Meet three ANMC nurses who are making a difference in Anchorage

Nursing can sometimes appear a thankless job -- long hours caring for patients who may or may not be able to express their gratitude. When it comes to daily, "hands-on" patient care, nurses work tirelessly in their roles, whether it's helping new moms and babies in labor and delivery, emergency room patients in critical condition or medical office patients seeking preventive care. For many, nursing is a true calling, and that hands-on aspect, along with a deep desire to give back, is the very draw that brings people to the field.

Whitney Summers, R.N.

Whitney Summers, a registered nurse for five years, said it all started when her dad got her involved in volunteering with Special Olympics.

"My dad worked for them when I was young, and he got me and my sister into volunteering. I loved it! Helping the athletes achieve their goals and seeing their faces light up was so rewarding," Summers said. "While attending Anchorage King Career Center in high school, I was in a class where I got to shadow doctors and nurses while they worked. I looked at the medical field from all angles and decided nursing school would be the best choice for me."

After attending nursing school at Boise State University, Summers returned to Alaska and took a job at Alaska Native Medical Center. "As an American Indian, I knew I wanted to contribute to my community by providing care to Alaska Natives," she said. "I got a job at the Mother/Baby Unit and from there I've been trained in labor and delivery/triage and have been a charge nurse on our floor for almost a year."

For Summers, labor and delivery combines both the best and worst parts of the job.

"I get to be there for the best days of people's lives," she said. "And conversely, sometimes the worst. But there are also so many moments when you really connect with people, and that is the absolute favorite part of my job."

Ingrid Reep, R.N.

Ingrid Reep, who has worked for ANMC since 2010, also cites a need to give back as part of her desire to become a nurse.

"My mom was a nurse, and I always thought what she did was really cool," said Reep. "But what solidified it was spending a year of college in Ecuador; that's where my passion for people and caring for others really developed."

Patient care is an important factor for Reep, who said making a difference in someone's hospital stay motivates her.

"It's the people. As an extrovert, I like being in the presence of others," she said. "It also means a lot to be able to send people home that were once sick. Of course, the worst part is the reality of lives lost and the tragedies we sometimes witness."

Sadie Anderson, M.S.N., R.N.

The spirit of giving stays with nurses who have moved through the ranks and into management. Sadie Anderson, director of nursing for inpatient surgical services units at ANMC, said that like Summers, her initial interest in nursing grew from classes at King Career Center.

"After high school, I obtained my phlebotomy certification and worked for Quest Diagnostics, eventually attending UAA and getting my B.A.," she said. "In 2007, I started working at the Inpatient Orthopedics Department at ANMC."

Anderson worked her way up to the position she holds now and just finished a Master of Science in nursing degree. What keeps her focused is the combination of a great work group and the desire to maintain excellent patient care.

"There isn't much I don't like about my job," she said. "I enjoy helping to make nurses and CNAs jobs easier, making sure they have the equipment and supplies they need to take care of our patients. I enjoy talking to the patients during their stay, and being able to see them leave happy and thankful for the level of care they received."

Challenges and rewards

The learning curve with nursing is a big one, and seemingly endless.

"Alaska Native Medical Center is a Magnet®-recognized hospital," said Summers, referring to an elite designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. "This means they strive for both personal and professional growth in their employees. There are so many opportunities for nurses to have input and to improve their knowledge."

Reep added, "Health care is ever-changing and there is always something new to learn. Each day I'm at work, I try to use those learning opportunities to broaden my understanding of the field."

When asked what kind of advice she might offer to someone considering nursing as a career, Anderson was enthusiastic.

"You won't regret it. Nursing is a fulfilling career with a broad range of specialties. No matter what your personality is, you can find a nursing job that will fit. And there is always a demand for nurses no matter where you go," she said.

"Go for it!" added Reep. "There are many different opportunities as a nurse, and you can do it all over the city, state and world. This career guarantees rough and stressful days, but it is life-giving as well."

This story was sponsored by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, a nonprofit Tribal health organization designed to meet the unique health needs of more than 150,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people living in Alaska.?

This article was produced by the special content department of Alaska Dispatch News in collaboration with ANTHC. Contact the editor, Jamie Gonzales, at jgonzales@alaskadispatch.com. The ADN newsroom was not involved in its production.