CAREERS IN NURSING: FAMILY MEDICINE IS FOUNDATION OF PATIENTS HEALTH

By Vickie Jenkins, Staff Writer

Working at Integris in Yukon OK is Stephanie Mendoza LPN. She has been a nurse for two and half years working for Jason Breed, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician who offers obstetric care. Dr. Breed’s practice focuses on whole family care, from obstetrics, including surgical obstetrics, to pediatrics, adolescent medicine, mental health, adult medicine and geriatrics. His office is located at 1205 Health Center Parkway, Suite 100, Yukon, OK 73099. (Story Continues Below)

Stephanie enjoys being a nurse. “I like my job and I like caring for others. Growing up in Amarillo, Texas, I studied nursing at Amarillo College, graduating in December 2017. I moved to OKC in 2018. I remember when I was a little girl, I always wanted to go into the medical field. At the time, I just wasn’t sure where my future would be going. Now, I have a whole new different answer. I became a nurse to simply help a patient at any time in their life. I worked at a family clinic and on the floor. My first job was at a family Medicine Clinic ranging from newborns to geriatrics. Being able to follow my dream and be a nurse is all it took for me. To me, working in family medicine is the foundation of a patients health.”
“Caring for the patients and taking care of that person for the duration of my shift is my biggest rewards of being a nurse; whether it be getting a patient’s medication authorized to caring for a patient that is hospitalized. I know that I helped my patients in a time of need and taking care of them because I actually want to,” Stephanie commented.
“Personally, my biggest quality as a nurse would be the natural rush of true care when it comes down to taking care of my community; Whether it be on the floor, Med Surg, Covid Unit or at a Family Medicine Clinic,” Stephanie added. “It is all good,” Stephanie said.
“My biggest challenge is understanding that every patient’s outcome will not be the outcome that we want for them.”
Stephanie has a busy day, starting at 8:00 am, talking to each patient that is there to see the doctor, gathering their in formation for the visit and making sure medications, health maintenance and immunizations are up to date. “I see about three hundred fifty patients per month,” she said. “That makes for quite a few patients,” she said with a smile.
When asking Stephanie to describe herself, she replied, “If I had to put myself in a nutshell, I’d say that I am a very caring person with a lot of goals that I want to do for myself, my family and my community. I believe in being honest, friendly and trusting to others. Being a second generation American I understand and know the reality of not having access or even the means to healthcare. So, I am humble and blessed to have the knowledge of being able to help others. I am definitely a leader. I think that encourages me to set more goals for myself and reach them.”
“It was my father that influenced me to become a nurse. He always had some encouraging words for me and kept me going. My advice to someone going into the medical field, I would strongly recommend them join healthcare, because it is an important to help our community thrive.”
Stephanie is proud to say that she received the Daisy Award for working on the Covid Unit.
The DAISY Foundation, as part of its service to the nursing profession’s role in patient care, established the DAISY Faculty Award to provide colleges/schools of nursing a national recognition program that they may use to demonstrate appreciation to their nursing faculty for their commitment and inspirational influence. “I am very proud of receiving the Daisy Award and consider it a real honor,” Stephanie said.
Stephanie is married to her wonderful husband and they have two children, ages nine and three and a baby on the way. Her favorite hobby is spending time with her husband and her children.
Asking Stephanie how the Coronavirus changed her life, she replied, “The Coronavirus made me realize how short life can be. I take extra precautions by washing my hands, constantly and wearing a mask.”
Summing up her life in three words, Stephanie said, “Mommy, wife and friend.”