PASSION IN NURSING: OH, BLESS YOUR HEART

PASSION IN NURSING
OH, BLESS YOUR HEART: THE OKLAHOMA HEART HOSPITAL

by Vickie Jenkins – Writer/Photographer

The Oklahoma Heart Hospital (OHH) patient care is at the heart of everything they do. This physician-owned hospital was designed to ensure that patients receive expert, individualized care with the utmost comfort. OHH is the first of its kind in Oklahoma and the first all-digital hospital in the United States.
OHH has two locations, the North and South hospital campuses, as well as a network of more than 70 cardiovascular specialists at more than 60 clinics and two hospital locations across the state. The research foundation facilitates clinical trials of the latest medication, devices and procedures, keeping OHH at the cutting edge of advancements in heart health.
One of the many specialists at OHH is Mohammad K. Ghani, M.D., F.A.C.C. Inside his office, you will find Raechyl Fuller, RN. She begins to tell me how much she enjoys working at Oklahoma Heart Hospital. With a smile and friendliness about her, it is obvious that she loves her job.
Growing up in Okeene, Oklahoma, Raechyl attended college at Northern Oklahoma College in Stillwater, OK. “I’ve been a nurse almost five years now. My first job as a nurse was at Mercy, then a job at Orthopedic Associates for about four years. Last year, I had an opportunity to work here at OHH. I am happy to be a part of such a hospital. I like working for Dr. Ghani and I have learned so much since I came to work here. Dr. Ghani is nice and he is a great teacher.” Raechyl stated.
“There are several members in my family that are in the medical field. We don’t have to worry about getting sick. We are covered,” she said with a smile. “Actually, when I was little, I knew that I wanted to be a nurse. I was always helping my mother take care of things. I suppose my whole family influenced me to be nurse in a lot of ways. I also knew that nursing offers many different opportunities,” Raechyl commented.
What qualities make a good nurse? “I think a nurse needs to have plenty of compassion, be a team player, a good communicator and have great trust between all of their co-workers,” she replied.
“One of the favorite parts of my job is connecting with the patients. It makes everything a little nicer. Sometimes, I work in phone triage and that can be a little challenging at times. Later, I finally get to see the patient that I have been talking to, we talk a little more and I really get to know them pretty well. It’s kind of like we are all a big family. My biggest challenge when doing triage, is trying to ask the right question without actually being there. It can be as serious as chest pains and getting them the care that they need right away.”
What advice would you give to someone going into the medical field? “I would tell them to do observations, if they can, so they can get a base of what they will be doing. Also, if they do become a nurse, join a good study group; they are the best! Going to nursing school is a real eye-opening experience. It changed my ways of studying. It’s good if you can have first-hand experiences,” she replied. “My parents always showed me how to have good work ethic and I believe that I am where I am today because of them.”
Raechyl says her motivation comes from the desire to help others. “It is like it was instilled in me. I love the feeling of accomplishment and setting goals and reaching them. I also think that when someone works in the medical field and you are surrounded by others in the medical field, you’ve got co-workers with the same high standards.”
Raechyl married her high school sweetheart, is happily married and enjoys spending time with him. Her hobbies include running and walking her two dogs, Izzy and Skye. “I also like to travel and my sister and I get together and plan our trips. We go somewhere different each year. In fact, we like to travel so much, we both got a little tattoo of an airplane. We are already saving our money to go to the 2020 Olympics; one of my all-time dreams,” she said.
Raechyl’s Christmas plans? “I plan on visiting my sister and spending lots of quality time baking, like we do every year. That’s one tradition that my sister and I enjoy and will continue to keep.”