HealthLinks Charleston July/August 2019

96 | www.CharlestonPhysicians.com | www.HealthLinksCharleston.com TRACEY JONES, RN, CMSRN For Tracey Jones, becoming a nurse was not something she “just knew.” “I was interested in it for a long time, but it wasn’t until my last child was born with a cardiac arrhythmia – which he outgrew – and was hospitalized that I decided it was time to return to school for nursing,” she explained. She has been a nurse on the surgical unit at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital for 20 years, and she said she loves her job. “I picked my specialty by accident. I originally had planned on pediatrics. I took a job on the med-surg unit to get my one year of experience that was recommended at the time. I thought I hated it. Time passed and I grew to love it. Besides, nursing is my passion. The occasions when I really connect with one of my patients make it worth- while. I find it very rewarding when I can get patients talking and laugh- ing,” she explained. She noted that her co-workers across the Roper St. Francis system have been the best people she has ever worked with. “Nursing can be extremely difficult emotionally, physically and men- tally. The challenges are endless. But at the same time, it is unique and constantly changing. It is also reassuring that the job opportunities are so vast and different for individuals with nursing degrees.” ANDREA COYLE, MHA, MSN, RN, NE-BC It was always a dream of Andrea Coyle’s to do something where she was going to make a difference in people’s lives. She not only enjoys assisting patients and families with their needs, but she also is passionate about inspiring and motivating future and current practicing nurses. As the professional excellence and magnet program director at the Medical University of South Carolina, Coyle has the opportunity to make changes and empower others. She is responsible for leading a driving strategy of the nursing strategic plan, facilitating shared governance and restructuring the nurse clinical ladder. One of Coyle’s many successes was completing a nutrition pilot program at MUSC that increased nurses’ consumption of fruits and vegetables. “I love evolving and managing positive changes,” she explained. She truly believes that nurses have the ability to make the impossible possible. “As the profession evolves, the sky is the limit. Keep going; don’t remain stagnant. Obtain advanced degrees, join professional organiza- tions and obtain specialty certifications. The commitment to the profes- sion of nursing is worth the hard work,” she said. HOLLY LOH, BSN, RN, TCRN, CEN Holly Loh chose her specialty in nursing because of the adrenaline rush. She has worked in the emergency room at Trident Medical Center since 2015, and, in the fall of 2018, she became a designated trau- ma nurse lead as part of the level 2 adult trauma program. “I was originally a cardiac nurse, and I loved it but wanted something more fast-paced. I became an adren- aline junkie and fell in love with everything ER and trauma. We see our patients and their families on some of the worst days of their lives, and it’s an amazing feeling to make a positive impact on them and try to make their day a little better,” she said. Originally from Maryland, Loh said she is the first nurse in her fami- ly. She decided to pursue nursing because of her early love of science. “We had a nurse come to career day in high school, and I was sold,” she concluded. She advises new nurses to “Never give up! There are limitless opportunities for nursing and so many different areas you can focus on. If you aren’t happy in your current specialty, you can find some- thing new to explore and love.” T H E P U L S E O N CHARLESTON NURSES HealthLinks Charleston wants to recognize nurses as the backbone of our medical community and thank them for all their efforts! SONJA KOECKERITZ, BSN, RN, CEN As an ER nurse at Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital, Sonja Koeckeritz noted that what makes working in the emergen- cy department so unique is the staff’s vital ability to work as a team: “We rely on each other for everything. At any moment, we could go from one patient to a dozen pa- tients, and we need to be prepared for anything that walks in the door.” She also is a preceptor in her department. She said she loves that aspect of her job because “the role of preceptor is key to the success of the hospital. I hope that I am able to infuse my knowledge and experience and grow strong clinical nurses.” And she does her job very well. Koeckeritz was a 2019 Palmetto Gold winner and the 2016 Mount Pleasant Hospital Nurse of the Year. “As a nurse, I enjoy being able to care for patients as if they were my own family in the hopes that at another point in time someone would treat my family with the same compassion and dignity. I enjoy educating patients on their diagnosis and treatment plans in ways that they can understand and improve their compliance.”