursing career. There is no better career choice if your desire is to make a difference in people’s lives.

Desiree St. John Medical Center I cannot remember a time that I did not want to be a nurse. When I was 10 years old, my mother suddenly became very ill and I wanted someone to quiet my fears. Our next-door neighbor was a nurse and the first to help. I admired the calm and tenderness she brought to our family. She was professional, knowledgeable and compassionate. I was hooked! I wanted to be that person — a registered nurse.

Being a nurse means being with people you do not know who have fears that are often unspoken and are desperately looking for answers. Being a nurse is the most exciting, rewarding and humbling experience that I could have imagined.

While I was working the night shift in a small town emergency room, an expectant mother and father came to the emergency entrance but got their camper stuck under the covered entrance. A call came out for a “thin” nurse to enter the pickup cab (that was me then) to evaluate the soon-to-be mother’s laboring progress.

I am NOT an obstetrics nurse, and, to my surprise, the mother had delivered a beautiful baby girl. I had the honor of handing the baby out the window of the pickup to the awaiting staff. To this day, I admire the brave people who work in Emergency Rooms, and Labor and Delivery.

Life will never be boring as a nurse. Sometimes it may be sad, but the people you get to interact with will enrich your world.

Jean Cancer Treatment Centers of America To me, nursing means being that one person that the patient feels they can trust or talk to when they may feel that no one else will listen. Nursing means doing what is best for the patient, no matter what. It also means taking care of patients like they are your own family. The patient always comes first.

A special memory from my nursing career was when I was wheeling a patient outside in a wheelchair to be discharged home. He thanked me for taking care of him for almost a week and for being an advocate for him by always doing what was best for him, even if it meant more work for me. He gave me a huge hug before getting in the car and told me I had found my calling as a nurse. He said he would be forever grateful for everything I did for him and that he would never forget me. This brought happy tears to my eyes. Moments like these remind me how rewarding my job is as a nurse, even through the stressful times.

I would encourage others to become a nurse because it is the most rewarding job ever. I love caring for others. Through all the tough times, that one smile or one “thank you” you get from each patient makes it all worth it. I cannot imagine doing anything else. I truly love my job.

Shelby Hillcrest Medical Center I was an owner-operator of a finance company for 15 years. I lost my business in 2007 due to an economic downturn. In the summer of 2008, I entered an EMT program at Rogers State University, obtained my paramedic licensure in 2010 and graduated from nursing school in 2012.

I chose the medical field and inevitably became a registered nurse for many reasons. I was 34 years old when I lost my company. The choice to become a nurse was influenced by individuals that were well-respected in the field. At my age, I was looking for a career that would be challenging, rewarding, educational and team driven. I was also looking for a career that could meet my financial needs. Nursing has provided and exceeded all of my expectations.

Nursing is caring. It is a complex, team-driven force focused on promotion of health and well-being. I work in an emergency room setting. The ER provides constant challenges and requires critical thinking skills to perform well. There are challenging moments. The most exhilarating part of working as a nurse in the ER are those times when chaos ensues only to find a team of well-trained professionals ready to face the challenge and manage the situation.

Norrie OSU Medical Center Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a nurse.

My mom was a nurse, and because I always looked up to her in everything — particularly her abilities as a nurse — I decided early on that I wanted to be a nurse, too. My mom was a great example of how to care for and show love and compassion for people. I sincerely hope that I am able to have as much of an impact on fellow nurses and my family as my mom did on me.

In my role as a care guidance nurse, I make every effort to take the burden off of patients and families,

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address all of their questions and concerns, and guide them through a process that can seem overwhelming at times. It is a blessing and a privilege to be with patients and family members at all stages of life.

Allison Warren Clinic I was an eyewitness to a car accident during my college years. While traumatic, it was eye opening for me because my inborn desire to help kicked in, but it was hindered when I realized I didn’t have a clue how to help. While I enjoyed my time as a social worker, I realized my passion was really nursing. I finished my ADN, and a couple of years later received my BSN. Not only is the physical care of the patient important to me, but providing mental, emotional and spiritual care has been among the most meaningful experiences of my nursing career. Nursing means taking care of the whole patient. Sometimes patients just need someone to listen to them. The stress of hospitalization and acute illness can make patients seem difficult, so it’s very important that I remain at my best when patients seem to be at their worst.

I love when I’m out in public and someone comes up to me and says, “You were my nurse when I was in the hospital, and I really appreciate all you did for me.” This means so much to me that they remember me and the impact I made on their lives.

When I come home from work, sometimes I’m exhausted physically and emotionally, but I know that I made a difference. Caring for someone when they need it the most, along with the self-fulfillment that goes with this job, beats the long hours, frustrating situations and hard work, hands down!

Megan St. John Broken Arrow I’ve known I wanted to be a nurse since I was 16, and I knew I wanted to work in oncology. However, I didn’t have any significant life events that drew me to it. I have just always known this is what I am supposed to do.

As a nurse, you are invited into people’s most private moments: a birth, a death, receiving good news or very bad news. I find that such an incredible honor. My role in oncology means I am often there for the bad stuff. My goal is to make that bad stuff the best experience it can be by providing comfort and support, and making sure they have education and understand what may come next. Being a nurse means being present for my patients in whatever capacity they need.

When I worked in our stem cell transplant unit, I had a patient who did not speak English. He had a lot of issues, and once spent four months as an inpatient.

In the beginning his daughter was there and would translate for us and I discovered that he and I had a very similar sense of humor. Over time, we didn’t need anyone to translate as we could make each other laugh simply by a look or me using the very few Spanish words I had learned in order to tease him. I will never forget this patient.

I would encourage those who have a heart for people and a great deal of stamina to become a nurse.

Stacy Cancer Treatment Centers of America I chose to leave the music industry because I wanted a career where I could help people. I learned that there was a shortage of men in nursing and that it should take approximately two years to complete the educational components required to become a nurse.

Nursing is a great career to serve others through. The options and potential impact are limitless — you can help your neighbor down the street or you can work toward reducing disease on a national or international level.

A memory that has stuck with me happened when I was stopped in a Tulsa burger joint by a stranger who asked me if I worked in a hospital. After telling her that I do, the person asked if I remembered her. She then told me that I saved her life, because I spent time listening to her and being honest with her. I was speechless and kind of blundered through a “thank you” for her generosity, after which she insisted that she should thank me.

I’m still struck by the effort that this near-stranger took to let me know about the impact I had on her life.

Nursing is a gratifying career for those who want to spend their lives in service to others. There is a need for more nurses, and the demand will likely only increase as time moves on. I am totally satisfied with my decision to change my career from music to nursing.

Daniel Hillcrest Hospital Cushing I became a nurse because I wanted to make a difference. Many people say that, but only a few actually succeed at it. Prior to becoming one, I encountered nurses who left me with a positive, lasting impression. I met people who cared about others and went above and beyond to help during their patients’ difficult times.

During nursing school, I noticed that this profession has something for everyone. There are so many different areas of nursing. I realized that if I were to get tired of one area, there are many more from which to choose.

Since becoming a trauma nurse, I have seen people experiencing their worst possible days. I like to think this is when I do my best work — when I am assisting those in need through their most terrible times.

Jack Saint Francis Hospital

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Nurses

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Nursing is my way of giving back to the community.

My position allows me to assist and support patients to give them a higher level of care and better quality of life. It is a rewarding profession to pursue, enabling me to help others maintain and improve their health.

Pat OSU Medical Center I moved in with my grandparents and took care of my grandfather when he was dying of lung cancer. I was the only person he would take his medicine for. After he passed away, I felt a pull to go to nursing school. I believe it was not a choice, but a calling.

I have had the privilege to care for patients diagnosed with cancer, see some get well and go home, and sometimes I’ve been the one to hold their hand as they exit this life. There is no greater privilege.

During my nursing career: I gave a young woman her first chemotherapy after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was terrified. She had a small child and was afraid that she would not get to raise her. We talked, and she calmed down and was able to receive her chemotherapy without any complications. She asked if she could hug me afterward, and she told me that I made the experience much better for her than she thought it could be. She came back to see me about a year and a half later, after receiving good health news. Those times make all of the hard ones well worth it.

Nursing is a call to the service of others. When you are having a terrible day yourself, you have a patient smile at you, thank you or hug you, and it makes you realize what is important. It makes you realize that you get to make a living making someone else’s day better in some small way.

Sherry Cancer Treatment Centers of America I decided to become a nurse because I’ve always enjoyed caring for others.

I felt that nursing would be a good opportunity to get to care for others while being able to make their situation as enjoyable as possible.

To me, nursing means providing compassionate care and being a voice for those in need when they’re at their most vulnerable and, sometimes, weakest moments. It means being kind, respectful, trustworthy and knowledgeable.

A special memory I’ll always have is seeing a former patient years after a very scary encounter. While I was working at a clinic, a gentleman came in with chest pain. Shortly after arrival, my patient went into cardiac arrest. My colleagues and I quickly initiated CPR and provided care until EMS arrived. I’ve thought of him and wondered about his outcome many times over the years. About five years later, I walked to the waiting room of the clinic to find him as a patient again. Seeing his face was such a great surprise! He was very grateful for the services he received. Even though we don’t do our job for recognition or thank yous, hearing him express his gratitude was such a sweet moment.

There are so many different things you can do as a nurse, and you constantly have the opportunity to learn and grow in so many ways. Nursing is always changing, and that keeps it challenging and exciting.

Tara Hillcrest Hospital South When I was a young girl, my parents, three siblings and I had been sick with a stomach flu for days. My parents were lethargic and unable to care for us. We didn’t have clean clothes and our house was in disarray. You can imagine my delight when my two aunts came over early on a Sunday morning after they had worked the night shift at a hospital 20 miles away. They worked tirelessly for hours. They took care of us and met all of our personal needs. They washed clothes and cleaned until our house sparkled.

I decided right then that I wanted to be a nurse like my aunts. They inspired me and challenged me to “not merely look out for my own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).

With the Lord’s help, I’ve tried to do exactly that. As a nurse since 1979, it’s been my delight to give others hope when joy feels far away.

Carol Saint Francis Hospital My desire to become a nurse started when I was a little girl. I can’t think of a time when I wanted to do anything else career-wise.

I love being a nurse and helping others.

Nursing means being able to make a difference in someone’s life every day. Whether it is being an advocate for my patient or consoling a family while their loved one takes their last breath, nursing allows me to make a difference. Knowing that I made a difference at the end of my shift is the best reward.

Being a nurse for almost 10 years, I have memories, good and bad. One of my most memorable experi-

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ences is when I was caring for a patient who had just been diagnosed with renal carcinoma. She didn’t have a lot of family that could visit and be with her during this time, so I would take extra time and just listen to her and let her express her worries and fears.

She told me once that just those few extra moments that I spent with her made all the difference. I am so glad I had the privilege of caring for her throughout her whole stay at the hospital and was able to make a difference.

I would encourage others to become a nurse. There are many avenues you can take, from administration to bedside nursing. Nursing is a challenging career, but it’s also very rewarding.

Ashley Jane Phillips Medical Center I always knew that I wanted a profession so I could help people in a practical way. When I was in high school, I thought about teaching, but I was more drawn to the health field.

Now I get to meet physical needs, and I still get to teach every day.

As a nurse, I have the privilege of speaking hope and healing into people’s lives every day. I am able to be there when people are the most vulnerable and scared or in pain to offer encouragement, knowledge, a hand to hold, an embrace or a prayer. No other profession I know of allows you to do this in the same way. I also get to be there and rejoice with them when they get good news or see improvement. It makes it all worthwhile.

One of my favorite patients was from England, and she was battling leukemia after having already won her battle with breast cancer. She was a joy, and we would have tea in the mornings from her little tea kettle she kept in her room. She went into remission for the second time and decided to volunteer at the hospital. I love to see people’s strength in action!

I would encourage those individuals who are willing to work hard, put others’ needs before their own and put their hearts into what they do to definitely consider nursing. It isn’t always easy, but in the end, you get to help make a difference in people’s lives (and they make a difference in yours).

Amber Cancer Treatment Centers of America I became a nurse so I would have the opportunity to positively impact other’s lives. As a nurse, my goal is to help others feel better and to make a difference in their lives. I want to be able to help someone who is in a health crisis and teach them how to manage their health so that it will make a difference in their outcome.

In nursing, no two days are alike, and there is always something new to figure out. During my career, I’ve found that with each new day, there is something new and different to experience.

Nursing is not a job, but rather a way of life. I wouldn’t trade anything for the amazing experience I’ve been privileged to call my career as a nurse. It has truly taught me about life.

Michelle Saint Francis Home Health I was called to be a nurse after a personal illness. My LPN was an amazing patient advocate who inspired me to become a nurse. Nursing is a calling, enabling us to be the light in someone’s darkest moment. My nursing voice is for those who cannot express their vulnerability and to empower them to take charge.

One of my favorite fields has been hospice nursing. My patients have ranged from two weeks to 102 years old. It is a privilege to travel that last journey with someone and their families.

My job is to help my patient to put closure on life experiences before they start their eternal journey.

One of my favorite memories is of a patient who was a veteran in his 80s. He was very angry that he would not see his grandson grow up. I helped him make audio tapes for his grandson. “Wisdom from Papa” was a 20tape journey recorded for his grandson that included his grandpa’s wisdom for his 16th birthday, his first date, first car, how to treat a lady, his wedding, his first child and many other milestones.

He wanted me to give these tapes to his wife and children after his funeral. I carried out his wishes. As I passed out the tapes, his wife handed one to me. It was a surprise, and I still cherish his words of wisdom.

Nursing is exciting and very rewarding! We are very passionate people. We are a family. It’s an honor to call myself a nurse.

Lori Jane Phillips Nowata I really liked chemistry and the science classes. I thought I would work in a laboratory, but after my first shadowing in the laboratory I realized I wanted more patient interaction. Nursing was an obvious choice for that. I have always been fascinated by how the body works.

On a daily basis I am given the opportunity to help patients in so many ways — in the healing process or adjusting to changes in their bodies. As a supervisor, I now get to help others find the opportunities I have been given.

One special memory in my 33 years of nursing was when I had a patient who was nearing the end of his battle with cancer. He was a younger man with two young sons, ages 5 and 7. I discussed his family, his disease and his battle with him over the several weeks that I was his primary nurse. Being a person who has lost a parent during childhood, I talked to him about the importance of talking to his boys. What a gift he

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could give them to help them understand the process!

This could impact them the rest of their lives. One of the most difficult days was the day he wanted me there when he told them he was dying. A lot of tears were shed by all of us. I feel that this day was as rewarding as the days we have saved a life!

There are so many opportunities and avenues to follow in nursing. Both of my daughters have followed my footsteps.

Carol Cancer Treatment Centers of America When I was young, my favorite aunt was a nurse, and I wanted so badly to be just like her. As I grew up, I had an innate desire to take care of people. I knew I wanted hands-on experience making a difference in peoples’ lives.

The patients I meet are not usually having their best day so my role is to educate, encourage and ease their pain so that they are able to get back to having their best day.

Being a professional nurse means so many things and holds many responsibilities. A nurse is someone who has to be trusted, who is kind and respectful of others.

Sometimes you are a shoulder to cry on; to others you are the listener to the funny jokes from a patient who needs a little more of your time; sometimes you are the much needed smile that helps ease a patient’s anxieties.

I have learned that being a nurse is all about caring. It may be my career, but it’s also my joy, what I live for and what I love to do. Nursing will never just be a job to me, and there isn’t another career like it for me.

If you have a desire to make a difference in someone’s life while helping others, I strongly encourage you to become a nurse. It’s such a rewarding career that I recommend it to anyone with a kind, compassionate heart for the care and concern of others.

Becky Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital As a pediatric oncology nurse, I’m not only helping my patient, but caring for their entire family. I’ve always loved being around children, so I knew pediatrics would be a good fit for me. I also love being a part of trying to cure cancer.

My hope is that one day my specialty won’t exist because cancer is a thing of the past.

Nursing isn’t just about taking care of my patients’ medical needs, but also their emotional needs. No child wants to be in the hospital, and no parent wants to see their child in the hospital. I hope I can make their day a little easier, even if it’s the worst day of their lives.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine,” and I try to exemplify that daily for my patients and their families.

Kristin The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis People always ask you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” There was never a question when I was younger — I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. My mom inspired me to be the nurse I am today and showed me what it means to truly be compassionate.

Nursing to me means an opportunity to carry on a family tradition of helping and serving others who can’t care for themselves.

Everybody has their specialty areas in nursing, but it’s important when you’re in the hospital to be a nurse for everyone. Recently, I was on my way to lunch and met an elderly lady needing assistance getting out of the restroom. She was obviously upset, and I asked her how her day was. She informed me she just lost her husband of 30-plus years. I took her to the cafeteria, got her cookies and a drink, sat with her and gave her a listening ear. It’s important as nurses to serve all persons no matter where we are.

I would encourage others to become a nurse if they want to make a difference. Nursing opens up many doors I never thought possible. I am thankful I have been given the opportunity to be a nurse and have an impact on people’s lives.

Sarah St. John Medical Center

Nursing is the toughest job you’ll ever love.

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Footsteps in NURSING Here is a peek into the lives of local nurses who love what they do.

OSUMC nurses can hone their skills at fair Any nurse will tell you that nursing is a calling, not a job. These passionate and skilled caregivers often advance their expertise through continuing education.

Most hospital departments provide skills fairs, and the Emergency Department is no exception.

Shapley Bates is an education specialist at OSU Medical Center’s Education Department.

“I have worked at OSU Medical Center for all of my 13 years as a registered nurse,” says Bates.

“I started out as a staff RN in the ICU, clinical coordinator/charge nurse in the ICU, assistant clinical resource manager in the ICU, and now I am the critical care education specialist for OSU Medical Center.”

A typical day for Shapley changes all of the time, but the one constant is helping and serv-

Jessica Bautista

Shapley Bates

ing other nurses through education.

“I coordinate and teach critical care classes; the Critical Care Nurse Residency; multiple classes such as Basic Dysrhythmia, Hemodynamic Monitoring, 12 lead EKG; and many other educational opportunities. I also coordinate and teach nursing orientation,” Shapley says. “I am instructor for all AHA classes such as ACLS, PALS and BLS, and I manage our Heart Code Program.

“One day you might find me at my desk planning for the next

education opportunity, rounding on the floors, answering questions from nurses or teaching a class to a room full of nurses or nursing assistants,“ she adds.

Shapley hosts Critical Skills Fairs that ER nurses attend. Jessica Bautista has attended them during her six years at OSUMC. “As an ER nurse, you must be prepared for anything,” says Bautista.

“Emergency medicine is an amazing field to work in. I must always be mentally alert so that I can recognize each

patient’s level of acuity and then prioritize accordingly. I enjoy staying on my toes and being able to provide such care to patients during their greatest time of need. It is a surreal experience to know that your very actions are sometimes the difference between life and death.”

Bautista says she has no typical day. She may go from caring for patients with low acuity emergencies, such as flu-like symptoms or possible fractures, to treating those with life threatening emergencies, such as chest pain, shortness of breath or even cardiac arrest.

Both women recognize the benefits of continuing education because nursing is a knowledgebased profession. Those who continue to finetune their nursing skills increase their ability to care for their patients.

Hillcrest medical/surgical nurse living his passion The average nurse in a hospital setting walks 7 to 8 miles during their shift.

Nurses love what they do, but at the end of the day, it’s a stressful job that takes all they have — physically, mentally, emotionally and professionally.

Ian Watteau, a medical/ surgical nurse at Hillcrest Hospital South, knows this well.

“I like the challenge and the fast-paced nature of nursing, and I especially like making a difference in people’s lives,” says Watteau. “I really feel like I’m serving the citizens of Green Country in a way that is akin to a firefighter or a paramedic.”

On a typical day, Watteau wakes up at 5:30 a.m. and clocks in by 6:23 a.m. He gets the report from the night nurse and hits the ground running taking care of five or six patients’ varied needs

Ian Watteau and family

throughout the day.

“Nursing in the medical-surgical setting can be very intense,” Watteau explains. “We do our best to get our patients’ pain under control and to call the patient’s doctor when needed. As nurses, we love what we do, but it’s definitely a challenge.”

Watteau has a soft spot for anyone with cancer because his Dad died in his early 50s from the disease. He remembers helping one special patient who was battling cancer.

“There was a nice,

old man with a country accent who had cancer in his stomach. He came to my floor after surgery, and I went to work right away on getting him admitted and his pain under control,” Watteau recalls.

“I could tell he was ‘country strong.’ So when he told me that I needed to do something about his pain, I knew he really meant it. I did everything I could, and I stayed on top of his pain my whole shift.”

Later, the man’s daughter met Watteau in the

hallway, and she told him that he was doing an amazing job of managing her father’s pain. She also commented on how pleasant and nice Watteau was with them both.

“I feel like I am a little too serious sometimes as I try to keep everything very professional,” Watteau says. “So when someone compliments me like that, it really means a lot.”

The professional demeanor that Watteau strives to convey is especially important when he interacts with female patients who have experienced sexual trauma.

“One woman told me around the time she was going to be discharged from the hospital that she never likes to have a male nurse because of what happened to her in the past, but she said I made her feel very comfortable, and she thanked me for that, “Watteau says. “That was awesome to hear.”

St. John IPDU program helps new graduate nurses develop their skills while practicing with preceptors

Greg Poirier & Julie Griffin

Educational opportunities abound for someone who is interested in pursuing a career in nursing.

St. John Medical Center goes an extra step in its commitment to equipping nurses by offering a oneyear, comprehensive orientation program for new graduate nurses. The individualized program is offered through St. John’s Innovative Professional Development Unit (IPDU), a progressive cardiopulmonary renal unit that gives nurses an opportunity to develop their skills while practicing alongside experienced preceptors.

During this program the nurses focus on developing critical thinking, building self-confidence, mastering skills and cultivating professionalism.

Some of the benefits include: • Experience in a progressive cardiopulmonary renal unit • Shadowing-enhanced observation experiences in other departments • Mentoring and peer support guided by a clinical coordinator • Low nurse-to-patient ratio The IPDU helps nurses transition to successful lifelong careers in nursing, and St. John is seeing positive trends in retention for those who graduate from the program.

“Every nurse wishes they had an opportunity to have spent a year in a nurturing educational environment like this,” says Greg Poirier, IPDU nurse manager. “To have this kind of support to help you be successful as a nurse is invaluable.”

Julie Griffin, who has been a nurse with St. John since 2012, has seen the program grow from the time it started in 2013. Now an IPDU clinical lead nurse, Griffin has an active role in helping graduate nurses develop their professional skills.

“I had never had a job in the healthcare field before,” Griffin says. “For those who aren’t familiar with nursing, it involves on-the-job learning. You learn how to think and you learn the theories, but actual nursing skills and learning how to deal with people is all very much learned on the job.

“The learning curve is extremely steep, and you see a lot of burnout,” she adds. “It’s a national problem, especially with nurses who think they will be doing one thing — taking care of patients — not realizing you have a lot of other tasks as well.”

The typical orientation process when Griffin started was eight weeks for nurses to get their bearings.

It simply wasn’t enough, and nurses needed more support.

Griffin was excited when she learned that St. John was going to turn her nursing unit into a devoted educational force for nurses.

“We were to take five new grads, and teach and nurture them, giving them a year-long educational orientation experience,” recalls Griffin of the first IPDU nursing group. “The difference it has made for these new grads has been incredible. I wish I had been able to have that experience.”

CTCA values ‘Mother Standard of Care’

Navigating cancer at Saint Francis

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) operates on a patientcentered model known as the Mother Standard of Care that Justin Alwardt combines the latest in medical treatments with a compassionate and nurturing environment.

Each CTCA employee knows it’s his or her mission to deliver on that promise.

It’s why registered nurses such as Stacy Walker and Justin Alwardt chose to work at the Tulsa hospital.

It holds special meaning for Walker because she is the mother of two young children and her own mother died of cancer. She became a nurse nine years ago, working in general surgery, but Walker switched to oncology after watching her mother battle the disease.

“After my mom died of colon cancer, my priorities changed, and I decided to make the move to CTCA to help other cancer patients and their families,” Walker says. “Working in oncology can be sad at times; however, it has never been depressing.

“We form relationships with our patients on a personal level,” Walker adds. “My favorite part about working at CTCA is when my patients are in remission and I see them walking the halls for check-ups, not on the surgical table.”

Alwardt has been a nurse for five years and understands how people might think working full time with cancer patients would be difficult.

“In nursing school, we were trained to be sympathetic and compassionate rather than empathetic,” Alwardt

Everyone can between use a friend — providers and especially when to be able to you’re dealing provide answers with a disease to questions/ such as cancer. concerns in a That’s the idea timely manner behind the for the patient.” role of nurse Saint Francis navigators at nurse navigator Saint Francis Elizabeth Cancer Center.

“Libby” Stewart They provide specializes in Treatha Rayford & Libby Stewart oncology lung cancer. She patients with joined Saint a personal advocate to help explain Francis six years ago and started the after a cancer diagnosis and then are nurse navigator program there. She had available to walk beside the patient worked in that role previously at an outthrough their treatment. They provide of-state hospital. “Nurse navigation has support as practical as holding a really taken off in the last seven to eight hand to as complex as coordinating years,” Stewart says. treatment plans.

The idea of nurse navigation, Stewart “The biggest thing we do as nurse explains, goes back to Dr. Harold navigators is provide information Freeman, an oncologist in New York to empower patients to understand with many poor patients who were what their treatments do,” says Treatha not seeking help until their cancer had Rayford, one of three full-time and advanced into later stages. They either one part-time nurse navigators at the lacked the knowledge or access to Saint Francis Cancer Center. Rayford getting help earlier, so he established specializes in breast cancer. She’s been the first “patient navigator” position a nurse for more than 30 years. It’s in 1990 to help them find their way only been in the last year that Rayford through the medical system. From became a nurse navigator. there, the concept grew to include For her, it starts when someone registered nurses helping cancer comes to the Breast Center for a patients. mammogram. If that test detects Both Rayford and Stewart say that something, doctors take a second first working in more traditional nursing look, and then perform a biopsy. “I’m roles with oncology patients provides the person who often contacts the them with a great base of knowledge to patient to confirm the results,” Rayford help explain procedures. says, “And that’s just the start — nurse “This role is often just as important navigators continue with patients as the physical care,” Rayford says. through all the treatments as needed.

“How well the patient does is often “A navigator’s role is to break based on how they feel emotionally. down barriers to care, facilitate timely We’re, in a sense, cheerleaders for communication and coordination of them. It’s a journey, and we’re there tests, procedures and appointments with them.”

says. “Being sympathetic and compassionate means you care about your patient’s suffering and want to relieve it.

Being empathetic means Stacy Walker you feel your patient’s suffering and pain as if it was your own, which is not healthy and can cause you to burn out.

“If you can grasp this concept, then working in oncology will be rewarding rather than depressing and you can give your patients hope.”

At CTCA, “HOPE” means employees are Helping others in need, taking Ownership in all they do, acting Professional at all times, and being fully Engaged in relationships and the work they do.

Alwardt and Walker both assist during surgeries and have seen some amazing things.

“Our goal is always to improve our patients’ quality of life and give them hope,” Alwardt says. “Being part of a multidisciplinary team that is constantly performing potentially life-changing procedures that help improve our patients’ quality of life is very rewarding.”

Walker agrees and encourages others to pursue nursing as a profession.

“There is a high demand for nurses, which translates into flexible schedules and many opportunities for employment,” she says. “Nursing is a difficult profession for various reasons, but it can be very rewarding.”

To learn about nursing opportunities at CTCA, visit oklahomajobs.cancercenter.com.

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Show a nurse that you care (MCS) — Nurses are often the first people patients see when visiting hospitals. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources Services Administration, there were 2.8 million registered nurses, including advanced practice RNs, and 690,000 licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, in the United States between the years of 2008 and 2010.

Nurses fill many roles in the medical community, assisting doctors and helping to make in-patient stays more comfortable for men, women and children who are ill or injured. Specialized nurses, such as nurse practitioners, may even serve as the primary health-care provider, offering diagnoses and writing prescriptions.

While there is a specific week set aside to show appreciation to nurses each year, many people agree that these caring professionals 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 don’t get the respite they deserve. Those who want to show appreciation to a nurse who has helped them 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 local restaurant.

• Provide foot relief.

Nurses spend hours on their feet, and that can cause pain or stiffness throughout the body. Present them with a gift card to a store that specializes in comfort shoes or custom orthotics. A certificate for a pedicure or foot massage would be appreciated as well.

• Charm them. Charm bracelets are a popular gift, 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 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 doesn’t take a big amount of effort, but it’s sure to make an impact that will stay with the nurse.

Salute to Nurses Contest runs April 30 through May 21 National Nurses Week is May 6-12. In celebration, Tulsa World is asking readers to nominate an outstanding nurse who they believe deserves special recognition. Nominations will be accepted at tulsaworld.com/contests from April 30-May 12. Please submit a photo and the reason you think this nurse is special.

Readers may vote May 13-21 for their favorite among the nominees.

The winning nurse will be contacted May 22 and will receive a facial and makeup touchup from Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Be sure to check tulsaworld.com/contests during the week of May 22 to learn which deserving nurse has been selected.

Hillcrest Healthcare, Cancer Treatment Centers of America and OSU Medical Center are sponsoring the contest.

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NURSES DAY

TULSA WORLD SUPPLEMENT