story and photo by James Coburn, Staff Writer
One-on-one patient contact is what Tracy Allison loves about being a nurse. The well-seasoned LPN is a clinic nurse at Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Guthrie Academy, located on the campus of Mercy Hospital Logan County.
“I like it when I find someone that I’m able to help, maybe that has a special need,” Allison said. “I will go above and beyond to help take care of that for a patient.”
Allison said she was very quiet and shy in high school before becoming a nurse.
She has gained self-confidence. During nursing school, she realized that opportunities would present themselves through learning. (story continues below)
Since graduating from a 12-month nursing program at High Plains Technology Center in Woodward, Allison’s career has been rich in a variety of nursing experiences. Many years were spent working at what became AllianceHealth Woodward. She worked 10 years there as a scrub nurse in surgery helping to set up the surgical procedures.
Her career has also involved skilled nursing, radiology, anesthesiology, and two years at a smaller rural hospital in Alva. There was a nursing shortage at that time, too. So, Allison learned a variety of surgical skills in Alva before the role of a licensed practical nurse became more limited regarding patient care. Allison had done a lot of things that an LPN today would not do.
“The types of surgeries I did, working in the emergency room, ICU, helping put in PICC lines, there’s a lot of things I did that they have limited LPNs to do now,” she said.
She loved the surgical aspects of nursing but found the hours too demanding to blend with her family life when she and her husband were raising their children. Due to staffing shortages, she was on call every other night.
“So, we would get called out and work during the night and have to turn around and be there for surgery in the morning,” Allison said.
But being a nurse offers her options. She discovered clinical nursing back in Woodward, and it allowed her to be home in the evenings with her family when most moms were home. She didn’t have to work nights, weekends, and holidays. But she would sometimes work in the ER and ICU during staffing shortages.
“There are nursing shortages everywhere, but it’s really hard in the rural areas. Schools aren’t necessarily available, so there’s a lot of challenges,” she explained. “I’ve got to see people with a lot of different backgrounds, economics, different races, different religions. As a nurse I’ve got to see amazing cool things, both good and bad. I’ve got to be there when babies were born, and I’ve also held the hand of people when they died and had to comfort their family, she said. “I’ve done things where it’s routine on a clinic day, but I’ve also done codes on patients, and helped with traumas like when the tornado hit Woodward.”
Eventually, her career took her to Edmond where she was a supervisor of a large clinic. But being a supervisor, she wanted to have more contact with patients. She enjoys her conversations with them.
She and her husband live their country life just outside of Guthrie. Their children are now adults. And Allison likes working in smaller rural areas. So, Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Guthrie Academy became a perfect fit.
“The lady that’s the manager here — I’ve worked with her before — she is very kind and a hard worker,” Allison said. “I really admire her, and I wanted to be more involved in the community I actually live in.”
Each area of nursing has been meaningful in her life. Mercy Clinic Primary Care has opened another door to humanity. While working with Dr. Jacob Fisher and Angela Corrine Baustert, APRN-CNP, Allison meets people of all ages, including pediatric work.
During her career, both joyful and sad experiences have made her who she is today.
“I think I’m a much stronger person. I’ve learned to stick-up for what is right,” she said.
She tells students who have shadowed her through the years to do a good job and work hard, and that having good morals and scruples are important.
“And it’s not just when someone’s watching,” she said. “You need to find it in yourself to do what’s right.”
She takes care of herself by gardening and reading. Allison spends a lot of time with her adult children and grandchildren.
During COVID she and her husband discovered kayaking. It’s a physical activity where she can go out in the quiet and relax.
