Thanks for working here Thursday: Patricia Heald, RN, CCMH Medical Surgical Unit

Campbell County Health is proud of its employees, and we want the CCH family and the Campbell County community to know about the good work that they do for this organization.

Allow us to introduce Patricia Heald, RN, who works in the Campbell County Memorial Hospital Medical Surgical Unit. For those who don’t know, Med/Surg nurses practice in a stimulating, and demanding, setting. Many will say it’s not for the faint-hearted, but the work is very rewarding. Nurses on this unit can care for patients across many age levels, with a huge variety of disease categories or injuries, and with different degrees of acuity. The must be knowledgeable about all age groups, from infants to geriatrics, which can make working on the unit a challenge because of the variety of the patients.

Patricia has worked for CCH for the last nine years, but has worked in nursing for 14 years. She received her nursing degree from Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. When asked why she chose a career in nursing, Patricia said: “When I was 12 years old, I helped take care of my grandma after she had a leg amputated. I enjoyed every minute of it. My mom is a nurse in Oklahoma, so one could say that it’s in my genes to be a caregiver.” And for that we are quite grateful, Patricia.

Patricia said she began her career in nursing on a very busy Med/Surg floor in Oklahoma, “where we specialized in orthopedics, pediatrics, and more—sometimes, I had six to eight patients at a time. I gained a lot of experience on that floor, and it’s where I knew that I chose the right profession.”

When asked about her health care hero, Patricia mentions CCH Legend Deb McMurtrey, RN, CMSRN, who has worked on the Med/Surg floor for more than 30 years. “She is very knowledgeable and my go to supervisor if I have any problems. I know she will listen and do what is right for the department,” says Patricia.

When she’s not taking care of patients on the Med/Surg floor, Patricia is at home on her ranch. “My best friends are my animals. I also have vegetable gardens—I have a Goji berry bush that is growing like a weed!” she says. Patricia also likes to stay healthy by jogging, bike riding and eating healthy. “God did bless me with a wonderful husband and friend—if it wasn’t for him I would not be working here at this great hospital—and I love spending time with my kids and grandkids,” she says. We asked Patricia what she likes most about working at CCH, and what excellence every day means to her. Check out her response:

“I am very proud to be working with a team of great nurses and staff. And, I’d have to say that everyone who works here has made me feel right at home working and living in this community. I feel like this organization does a great service for this community.

Excellence Every day is to have the knowledge, the tools, and great team work to care for our patients. We want them to have the best experience possible during their hospital stay.”

Thank you, Patricia for being such a wonderful caregiver. We appreciate you!

Is there a CCH employee who went the extra mile or shows you extraordinary service? Give them a pat on the back by completing an Excellence Every Day card.