By James Coburn, staff writer
About seven years ago, before Jordyn Zachary became a registered nurse, she was driving with her mom down one of the highways heading to Shawnee.
They were behind a swerving car that was slowing down. A female passenger ended up being pushed out of the vehicle and rolled down a hill, Zachary said.
“So, we pulled over and asked her if she was okay. She told us not to call the cops, but we ended up calling an ambulance to get her checked out,” Zachary said.
Her instinct to solve a health care crisis was there. Her inspiration to become a nurse had already been planted. And as an RN, she would learn that patients who give up, return to their bad habits without following their doctor’s advice, do less well. But most of her patients will see brighter days.
There are a lot of strong, resilient patients who are admitted to SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Midwest, located in Midwest City, said Zachary, a med/surg nurse.
“They end up walking out of the hospital,” she said.
Zachary has continued to absorb best practices since her hiring date in 2025 after she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at East Central University in Ada. She was a nurse tech for about four years before fulfilling her dream of being a registered nurse.
As a new nurse, she became impressed by the friendly atmosphere among her coworkers. It was teamwork at its best.
“Whenever there are things going on with a patient, they’re always asking what they can do to help,” Zachary said.
Her advice to recent nursing school graduates is to be ready to prioritize time management. There always will be learning opportunities regarding new technology.
She begins her day by reading reports regarding the four or five patients assigned to her. Afterwards, she has an hour of providing her patients their medication which is due at 9 a.m.
“I like hearing their histories, the back-stories, how they met their other and how many kids they have, how many dogs they have. It’s interacting with them on a deeper level than just a patient,” Zachary said.
And they learn about her little maltipoo dog who greets her at her front door after a day’s work. Indelible memories have touched her life.
“When I was an aide working at another hospital, I was taking care of a patient for two or three days in a row, so I got to know them and their family,” Zachary said. “They left a couple of hand-written cards for me as the nurse who was taking care of them. They told me to keep going through nursing school and that I was doing great and all that. I think about that a lot.”
Her patients may have had surgery or various types of procedures and are typically there from one to four days. Patients’ symptoms run the gamut ranging from septic shock to a cat scratch causing an infection.
Being an empathetic good listener helps patients a lot during their hospital stay — especially when pain is involved.
“I try my hardest to get them what they need and address their concerns,” she continued.
It was her caring response to her mother’s health issues that tugged at her heart to become a nurse. At the time, Zachary was in high school in Ada. She enriched her life in sports. At first, she wanted to become an athletic trainer.
“I just started following the nurses that were taking care of my mom and that inspired me,” she explained of choosing nursing.
The skills she learned in nursing school soon applied to a career that opened doors. Earning her degree was just the beginning. Day-by-day she honed her skills that only experience would teach her.
“In nursing school, you learn how to pass a test for the most part. You go out in the field, and you realize you don’t really have a book with answers to rely on. So, you have to go with the flow. You learn to care for someone. You learn to have a conversation. You learn about holding someone’s hand when they’re dying, and they don’t teach you that in nursing school.”
Being at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Midwest is like being with family, she said.
“You become close with each other. They care for you,” Zachary said.
Experience has taught her how to handle everyday stress outside of work. Real-life situations that seemed big at the moment, are fewer than before.
“A lot of it is God. I pray before every shift, every night, every morning. He is what inspires me,” Zachary said
She keeps an active steady pace in life. Zachary enjoys running, taking long walks, and working out.
“In the summer I like to tan, work out at the pool, go on vacation and hang out with my dog,” Zachary said.
