Divine Order in 35 Devoted Years of Service
From white dresses and metal reusable bedpans to colored scrubs and computers, Joyce has evolved along with health care during her 35 years of nursing in the Emergency Department at Banner Desert Medical Center.
Through it all, Joyce has survived the changes by doing what she does best—caring for patients.
Joyce is a nightshift emergency department nurse who has been a part of the Banner family since long before the hospital became Banner Desert. Through the decades, she has weathered the hospital’s many transitions by focusing on providing excellent patient care, regardless of the name on the building.
“When people come through the emergency room doors, they are frightened, injured, hurting – or a family member is hurting,” said Joyce. “There can be a lot of drama and hysteria. You have to keep a cool head. I always say emergency room nurses are like ducks—everything appears calm and unruffled on the outside, but we paddle like hell underneath.”
Things have certainly changed since Joyce first began working as a nurse. When she was in training, nurses had to wash, powder, pack and re-sterilize gloves, instead of having the disposable latex gloves that are now used. Nurses also had to clean and re-sharpen needles and other surgical tools so they could be reused. There were no heart monitors, and nurses were not allowed to start IVs. Patient care focused on looking at, listening to, feeling for and speaking with patients.
“We learned a great deal from hands-on experience,” she said. “I take pride in my being able to evaluate a patient without machinery.”
Outpatient Treatment Center Senior Clinical Manager Maggie-May values Joyce’s gift as well.
“Joyce is very intuitive when working with patients and her instincts are always on target,” said Maggie-May. “I remember one patient who came in with a ‘tooth ache’ and Joyce thought it was heart related. His EKG showed a heart attack in progress.”
Joyce’s skills have been used in various ways since she began her career as a nurse with Banner Health. She was a nurse trainer for the first class of paramedics in the Valley, going on calls with the paramedic students until the fire departments eventually took over paramedic training. She helped open the building that is now Banner Desert, moving boxes and patients. She was here when the snake was found in the operating room and when the hospital grew from one building and paper charts to more than 500 rooms and computer technology.
With all these changes, Joyce continues to believe nurses should devote themselves to listening and understanding their patients’ needs, not just relying on technology to tell what is in the patient’s chart.
“I thought I was going to retire when computers first came out. I love paper charting. I get really happy when the computers go down so I can use paper again,” she chuckled.
Joyce has always worked the night shift and said she enjoys working at night because she feels that between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. the hospital takes on a spiritual atmosphere. She said that she could not do what she has done for so long if it were not for her belief in a higher power. In fact, she is known for her phrase, “Divine Order Prevails.”
“Joyce is a compassionate nurse and a great patient advocate,” said Maggie-May. “She is kind and giving of her personal time and has been supportive through many during hard times, both in her professional and personal life,” said Maggie-May. “She truly has an open heart and is an invaluable member of our Banner Desert emergency team.”
