Compassion drives RN’s career
By James Coburn, staff writer
Being a service-oriented nurse has always been a motivating force for Jodi Stanley, RN, Community Hospital North. The hospital takes care of its patients, she said.
Being a compassionate person has enriched Stanley as a nurse and in her personal life, she said. She is grateful for comforting patients’ fears.
“It gives you a feel-good about your choices in a profession,” Stanley said. “We see six to eight patients a day. It’s normal for us, but the patients are scared. A compassionate person makes a big difference.”
She entered the nursing field 23 years ago after earning her Associate degree in Nursing at Rose State College in Midwest City. Her early years were with INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center. Now in her tenth year with Community, Stanley serves in the post anesthesia recovery unit where she gently awakens patients, sees that their pain is controlled, and their vital signs are good.
At first, she worked on the med/surg floor where patients spent a night or two. From there she became a resource nurse assisting patients being discharged. She then entered the realm of the PACU unit. Stanley compliments the nursing staff for their consistency.
“I would say that we have a very strong camaraderie. We work good together, we’re a good team. If there’s nurses that are having some challenges with a patient, everybody goes over to help. You’re never by yourself. You have a strong relationship with all the nurses that you work with. So, I like that.”
The longevity of the nursing staff speaks well of an atmosphere of shared governance where nurses’ opinions matter. Nurses bring their learned experiences to the forefront of building their careers.
The nursing staff is updated on best practices by having quarterly staff meetings. These staff meetings occur sooner when necessary. Nurses learn of impending changes.
Community Hospital is a specialty hospital with two locations, one on the North side of the city at 9800 Broadway Extension and the other on the South side of OKC off SW 89th Street.
BlueCross Blue Shield recognizes Community Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacements, as well as spine surgery. These centers have lower complication rates and fewer hospital readmissions.
“Every patient and situations are different. You can never (base a decision) of one scenario. You always must read the patient, how they’re doing and what’s going on with them. I think you learn that as the years go by.” Stanley explained.
She has gotten to know most of her previous patients when working in other units. But most of her patients in the post anesthesia recovery unit will not remember her because of the anesthesia, she said. However, patients remember Community Hospital, and often return there for different surgeries.
At times she misses seeing her med/surg patients when they improve enough to return home. But Stanley will always be grateful for being the friendly face they wake-up to.
“They’re always full of gratitude and are thankful you’re there with them,” Stanley added.
She will not only spend time assisting patients but will answer questions from nursing students coming through the hospital during clinicals. She reminds them of the importance of love and patience.
“Be in the moment. Be there during that vulnerability that they’re going through,” Stanley says.
Students enter a myriad of worlds within hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and hospice. Stanley tells them to absorb every experience and follow their passion.
“I tell nursing students a lot that starting in med/surg is good instead of going straight into a specialty because you see a wide-range of patients,” she said. “Later it kind of helps you with your critical thinking when you see something that’s not right. When you go into a specialty, I think it helps nurses later on.”
Nursing requires a lot of energy and is often physically demanding. A lot of nurses keep track of their steps, finding they easily walk 10,000 steps a day, Stanley said.
Stanley also takes walks on she and her husband’s 10 acres. Occasionally she will see a few critters there, too.
“My husband doesn’t tell me if there’s snakes because I would want to move,” she said.
They have cattle and when their kids were living at home, they had other animals. She and her husband like being grandparents. They have three adult children and four dogs. The family enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors at the lake.
