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January 11, 2008

Former ‘traveling nurse’ puts down anchor at HRMC

A woman who has seen nearly every kind of emergency brings her experience to Haywood Regional Medical Center. Mary Larson, a former traveling nurse, has been hired as the new director of definitive observational care and intensive critical and coronary care services. Her first day on the job was Dec. 17.

Her most recent employment was as night supervisor at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

“Three to five times a week I have gone to patient rooms and talked directly to the patients. I do that so I can confirm that patients and their families are happy with their care,” Larson said.

Larson said she applied for the director’s position for two primary reasons. One was the opportunity for promotion. The other was for the climate.

“I was sick of snow shoveling,” she said, explaining that when she lived and worked in Wisconsin she typically dealt with a 95-inch base of snow in the winter.

“I prayed about it and asked the Lord to send me where I could get back to nursing. I feel it was the right decision. Everyone has been so gracious. I am glad to be here and I have found that the Southern hospitality I have always heard about is really true,” Larson said.

“Everyone that I meet — from the CEO David Rice and our Medical Director Dr. David Love, to my colleagues in all other areas of our hospital — makes it clear that people are nurtured, respected and full attention is paid to their needs,” she said.

Larson received an associate degree in science in 1980. Four years later she earned an associate degree in nursing. She continued her studies, earning a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 2003.

“I received my nursing degree 24 years ago, but my education is ongoing. I’m currently studying for my master’s degree in healthcare management through Colorado Technical University, which I should complete by September,” Larson said.

She has been certified in critical care nursing since 1994 and has been certified as a legal nurse consultant since 2006. She has been an instructor of advanced cardiac life support since 1987.

Larson served as a traveling nurse for several years, working where she was most needed from Long Beach, Calif., to Detroit, Mich.

Her goal at HRMC is to help the nurses remember why they wanted to be a nurse.

“The shortage of nurses is not just a Haywood Regional Medical Center issue and it’s not just a United States issue. It’s a global issue,” Larson said.

“Nurses would love to be able to nurse, but there are constraints that keep them from doing extra things like holding the hand of a patient who is afraid. I want to help put that fire back in nurses’ hearts so we can work together to help improve the quality of health care,” she said.