Debbie Bonds, RN
Long time Good Shepherd Hospice RN looking forward to 20 years in May 2025
story and photo by
Van AMitchell, Staff Writer
Faith has always been a driving force for Debbie Bonds, RN case manager at Good Shepherd Hospice in Oklahoma City.
In May 2025, Bonds will celebrate 20 years of her calling at Good Shepherd Hospice.
“In my heart, it’s a calling,” she said. “I serve the Lord by helping people and by being there for them when they are in need, which they are certainly in need when they have a loved one on hospice or they’re on hospice. That’s very rewarding and fulfilling to me.”
Her career began at a local hospital where she worked in a cardiac unit before accepting a position with Good Shepherd, and she earned her RN degree at Oklahoma City Community College. Bonds earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Southwestern State University.
“I was working at a hospital, and I knew that was not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” she said. “I went back to get my bachelor’s, and I had to take a community health course that required clinicals and hospice was one of the choices. When I was in nursing school, I always said I would do any kind of nursing but hospice. I had been praying for the Lord to guide me. I went out for a day (for clinicals) with one of their (Good Shepherd) nurses, at the end of the day I knew that I wanted to do hospice for the rest of my career.”
Bonds said the past 20 years at Good Shepherd have been rewarding.
“It’s been wonderful,” she said. “In the hospital, I felt like I was doing what I would call drive-by nursing, you’re responsible for a whole unit of people. You dash in and give the pills, hang an IV and dash out to the next one. There’s no time for interactions to truly meet their needs and truly provide the care that they need. When I went out that day with that Good Shepherd nurse many years ago, 20 years ago, I knew that that was what I wanted because she was one-on-one with the patient and she had time to think about that one patient and taking care of the needs of that patient, supporting that patient, supporting the family, providing the care that was needed.”
Bonds said compassion and communication are key to helping hospice patients and their families.
“Sometimes a patient may be in hospice for six months or a year, and during that time you become an integral part of the family, and they look to you when they have a problem,” she said. “When you come in, you’re coming in bringing answers that they need, support that they need and it’s vital to them. It becomes a real deep thing in your heart to be able to be there to help them. It’s very important to me to build a rapport with the family.”
Bonds added, “Here at Good Shepherd, we believe in calling the family often. If they sense that you have a caring heart and that you care about their loved one, then they trust you,” she said. “When it’s time for a decision to come, you’re able to help counsel them and give them knowledge that they need currently. You can really make a difference.”
Bonds said Good Shepherd has a great team of caring and compassionate people.
“It’s wonderful to be a part of the team,” she said. “It’s very fulfilling and rewarding to work with a team and not be a lone ranger. We work together well. We respect one another. We respect one another for our separate roles.”
Bonds said faith plays a role in helping her to decompress when she leaves the office each day.
“I cast my cares when I leave the office. That means I give this to You, Lord. And then I don’t think about it when I’m away,” she said. “I purposely discipline myself to have a total break when I’m away and not carry the burden. That has helped to preserve me and prevent burnout.”
Bonds said she loves teaching the next generation of hospice caregivers.
“I love to teach about hospice, and that’s something I’ve had the opportunity to do over almost 20 years,” she said. “They have sent many new nurses to me to train, and it’s rewarding and fulfilling.”
Bonds said coming to work each day is a blessing.
“It’s very enjoyable to me,” she said. “I think that’s amazing to have done the same job for almost 20 years and not be burned out. In nursing, there are so many different areas of nursing available that it’s very unusual to see a nurse stay in the same position for 20 years. Often you see them move around about every couple of years. I feel like it speaks well of Good Shepherd that I have been here this long and I’m still happy being here. I don’t have a cut-off date. I’m just enjoying what I do.”
