CAREERS IN NURSING: INSPIRED TO BE A NURSE- OU MEDICAL CENTER – ONCOLOGY
by Vickie Jenkins – Writer/Photographer
At OU Medicine, our mission is leading health care, in-patient care, education and research. Through our combined efforts we strive to improve the lives of all people. Our vision is to be the premier health system for advancing medical care, education and research in the state, and to be among the leader nationally.
With a focus on teamwork and inclusion, we strive to instill and reinforce standards of behavior that will attract, develop and retain outstanding and diverse staff, physicians, faculty and learners.
We will grow the enterprise to better serve patients and the community, ensure continued support and focus on the fundamental missions of teaching and research.
With a spirit of service, we provide compassionate and seamless care, exceed our patients’ expectations; ensure an organizational culture of respect and communication.
-OU Medicine-
Meet Alice Roy, APRN who works at OU Medical Center in Oncology. “Nursing is my life,” she said. “I work in oncology because I feel like it is the most challenging and demanding. It can be very challenging yet it is the most rewarding job,” she said.
“I have been a nurse for thirty-eight years and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I have been here at OU Medicine in oncology since 2015 and I have to say, I love my job,” Alice commented.
“Growing up in Kerala, India, my life was certainly different than Oklahoma, “Alice said with a smile. “When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a teacher and I remember thinking about that all the time. I’m not exactly sure what changed my mind or when I changed my mind about being a teacher but I guess my views changed on that. I’m glad I went into nursing,” she said.
“I love my job and was glad that my parents never gave up on me. I was definitely inspired by them. One of my concerns was making my parents proud. Overall, my parents were very inspiring to me. They were the ones that influenced me to go to nursing school, sticking it out even when it got rough. I hope I can be an inspiration to someone else someday,” she commented. “I think that is one reason I like being a nurse so well. I love caring for cancer patients, seeing their progress and knowing I am instrumental in their care. I want to inspire someone.”
“I attended Clarkson College in Nebraska for my APRN, Southern Nazarene University for my BSN and Lady Harding Medical College in New Deli, India for my Associates Degree,” she said. “I guess you could say that I have spent most of my life in the medical field.”
Asking Alice what qualities make a good nurse, she replied; “I think a nurse needs to have integrity, honesty, be task oriented and have some critical thinking skills. A nurse needs to be knowledgeable and an even-based practice striving to educate the staff as well as patients. A nurse also needs to continue their education to keep up with the ever-changing medical field.”
During nursing school, Alice had two special mentors, Lizy Varghese and Cicly Vincenet. “They were very special to me and were always there to help,” she said.
“My biggest reward as far as being a nurse is being a part of the healing process of patients and seeing positive changes in their care,” Alice commented. “On the other hand, there is also a big challenge that I face; keeping up with the new treatments, drugs and practices in the oncology field. There is always something new but that is just a part of being a nurse.”
What advice would you give to someone going into the medical field? “I would tell them that being in the medical field is always demanding, ever changing with a high demand in the job market,” Alice replied.
Over the years, Alice received, the award for Best Nurse of Dubai, UAE of 2000, and in 1988, she received the ICU Best Dedicated Service award. Asking Alice if there were any daily words she lived by, she replied, “Always try your best so you can look at yourself in the mirror and know that you tried.”
On a personal note, Alice is married to her wonderful husband. They have one son who will be graduating pharmacy school is May 2020. She enjoys volleyball, reading, walking, cooking, and charity work with her church and spending time with her family and friends. Asking Alice if she could capture her life with one word, what would it be? She replied, “Compassion.”
NURSE INVESTIGATOR
Investigates violations of the OK Nursing Practice Act. Monitors compliance with Board Orders. Must be detail oriented. Public speaking is required. BSN required, MS preferred – 7 years exp., 2 years nursing service exp. For application packet contact: Teena, OK Board of Nursing, (405) 962-1810. Application review is ongoing. Position will remain open until filled. EEOE
