PASSION IN NURSING: SHOWERED WITH BLESSINGS – INTEGRIS BAPTIST

by Vickie Jenkins – Writer/Photographer

From the minute the patient entered the hospital, special care was given. Vital signs done and then, taken into an observation room to see if an overnight stay would be needed. The patient not knowing what was wrong, not sure what would happen next, a kind-hearted nurse came in, explaining the situation, calming the patient. This kind-hearted person was Chastity Horton, RN. After introductions, vitals again, and what to expect next, the words, let me know if you need anything, were spoken.
Chastity has been a nurse for 13 years. Not only does she work full time at Integris Baptist, she works full time for Phoenix Home Health Agency. ’’Yes, I work 7 days a week because that is what I love to do. It’s like my passion, sort of my hobby. Some people run or take up arts and crafts for a hobby. My hobby is taking care of people,” Chastity said with a smile.
Growing up in Mustang, OK, Chastity went to school at Redlands Community College in El Reno, OK. Asking her what qualities make a good nurse, she replied, “I think a good nurse needs to be caring, compassionate, possess empathy and be a nurturer. All of these things are important for the nurse and the patient,” she said.
Chastity’s focus of her job is meeting the goals and needs of the patients. “My favorite part of my job is actually seeing the patient get better. Working in the Medical Decision Unit at Integris Baptist, we see all ages of people, the youngest being about 16. They might be here for chest pains, hydration, or just waiting on tests results. This is the holding area between ER and being admitted to a room. That is why we need to make sure the patient is comfortable in any way we can help them,” Chastity said.
Between both jobs, the hospital and home health, the biggest challenge is coming across people that cannot accept the true facts about their health. “Some people don’t want to put an effort into getting better and they don’t see their potential,” Chastity added.
Asking Chastity if she always wanted to be a nurse, she gave a smile and said, “no, not really. I actually wanted to be an air traffic controller. Why? I asked. “Oh, I just thought it would be cool!” she said.
“The reason that I wanted to be a nurse was because my first born had some health issues and I spent much of my time in and out of hospitals. With the tender loving care that my son received, I knew that I wanted to be just like those nurses and give that loving care to someone that could feel that same thing from me. All of the doctors, nurses and the medical team had such an impact on my life,” she said.
“My biggest reward about my job is receiving a blessing from that patient that I have taken care of. I take care of them but I am the one with the real blessing. I am blessed all the time! When I care for a patient, I put everything I have into it!” Chastity said.
Even though Chastity works long hours, she still has time to give pieces of her heart to her 3 kids; Brandon, 24, Allison, 21, and Madison, 20. “I try to balance out my life, doing what I love to do; taking care of others,” Chastity commented.
Asking Chastity to describe herself in 3 words and the reason why, she said, “I would say OUTGOING-because I like to meet people of all kinds, POSITIVE-I try to find the positive in every situation as it happens and FUN -I think it is important to have fun and laugh.” Chastity lives by the words, don’t look back, you’re not going that way!
Ending on a bit of humor, I asked Chastity to share a story about herself as a nurse…”As a new nurse, I worked days and was asked to go in at 3:00 a.m. to fill in. When I arrived, I had an order to drop an NG tube (nasogastric tube). Being a new nurse and working very early in the morning, all my brain was thinking was, the tube can be seen in the back of the throat. I gathered what I needed and went in and told the patient to open their MOUTH WIDE! As I was going towards their throat with the tube, Beverly, an LPN said, ‘honey, let me help you with this.”
Chastity, you are an excellent nurse, deserving recognition. Thank you.