Karen Stowell entered night school to be a nurse because one of her friends wanted to take the classes and didn’t want to go alone.

Friday, May 05, 2000

Karen Stowell entered night school to be a nurse because one of her friends wanted to take the classes and didn’t want to go alone. After one class, her friend dropped out, but Stowell stayed – and never looked back.

Stowell is a clinic nurse at Austin Medical Center who got her start in the medical world as a nurse’s aide in nursing homes. This week was National Nurses Week, and the nurses at AMC were celebrating their career choices as well as being honored by the administration and doctors.

"I’ve never regretted my choice," Stowell said.

Stowell has worked in both the hospital and clinic, covering every body part from feet to head.

"When I first started in the clinic, I had no idea how much work a clinic nurse did," Stowell said. "It’s a fast pace over here."

One thing she enjoys about working the clinic side is the expanded involvement with patients, from handling referrals to talking to them on the phone.

"You have to know what to ask so you know what the problem is, so you can discuss it with the doctor," Stowell said.

Karen Larson is the nursing supervisor and head of the nurse practice committee for Austin Medical Center, and is one of the organizers of Nurses Week at AMC. With 30 years of nursing behind her, she knows what it takes to be a good nurse – and just how valuable the nurses are at AMC.

"This gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of our nursing staff, for their hard work and professionalism," she said. "They are a very valued part of the health care system."

The theme of Nurses Week is "Excellence Lights the Way," and Larson said the nurses at AMC do light the way.

"They show a lot of compassion and promote dignity in caring for patients in all areas of the hospital and clinic," Larson said.

Larson and Stowell agreed on certain attributes necessary for nursing.

"I think they need to enjoy working with people, and be able to show dignity," Larson said. "It’s someone who is able to stay calm, and they just have to enjoy caring for people.

"You have to be willing to work hard and to care about people," Stowell agreed. "It takes a lot of physical and emotional strength."