story and photo by
James Coburn, Staff Writer
Marilyn Nokes loves med/surg nursing best because it encompasses all the functions of the body.
“I like to figure out what is wrong with people when they have problems,” said Nokes, RN, Community Hospital North, located in Oklahoma City.
The camaraderie is always most important for a good team. It takes the whole team here – dietary, CNAs, housekeeping. It takes all of us to keep this place running.”
Nokes discovered early that she could make a difference in patient care as a hospital certified nurse aide. It inspired her to go to nursing school.
Her career has included ICU, employee health, pulmonary rehabilitation, and she was a director of nursing at a long-term care center.
“I think it’s very important to do that job because you realize why nurses are in such a hurry,” she said.
Today, she has been a registered nurse for more than three decades. Nokes earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing. Today, she enjoys mentoring nursing students coming to the hospital to learn from experienced nurses.
“It’s nice to work with them. Often, it’s their first semester so this is all new to them. They’re a little nervous and not sure if they can make it. But I encourage them. I say, ‘Yes, you can make it and we need you, so please finish.’ We have a lot of machinery we hook up to with IVs. We have a lot of beepers and noise going on. So, you work with them and explain what it does and why it’s doing it.”
She found a dedicated team when she came to Community Hospital North a year ago. The team pulls together for patient centered care. Nurses depend on one another by sharing ideas about best practices. Be prepared for the expected and unexpected, she said.
“And you’ve got to listen carefully and do your own investigation because sometimes things aren’t obvious,” she explained.
At times Nokes sees familiar faces returning to Community Hospital for different procedures. It’s a compliment to the staff.
An empathetic nurse with good listening skills helps patients feel comfortable about expressing their concerns, she continued. Everybody is different. So, Nokes learns what can make their hospitalization experience even better.
Patients are not actually complaining. They are afraid, she added.
“Nobody asks to be in the hospital. This is all new to patients that are coming in. We need to take time to explain to them what’s going on,” Nokes said.
She believes in a holistic approach extending to the family who become primary caregivers at home.
“That’s really important not to forget. Sometimes people forget that they are part of the picture,” Nokes said.
She has also learned to be flexible in her career. It has meant a lot for Nokes to spend time with families during end-of-life care. All aspects of nursing have given her a chance to give back.
“I think it’s always better if you can work with people on their problems and help them solve things,” Nokes said. “It’s really influenced me. It’s what keeps me going every day, the people that I work with and the patients that I have.”
Nokes’ example is rubbing off on her own family. She has a great-nephew who plans for a nursing career in Oklahoma.
“I said, ‘You go for it.’”
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2023, men represent nearly 12% of all licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners.
The percentage of nurses who are men has grown by 59% over the past 10 years.
Being a nurse is a great career with flexibility in scheduling, Nokes said.
“Sometimes you do have to work holidays or weekends, but you’re compensated for it. They pay is very good, especially if you’re a brand-new nurse coming out of nursing school.
After working in mega-sized hospitals, Nokes enjoys the close-knit family atmosphere she found at Community Hospital North.
She makes a comfortable transition when returning home to a good book or reading a newspaper.
“They’re always trying to make you go digital. I say, ‘No, I like holding a newspaper. It’s my favorite thing to do.”
