Registered Nurse

What is your role with Community Healthcare System?
I am a registered nurse at St. Mary Medical Center.

What was your inspiration for getting into healthcare?
When I was growing up, I always admired nurses. I’ve always wanted to help others in need.

What is a typical day like for you?
In the Pain Clinic, it is a fast-paced workflow with pre- and post-op patients. It’s constantly assessing and reassessing and making sure the patients understand their discharge instructions and helping them on a path to wellness. I also do preparation for upcoming cases and keep an eye on what needs to be ordered. If need be, I make post-op calls to see how the patients did with their procedures. Needless to say, my days fly by, and I am grateful to work with such an amazing staff.

How long have you been employed here?
I have been a nurse for 38 years, and I have been at St. Mary for 13 of those years.

What are some of the big changes you have experienced in this position?
I have been in this position about 16 months, but some of the big changes are we have grown by adding more bays to provide more patients at one time to have procedures. I also have learned another aspect of nursing that I was not familiar with: pain control and the procedures that go with it.

What are some of your interests outside of work? What is your favorite “local gem?”
I like to knit, sew, spend time with my grandson and travel. My husband and I have been to 43 of the 50 states, and we hope to travel to the remaining seven states together.

What do you enjoy most about working at Community Healthcare System?
When I first started working here, I couldn't believe how many outreach programs Community Healthcare System had. That is one thing that has always stood out in my memory – how kind we are to not just the community but also to our own employees. We live by our mission statements and our values, which is really encouraging to me. Everybody is so friendly – from our valets and volunteers to our ancillary nurses and physicians.