by Vickie Jenkins, Staff Writer

Mercy Hospital Logan County is a 25-bed critical access hospital serving Guthrie and Logan County in central Oklahoma. Services include: Comprehensive laboratory, emergency department, imaging, impatient and outpatient rehabilitation, diabetes education, sleep center, wound care and respiratory care.
Meet Rachel Mock, RN, BSN, that works in the Med Surgical Unit of Mercy Hospital in Guthrie, OK. “Even though this is a small hospital, we have the best of care. We see patients from the surrounding areas; Crescent, Stillwater and Enid,” she said.
Growing up in Enid, OK, Rachel knew that she wanted to do something in the medical field ever since she was little. “I actually had some medical problems back then and I was around a lot of nurses at the time. It was those nurses that I seemed to be drawn to as far as their job. They were always so nice to me and I looked up to them. When I was old enough, I went to school to be a nurse. I seem to want to take care of others like I was taken care of,” she commented.
Rachel’s favorite part of her job is seeing the results when the patient leaves the hospital after being cared for. “When the patient comes in, they are usually weak and fragile and not doing very well. When they leave, they are much better. It is such a nice feeling knowing that I have helped someone. Sometimes, it’s not real quick and the patient has to stay in the hospital for several days but by the time they leave, they feel good about themselves,” Rachel said.
What are the qualities of a good nurse? “Of course, I think the first thing a nurse needs is compassion. A nurse needs to take care of a patient like they are their own family member, no matter what the situation is. A nurse needs to care for the patient to the best of their ability. They also need to practice teamwork at all times. Teamwork is very important and I can say, that is what you will find here at this hospital,” she replied.
Rachel lives on a farm, taking care of her animals. She has four horses that she loves to ride, fourteen Boer goats, that she raises and four dogs. “I started raising goats when I was thirteen and I was in FAA,” she said. “In fact, at one point, I wanted to be a veterinarian but decided on a nurse. Raising animals is a great outlet and stress-reliever. I also like to do arts and crafts, along with fishing and spending time at the lake,” she commented.
Asking Rachel what motivates her every day, she replied, “Well, for one thing, I am a first generation college student. My parents have always been so helpful to me and I have always wanted to make my parents proud. In fact, I want to become a Nurse Practitioner, hoping to further my education and help my parents. I know they are proud of me and I always want the best for them.”
What advice would you give to someone going into the medical field? “I would tell the nurses, just coming out of medical school to listen to the older and experienced nurses. They are ready to teach you any and have the answer to everything you want to know. Pay close attention to what you are learning. You will have some tough days but it will be worth it. Do not give up! You can do it!” Rachel replied.
Asking Rachel to describe herself, she replied, “I am a pleasant individual, a hard worker and am goal driven. I am compassionate, caring and outgoing. I had three people that helped me along the way and those people are Candice Kite, who got me involved in the community, Professor Tilley and Dr. Ramona Bartlow, who were inspirational and pushed me on to further my education. I am so thankful they were there for me through the good times and the rough times. I love being a nurse and can’t see myself doing anything else.”
On my daily planner, it reads, chaos coordinator. My life has its ups and downs, so I can describe myself in one word that suites me best: Roller-coaster.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE!

https://careers.davita.com/search-results?qcity=Oklahoma%20City&qstate=Oklahoma&qcountry=United%20States%20of%20America&utm_source=oknursingtimes&utm_medium=online&utm_campaign=apex&utm_term=oklahoma&utm_content=onlinepackage_okcity&source=APPLICANT_SOURCE-6-45

--

DaVita is Hiring Registered Nurses, Patient Care Technicians and LPNs in Oklahoma City!

Visit: careers.davita.com to apply or email: Cambridge.Tillman@DaVita.com, phone (918) 520-8681

Join us in building a community of care.

DaVita is an EO employer – M/F/Vets/Disabled © 2019 DaVita Inc. All rights reserved.

New service available for $25 to anyone, anywhere – regardless of insurance – via smartphone, tablet or computer

Demonstrating its commitment to ensuring everyone has access to high-quality affordable health care, SSM Health in Oklahoma has launched a new web-based diagnosis and treatment service.
The innovative service provides Oklahoma residents – whether or not they have health insurance or are existing SSM Health patients – with access to high-quality care from the convenience of their home, office or anywhere.
The service offers unparalleled convenience and accessibility, providing patients an easy way to receive care without having to visit one of our physical locations. Using this virtual service, patients can connect with trusted SSM Health providers via their smartphone, tablet or computer.
After logging into SSM Health’s virtual visit platform (www.ssmhealth.com/onyourtime), patients complete a dynamic questionnaire that asks questions based on what a provider would ask during an in-person office visit. During normal operating hours, patients will receive a video visit or phone call from an SSM Health provider usually within 15 minutes – but always in less than 60 minutes – to discuss treatment. Normal hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Patients can be treated virtually for common non-urgent health conditions including cold, flu, sinus infection, diaper rash, pink eye, bladder infections, heartburn and allergies, among others – all for a flat fee of $25 payable by credit, debit or health savings card.
If medications are needed, prescriptions will be sent to the patient’s preferred pharmacy for pick-up. Patients who complete questionnaires after normal hours will receive a response within an hour of when operations begin the next business day.
“As a Mission-based organization, SSM Health has always been committed to offering care when, where and how patients want it,” said Dr. Tabitha Danley, Regional Chief Medical Informatics Officer, SSM Health Oklahoma. “Our new virtual visit service is the latest validation of that commitment, making health care more convenient and affordable than ever before.”
Anyone 18 years of age or older in Oklahoma can create an account and complete a virtual visit. Visits for minor children must be completed by a parent or legal guardian. This service is intended for patients from 2 to 75 years of age, because medical complexities exist for infants and toddlers, as well as seniors, that should be addressed by their pediatrician or primary care physician. If a patient’s health concern cannot be addressed through an online visit, they will be directed to a physical SSM Health location. In these cases, patients will not be charged for their online visit.

A Great Place to Work ~
Join Our TEAM Today

$5,000 SIGN ON BONUS FOR FULL-TIME POSITION

We are hiring RNs for
Medical-Surgical – RNs
Emergency – RNs

Applicants should apply at
www.alliancehealthseminole.com

PASSION IN NURSING
SMALL HOSPITAL – LOTS OF TLC : STILLWATER MEDICAL – PERRY

by Vickie Jenkins – Writer/Photographer

Welcome to Stillwater Medical – Perry. We provide Perry and surrounding communities with innovative medicine and the compassionate care you deserve. As your neighbors, friends, and people you see every day, we consider it a privilege to be able to help you stay as healthy as possible – keeping you conveniently close to home. -Stillwater Medical Perry-
Here in Perry, Oklahoma, you will find a smaller hospital than some of the other hospitals outside of Perry, OK but this one is full of a friendly, knowledgeable staff. Visited by surrounding areas, this hospital sees patients from all of the surrounding areas. This is where I met Tracie Klingaman, RN, assistant DON, who has been a nurse for nineteen years.
Growing up in Ponca City, Tracie attended LPN school at Pioneer Vo-Tech in 1991 and received her RN from Northern Oklahoma College in Ponca City, OK in 2005 while she served in the military. She served in the reserves and was stationed in Wichita Kansas where her unit gave physicals to the National Guard and Reservists. That was for ten years. She has been at Stillwater Medical Perry since 1997.
What qualities make a good nurse? “I think a nurse needs to be empathetic, attentiveness and full of kindness,” she replied.
Tracie’s favorite part of her job is the interaction she gets to have with the other employees. “Being the assistant DON, I need to do several jobs she said. “I am in charge of the surgery and head up the Infection Control Preventions. I handle a little bit of everything, “she said.
Did anyone influence you to be a nurse? “Funny you should mention that. When I was seven years old, I had a lot of health problems and stayed in the hospital for quite a while. There was a nurse that was always by my side taking care of me. She would sit on the edge of the bed, turn on the TV and tune it to the soap opera, Days of Our Lives. I thought it would be the greatest thing to grow up and be a nurse, sit beside a patient, turn on the TV and watch Days of our Lives,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t think that is the way it works,” she added. “I still remember that nurse’s name though…Ursula Big-Goose.”
What is your biggest asset that you contribute to work? “That would be my guidance. Being in charge of several things, the nurses look to me for guidance and I want to be able to provide that,” she said.
Tracie’s advice to someone going into the medical fiend would be to, “Continue to have a goal. Reach your goal and don’t give up for anything. You will be glad that you stuck with it,” she said.
Family time is an important part of Tracie’s life. “I love to spend time with my husband, children and grandchildren. My family is so precious to me. I have Rett, two years old, Ryder, and five years old and last but not least, Faith, ten years old.”
Asking Tracie to describe herself she said. “I like spending time with my family. I don’t like to talk about it that much but I have Stage 4 Kidney cancer. Of course, I don’t know how long it will be and neither do the doctors. Only time will tell. Until then, I will continue to enjoy my life and live it to the fullest. I want to spend the amount of time I have having a good time with my family. I’m just making the most of the situation,” she said. “My husband, children and grandchildren are what hold me together right now. They are my motivation for everything. I’m even doing a few things that I never thought I would do before,” she said with a smile. “Of course, I can’t tell you everything,” she added with a laugh.
Tracie loves camping. “There are quite a few places around here to camp but this is definitely not the time to think about camping due to the flooding.”
Describing herself, Tracie is definitely a take charge person, a great person to get advice from plus getting a little guidance along the way.
Summing up Tracie’s life in one word, she said, Caduceus, the symbol of medicine. “Yes, I think this sign would fit me just right,” she said. “Perhaps, I will get a tattoo to complete my time in the medical field,” she said. “I might just do that!”

LICENSING ANALYST

Coordinates licensure activities, including approval of licensure applications. Communicates with applicants, licensees, nursing education programs, other state and federal agencies, and employers. Min. 4 years experience as an RN. Bachelor’s degree in nursing required. Contact Jackye, OK Board of Nursing, (405) 962-1809.
Application review begins 6/19/19. Position will remain open until suitable candidate hired.

The Oklahoma Hospital Association (OHA) elected a new chair-elect and appointed a new board member at its meeting on May 21. Tammy Powell, president, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Oklahoma City, was elected to serve as chairman-elect and will serve as the Association’s board chairman in 2022-23.
Powell has more than 30 years of health care experience in nursing and administration. She was first elected to the OHA board of directors in 2018 as an at-large member and has also served on the OHA Council on Quality and Patient Safety. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Powell received a Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science, Nursing from the University of Oklahoma. She serves on the boards of numerous other organizations, including Leadership OKC, YWCA, Oklahoma National Memorial and Museum, and Downtown OKC. She is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City Class XXV, a 2008 Journal Record Woman of the Year nominee, and 2012 OKC Friday Rising Star.
Bennett Geister, CEO, Hillcrest Hospital South, Tulsa, was appointed as an at-large member on the OHA board to fill an unexpired term through 2021. Geister has been the CEO at Hillcrest Hospital South since August 2018. Prior to that, he was chief operating officer at AllianceHealth Midwest and AllianceHealth Deaconess, following serving in a number of leadership positions at INTEGRIS Health. He holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas; and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma. He also serves on the OHA Council on Education.

INTEGRIS
The Place to Serve and Grow

WE ARE HIRING
qualified nurses and clinical support to fill positions at many of our locations.

APPLY TODAY AT
IntegrisOK.jobs

INTEGRIS considers all qualified applicants regardless of protected status as defined by applicable law, including protected veteran or disability status.
AA/EOE

https://nursing.vanderbilt.edu/

RN TO BSN PROGRAM

RN TO BSN ON-LINE PROGRAM*

RNs with an associate degree can earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through ORU’s 100% online RN to BSN program in as little as four semesters once prerequisites are met.
This program requires 131 course credits: * 36 credits of general education courses * 25 credits of prerequisite courses * 70 credits of nursing courses. However, up to 90 of these credits can be transferred through a combination of: * Up to 33 general education course credits, * 25 prerequisite course credits, and * 32 credits awarded for associate degree nursing courses. For more info. visit: www.oru.edu/academics/avcon/rntobsn
All courses, including prerequisites and general education courses, blend ORU’s unique Whole Person Education with the attention and experience of Christ-centered professors who are active in the medical field to create a transforming online learning experience. Unlike other schools, ORU launches graduates who are developed academically, physically and spiritually—a tri-fold foundation needed in today’s medical professions. A Registered Nurse with an Associate Degree in Nursing or an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing must complete all prerequisite courses prior to admission to upper-level nursing courses required for the BSN degree. All general education requirements must be met prior to the degree being awarded.
*Students who have earned an Associates Degree in Nursing or an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing with a current/valid RN license are candidates for the ORU RN to BSN program.
Anna Vaughn College of Nursing is located at 7777 South Lewis Ave in Tulsa. For more information visit: www.oru.edu/academics/avcon or call 918-495-6165.

The Children’ Center Rehabilitation Hospital Outpatient Clinic

Travel to Bora Bora

Jayme Doussette, RN

Go drive an Indy Race Car

Carrie Sommer, RN

Swim with the dolphins

Taylor Bradford, LPN

Take my daughter to Germany and Switzerland.

Dee Young, RN

Patients at The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital recently celebrated prom. Community guests participated in the event including, University of Oklahoma football players RJ Proctor, Neville Gallimore and Patrick Fields, Boomer, OU’s Mascot; Lacie Lowry, KWTV, Jeff George, FOX TV; and Captain America.
Prom is a rite of passage every teenager should experience. The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital organizes an annual prom every year, so patients may enjoy the same school activities their peers get to experience.
Included in the festivities was a special treat provided by 36th Studio West, as they provided hair and makeup artists for the event.
The dance began as each patient and their prom buddy were announced when entering prom doors, and to add to the fun, a prom king and queen were also crowned. The afternoon was filled with lights, music and patients dressed in their best – an event that was enjoyed by patients, their families and staff alike.

The 21st Annual INTEGRIS Gala was held Friday, May 31 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum raising more than $1.2M to benefit the INTEGRIS Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute welcoming more than 800 guests.
A portion of the evening’s proceeds will launch an advanced disease management program to improve patient outcomes. At the event, Dr. Scott and Leslie Samara made a surprise gift of $250,000 to kickstart a transplant patient assistance scholarship. More than 275 attendees responded by collectively giving another $200,000.
Also at the event, Drs. Paul Silverstein and Amalia Miranda were named the 2019 INTEGRIS Philanthropists of the Year, whose contributions span many decades and personal commitments to the INTEGRIS burn center exceeding one million dollars. This annual award is bestowed upon passionate advocates whose service offers charitable goodwill to the community with vision and leadership. The Philanthropist of the Year award celebrates transformational and visionary philanthropy within the INTEGRIS system.
This year’s gala executive committee was comprised of Aly El Banayosy, M.D., Jose-Marie El-Amm, M.D., Douglas Horstmanshof, M.D. Vivek Kohli, M.D., James Long, M.D., Mark Rolfe, M.D., E.N. Scott Samara, M.D., Trushar Patel, M.D., Kay Shields Ragan and Anne Skuta.
For further information, visit www.integrisgala.org, or contact Breann Hager at 405-951-5054.

The most decorated basketball player in Oklahoma high school history returns home to be the guest of honor at The Oklahoman’s Best of Preps All-City Sports Awards Banquet on June 3 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
But before heading to the awards show, Blake Griffin made a quick stop at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center to pay a few lucky patients a special visit. He was accompanied by his older brother Taylor Griffin, who is a retired NBA star himself.
The Griffins met with a total of five patients. Two kids at INTEGRIS Children’s, twins in the neonatal intensive care unit and a former basketball referee who actually used to officiate some of Blake’s high school games.
Blake Griffin attended Oklahoma Christian School, where he played under his father, head coach Tommy Griffin, winning four state basketball championships.
Blake was named to The Oklahoman’s All-City team three straight years (2005-2007) while twice being named the Little All-City Player of the Year. In 2007, he was selected as a McDonald’s All-American and named the Gatorade Player of the Year.
Griffin played two seasons of college ball for the Sooners before entering the 2009 NBA draft, when he was selected by the Clippers. He made his NBA debut as a rookie the following season, in which he was selected as an All-Star, won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. In 2011, Sports Illustrated called him one of the NBA’s 15 Greatest Rookies of All Time.
Griffin has enjoyed an impressive professional career that has made his home state very proud. After a few injury-plagued seasons, Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons in Jan. 2018. We look forward to what the future holds for this amazing home-grown athlete.