by Vickie Jenkins, Staff Writer
McBride Orthopedic Hospital is nationally recognized as a leader in orthopedics and sports medicine. Our expertise and experience allow us to deliver the highest level of comprehensive care to orthopedic patients. -McBride Orthopedic Hospital-
Among the many nurses, you will find one very special nurse; Amy Ambrose, RN House Supervisor. Amy has many responsibilities as she oversees all of the nurses in the hospital.
Growing up in Michigan, Amy moved to Oklahoma sixteen years ago. “Oklahoma is so different from Michigan and I love the weather here,” she said. “Michigan is cold and dark and I was thrilled to see so many sunny skies,” she added. When attending Rose State College, Amy realized that she would enjoy the medical field. “I chose nursing because of the limitless paths I could follow,” she commented. “I had no idea how quickly I could learn so much every year, building on experiences before and learning something new every single day, putting it in my back pocket, carrying it forward. I went into nursing nine years ago and just when I felt that I had mastered my realm in orthopedic; a different situation occurs and I am constantly learning, along with building confidence too,” Amy stated.
“While attending Rose State, I had some of the best professors/mentors. I dove right into the medical field; I learned to have great bedside manners from my professors and absorbed all of the information I could. I am so thankful for my professors for being so real, caring and passionate. I feel like I learned from the best,” Amy commented.
“As a supervisor, I feel like I go towards the need, helping whenever I can. One of my favorite things about my job is the interaction that I have with the patients on a daily basis. I love being a floor nurse, yet I feel like the position of nurse house supervisor has given me leadership. We have great teamwork throughout the hospital. We stay busy around here and even though a nurse can be mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the day, it is the most rewarding job that anyone can find. Just ask any nurse,” she said with a smile. “As the numbers of patients grow, along with their needs, we are here for them, making the patients the most important part of our job. I like to be the extra eyes to see, ears to hear and the extra hands to help.”
What makes your job as a nurse special to you? “There are several reasons that make me feel special but the main one is the fact that I feel valued. It is important to feel wanted and needed. It makes me want to push forward and do even more,” Amy said. “Here at McBride, we are treated with the utmost respect, which makes us feel good. In return we treat the patients well and isn’t that what we all want? To be treated with respect and courtesy.”
Amy is definitely a hard worker. “I like to stay busy and I like to make others happy. I am a happy person myself and I definitely don’t like conflict. I am cheerful, thankful and grateful that I have a job such as this.”
Asking Amy if there is any advice she would give to someone going into the medical field, she replied, “I would tell them to work hard and go as far as they can. Be willing to work hard; if you work hard, you can go as far as you like and you will see the reward.”
Amy is married to her wonderful husband, Chad. “We have been married for twenty years,” she said with a bit of pride in her voice. “We have six kids ranging from ages five to twenty-years old. We have a mama and a papa English bulldog mix and we now have four little puppies, as we continue to look for new homes for them. As far as hobbies go, I guess you could say that my hobby is raising kids. I like to exercise when I can and I also like anything that has to do with water. We recently purchased some kayaks for the whole family, even the younger ones. We connect them all by tying ropes to them. It is quite the site but very fun!”
If you were going to sum up your life in one word, what would it be? “I would say, blessed.”