Registered nurses: Madison’s humble heroes

Wilkerson (left) and Crowe were among a number of nurses recognized during Nurses Week at Madison Hospital. (RECORD PHOTO/ALDO AMATO)

By Aldo Amato

Staff Reporter

MADISON — A week of recognition for a lifetime of service.

That is exactly what nurses at Madison Hospital received this week. The nurses celebrated Nation Nurses Week where they are recognized for their services.

But almost every nurse at the new hospital will tell you the true recognition comes in the service they provide.

“To the patient, all that matters is that we’re there for them,” Shari Crowe, RN, said. “Whether that be reassurance, medication or education and keeping the whole environment for them safe. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes and the real satisfaction comes when we know we’ve helped the patient in every way possible.”

Every two years, nurses have to renew their license with the Alabama State Board along with 24 hours of continuing education that they must demonstrate. At Madison Hospital, it is a requirement that nurses must be certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

“It’s a little bit beyond of what is required at most hospitals,” Tracy Wilkerson, RN, said. “We’ve shared a lot and grown here at Madison Hospital. It’s great and like one big family.”

The number of applicants in the nursing field has skyrocketed recently. While the notion of job security comes into play, Crowe said becoming a nurse is more like a calling rather than a choice.

“I thing it truly is a calling and people who choose to enter the program feel like it’s something that they are supposed to be doing,” she said.

Wilkerson said she could not agree more.

“I think you go into it because you truly want to go into it,” she said. “I think we get as much out of helping people as they get out of us helping them. We really don’t expect anything and the reward is doing the job itself.”