PASSION IN NURSING: A REAL PASSION FOR CARING

PASSION IN NURSING
A REAL PASSION FOR CARING: NORTHWEST NURSING CENTER

by Vickie Jenkins – Writer/Photographer

Northwest Nursing Center is where you will find Carl Davis, LPN, doing what he does best, taking care of the residents. Carl has been a nurse for 24 years, spending the last three years here.
Growing up in Oklahoma, Carl has lived here most of his life. Carl has a lot of memories from his childhood. He was one of 7 children. When Carl was 14 years old, his mother had lung cancer and the siblings helped take care of her. Ever since Carl can remember, he had an interest in helping others. “It was as though I was drawn to people, wanting to help them in any way I could,” he commented.
Carl was a CNA for 9 years and continued his education going on to nursing school. Over the years, he worked at Deaconess Hospital and several long term care facilities. “When I was a nurse at that time, the medical field was different than it is now. It was really out of the ordinary for a man to be a nurse. It was definitely a female dominated position in the medical field. The nurses that I worked with thought it was unusual that I wanted to be a nurse because men weren’t nurses. Even though the working situation was a little awkward, I knew this was the job that I wanted and no one was going to tell me different. I’m glad I stuck with it. I love to serve others and take care of the senior residents. I like working at long term care facilities, like here at Northwest Nursing Center more than working at a hospital. In a hospital, everyone is always a little grumpy. Here, you can always make the resident feel better and it is much more personal. Plus, there is a lot of satisfaction when you make the resident feel better. No matter how grumpy the resident is, there is always something that can be said or done to make them smile, putting them in a good mood. There is such a great feeling of accomplishment in knowing that I have been a part of all of it,” he stated.
Asking Carl what qualities make a good nurse, he replied, “A nurse needs to have a lot of compassion. One of the most important qualities for a nurse is when they are a good listener. There is nothing worse than seeing someone sitting alone without someone to talk to,” he said.
“My favorite part of my job is getting to spend time with the residents. There is a bond between the nurse and the patient. On the other hand, one of the biggest challenges is when there is separation. Sometimes, the residents can get too close to you, almost like an old friend. You have to stay professional. Walking the line is a hard decision sometimes,” Carl replied.
Did anyone influence you to become a nurse? “When I cared for my mother, I knew that caring for others was something that I wanted to do. I knew I would find my path and find a job serving other. Through the years, I feel like this job is a good fit for me. When I was growing up and spending time with my mother, I feel like I was getting some great experience. My mother was a good teacher,” Carl replied.
What advice would you give to someone going into the medical field? I would tell them to be compassionate and caring and don’t be afraid to have a caring attitude.”
Carl’s hobbies include gardening and remodeling his house. “My house is one hundred years old and I am always working on something,” he laughed. “It has a lot of character inside and out. I also like to spend time with Buster, my 5 year old rescue Pit Bull that I’ve had since he was a puppy.”
When I asked Carl to describe himself, he said, “Well, a lot of people think I am a little harsh but I think it is just the way I grew up. I don’t mean to be. I am an advocate for the little guy and will fight for a cause if I strongly believe it. I am definitely a people person and like to be around others. I like to make others happy. After all, isn’t that’s what it’s all about? I like to think so.”