by Vickie Jenkins – Writer/Photographer
At Epworth Villa, you’ll enjoy friends, family and the activities you love. As the premier provider of quality retirement living in Oklahoma City, Epworth Villa is redefining retirement living with a vibrant life style that will spark your interest.
Epworth Villa is an amazing senior living facility in north Oklahoma City, with all levels of senior care. That includes independent living, assisted living, long term care, skilled nursing, and respite care.
Meet Marva Pikula, LPN, Assistant Director of Nursing at Epworth Villa. Being the Assistant Director, Marva wears many hats. Some of her responsibilities include; managing and overseeing LTC and memory care teams of providers, communicating effectively with caregivers, residents and families, managing staff schedules and time off requests, doing evaluations, along with managing and ensuring care plans are being met. “This is the first time I have been in this position as Assistant Director,” Marva says. “I have been here at Epworth Villa for a little over a year. I’ve been a nurse for fourteen years, working in different places. I have been a school nurse, a nurse in a jail, surgery centers, worked as a nurse from different agencies, along with working in several assisted living homes; they are all so different yet all rewarding,” she commented.
Asking Marva why she decided to work in geriatrics, she said, “When I was little, I helped take care of my grandmother. Ever since then, I wanted to be a nurse. I never thought about doing anything else. In fact, being a nurse is the only thing I have ever done. There are so many different facets of nursing plus a nurse can work wherever they go.”
“I feel like I was meant to be a nurse and I am where I am supposed to be. What I like most about this age group is the fact that I get to interact with the residents and their families and the staff. I enjoy geriatrics and I get to grow with the residents as they transition with their age. It is so easy to form a bonding relationship with each one of them. The biggest challenge around here is there is never an uneventful day. There is always something new going on,” Marva said with a smile.
Marva said her biggest asset at work is her ability to adjust to all of the change in such a fast moving environment.
What qualities make a good nurse? “Well, definitely compassion, empathy, being a good manager, detail oriented, a great team player and knowledgeable about nursing skills. With all of these factors combined, you have a good nurse,” she replied.
Describing herself, Marva said. “I am really critical of myself. I am compassionate and very adaptable to change. I would say that I am very flexible. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a nurse. I have always felt like I needed to take care of others.”
Asking Marva what advice she would give to someone if they wanted to go into the medical field, she said, “I would tell them to be prepared to be a charge nurse and be able to be in charge. That is very important. Also I would tell them to know how to communicate with the staff and the residents and everyone they come in contact with. Without communication, you don’t have anything,” she said.
There is a special someone that motivates Marva to keep setting goals and reaching them; that special someone is her husband, Chris. “He supports me in everything I set out to do,” she said. “He is helpful to me in every way and he has my back in everything,” she added. “Also, I love all of my co-workers. They support me in everything I do. We work well together. We have teamwork.”
Marva is married to her wonderful husband, Chris. They have five children ages 10-27. Their pet is a cute little Yorkie. Marva’s hobbies include reading, exercising and relaxing on the beach when she can get away.
To sum up Marva’s life in a few words, she said, “My life is making a full circle. I see the purpose in life and I am the happiest I have ever been.”
OAKWOOD SPRINGS CURRENTLY HIRING FOR:
· RN – Night Shift $2,500 SIGN ON BONUS
· Nurse Manager $3,500 SIGN ON BONUS
· LPN
· Assessment Therapist – Night Shift $1,500 SIGN ON BONUS
· Assessment Therapist (Night & Weekend positions avail)
· Utilization Review Specialist
· Inpatient Therapist
· Outpatient Therapist
· Discharge Planner/Social Worker
Are you looking to work for an organization that stands behind it’s mission of changing people’s lives? If this is you or someone you know,
Apply online at: www.oakwoodsprings.com
13101 Memorial Springs Court, Oklahoma City, OK 73114
