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Because
they have the most direct patient contact, nurses
play an important role in hospital quality and patient satisfaction.
“That’s why Methodist Charlton Medical Center fosters a
culture of continued education and collaboration that allows
nurses to give and receive effective feedback that directly
influences patient care,” says Chief Nursing Officer Fran
Laukaitis, MHA, RN.
These efforts are working. Methodist Charlton has received
national quality awards, and its nurses have been recognized
locally and regionally as Nurse.com Nursing Excellence Awards
finalists, DFW’s Great 100 Nurses, and
D Magazine
Excellence in
Nursing Award finalists.
Also contributing to Methodist Charlton’s culture of excellence
are nurses like Annie Jones, LVN. During the hospital’s National
Nurses Week celebration in May, she was recognized for her more
than five decades in nursing.
An ability to help
Fifty-three years ago, Annie began as a nurse’s aide at what is
today Methodist Dallas Medical Center. After a few years, she
took advantage of the Dallas Methodist Hospital School of
Nursing to become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN).
“I was helping nurses, so I decided, if I can help, I can be a
nurse, too,” she says. Annie remained at Methodist Dallas for
18 years, working in the surgical recovery unit. In 1984, she
transferred to the medical-surgical nursing unit at Methodist
Charlton, where she still serves today.
Annie recalls nurses wearing the white dresses and hats,
although as a nurse in the surgical recovery unit, she was able to
wear scrubs.
“I still wore my white hat, though,” Annie says. “I worked hard
to earn the right to wear that hat.”
A desire to serve
Annie has led a full life. Her 12 great-grandchildren include
a grandson who plays for the Seattle Seahawks, 2014 Super
Bowl Champions. She enjoys meeting patients and seeing them
progress, recover, and return home.
At 79 years young, she has no plans to slow down. One thing
that hasn’t changed in nursing, she says, is the care and dedication
nurses provide to their patients every day.
Annie says the rewards of being a nurse do not come from
monetary gain but from helping others. And by that measure,
Annie says she “feels like a millionaire.”
Nursing with
heart
and
soul
QUALITY
▸
STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE
Methodist Charlton’s awards don’t stop with
nursing. Learn more about our quality achievements
at
MethodistHealthSystem.org/Awards .6
Methodist Charlton Medical Center
•
❁
Winter 2014 – 2015
Annie Jones, LVN, has
been caring for patients
at Methodist for more
than 50 years.