By Renee O'Quinn
SHOWN IN PHOTO, LEFT, JOHN GODFREY, SALES AND SERVICE ASSOCIATE OF POST OFFICE, WELCOMES, POSTMASTER BRIAN BURKE, AND STANDING RIGHT, DONNIE SIKES, JR., POST OFFICE SALES AND SERVICE ASSOCIATE.
Dale Spell, CEO of Appling HealthCare System remarked how medicine and the medical field have always fascinated him. He loves what he does and looks forward to getting up and going to work.
Spell started his medical career in 1975 while still in high school, working as a male attendant, after graduation he went on and got his LPN license and then went back and got his RN, became Chief Operation Officer and Chief Executive Officer. When Spell worked mainly in the O.R. and E.R. departments and worked in ultrasound and echosound.
"The advice I would give is there are more hours in a day and more hours in a weekend. A nurse can treat only one person at the time so just treat one person at the time. If you don't like your job leave and find where you want to work at," he said.
"When I became a nurse it wasn't
about the money back then the pay wasn't like it is today. The
average LPN made $11 or $12 per hour," added Spell.
Is there a nurse shortage? "yes", replied Spell. Why
is there a shortage of nurses? because it is very hard, grueling
work. A nurse's job is far more demanding than it used to be because
of all the new requirements. In the past, a nurse's only responsibility
was the direct care of patients, now it is the paper work load.
The paper work is rigorous and enormous because of all the requirements.
"The main difference when I went to nursing school and now is they are not being taught work ethics anymore and they don't understand work ethics and they only want to work but so many hours and it is all about the money and not about the love of the profession. If you love what you do, you will have good work ethics and you will do the best job you can and the hard work will be rewarding," advised Spell.
Another advice he would give a nurse just starting out is to love what you do, be dedicated to your job and work hard.
"All we are waiting on to make the big move over to the Pavilion is the completion of the state nursing home inspection. We know there will be some ripples when we finally move over to the Pavilion. There will be approximately 80 staff members and 101 nursing home residents from both of the nursing homes. We are looking forward to moving into the wonderful new facility and anxious at the same time."
Spell is married to Roxanne and she is a RN and a day shift charge nurse at Appling HealthCare System. Their children are Tiffany, Blake, Courtney and Madison.
By Renee O'Quinn
Melba Webb, RN, licensed Nursing Home Administrator, has been working in the medical profession for 25 years. She has worked in both the Appling Nursing Home and the Convalescent Home. She became the administrator last year.
"The advancements in medical technology and procedures have been enormous and it is absolutely amazing when you think about it," Webb said. "The new medical technology and procedures have made things better."
She went to nursing school at South Georgia College in Douglas. "I really loved the clinical part of it more because I enjoy using the skills we learned and having the direct hands-on care with the patients, it was more enjoyable than the book learning part of it," she stated.
Our main mission is to always provide the best care possible to the residence and keep everyone happy and satisfied.
We get close to the residents and they become just like family. I love all my residents but I am drawn to and care for the residents that don't have any family at all. It makes you appreciate your own family and sometimes it is hard to believe that someone might not have any family. We become their special family or friends.
"Treat your patients like you would want your mother or family member to be treated" is the advice she would give a nurse.
Remember to be a hard and conscientous worker, do your job to the best of your ability," advised Webb.
They are all very excited and anxious for the big move over to the new Pavilion. "It will be a 15 year long dream come true," she expressed.
She is married to Don Webb and they have been married for 36 years.
They have a daughter, Michelle, who is a nurse practitioner, and has a Masters in nursing, and lives in Warner Robbins, and a son, Don Mark who is at college in Valdosta.