504 North Cleveland Street • Mount Ayr, IA 50854 • 641-464-3226 • www.rchmtayr.orgRinggold County Hospital does not discriminate with regard to age, race, color, gender, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or disability.

Ringgold County Hospital

Caring our Calling!Compassionate. Committed.

RINGGOLD COUNTY HOSPITAL

Breast cancer survivors speak outSenior Life Solutions has a new directorMorgan Drake, RN, is joining the staff at Ringgold County Hospital to run the Senior Life Solutions program. She is taking over for Deb Robertson who retired on August 21.

Morgan has spent her entire career working with seniors. She worked in nursing homes in Bedford and Mt. Ayr before starting Senior Life Solutions at Decatur County Hospital. Morgan received her nursing degree from Iowa Western Community College in Clarinda, IA. A native of Bedford, she currently lives there with her family.

Ringgold County Hospital’s Senior Life Solutions program, an intensive group counseling program for individuals over age 55, provides assistance to people who are dealing with emotional or behavioral issues often related to aging. Family members, physicians or other health professionals can refer individuals to the program. For more information about Senior Life Solutions, or to make a referral, contact our caring and dedicated staff at (641) 464-4468.

Becky Andrews “It’s my firm belief that everyone should get an annual mammogram. I usually get one every year on my birthday in August. But for some reason, I waited until December in 2018. If it weren’t for the 3-D machine, we never would have found the cancers. I had cancer in both breasts.

“It was a big blessing that I didn’t have to do chemo. I had surgery in early 2019 along with radiation. And For the next five years, I’ll take a pill as a preventative measure to prevent future cancer. But that’s it! I’m feeling good and doing well. Having a positive attitude is key. I knew that God would take care of me.”

Diane Wood “I’ve had a mammogram every year since I turned 40 because I have a family history of breast cancer. My mother, my grandmother and my grandmother’s five sisters all had it. Three years ago, when I was 69, my mammogram indicated stage one breast cancer.

“The doctor recommended a lumpectomy, but because of my family history, I opted for a double mastectomy. I had no radiation and no chemo and I’m feeling really good. My advice? Get a mammogram every year!”

Debbie Bradley“I’m very fortunate. Thirty-some years ago I became eligible to have regular mammograms through my insurance company. I started immediately and have never missed one. I lost a dear aunt to breast cancer and her memory was my motivation. In recent years, my husband and I have been going to Ringgold County Hospital for all our medical needs. When it was time for a mammogram in 2019, RCH had just installed a 3-D machine. They credit that machine for finding the cancer. It was really early detection and wasn’t even stage one yet. I was 73 years old.

“My surgery was a lumpectomy and removal of three lymph nodes. That was followed by several radiation treatments. I received wonderful care from start to finish and recovered quickly. After my 2020 follow-up mammogram, I received a letter from RCH stating, “Your recent breast imaging showed an area that we believe is probably benign (probably not cancer). However, in six months, you should have a follow-up imaging to confirm that this area has not changed.” You can bet that I will be there in six months. I have on occasion received letters like this over the years that were always benign.”

OCTOBER

2020

Donna HunterDonna Hunter always knew she wanted to be a nurse. “I just love helping people. I grew up around caretakers and had lots of exposure to the nursing profession.” She was born in Illinois and moved to Afton as a child, where she still lives.

At the age of 16 she started her career as a nurse’s aide. She became a Certified Medical Assistant at 18 and after graduating from high school, she went immediately to Southwestern Community College in Creston. She became an LPN in 2005 and started out as a Medication Aide for a Union County group home. “I really enjoy working with the elderly,” she said. “I just love the population. They have so much wisdom and experience. I like to make them happy and make them smile.”

While at the group home, she often worked with the medical providers at the Mount Ayr Medical Clinic. “I always enjoyed working together with them,” she added. “When this job came open, I thought, I can do this!”

Donna’s favorite part of nursing at the Clinic is being able to give her patients truly personalized care. “It gets to the point that they no longer feel like a patient. They really know us and trust us,” she said. “The current Covid19 pandemic has made some patients more fearful of symptoms - even those they’ve had before. In the spring and summer, some people weren’t taking care of routine issues and getting checkups. But they’re coming back in now. We’re seeing a variety of everything.”

After 15 years as a nurse, caring for her community, Donna knows she’s in the right place at the right time. “I just love helping people!”

Shawn DorsettShawn Dorsett grew up in Iowa but took an 18-year journey to South Carolina and Georgia before returning in 2006. A registered nurse in Ringgold County Hospital’s Acute Care unit, she’s also an entrepreneur. “My first career was nails,” she explained. “I had a nail salon in Georgia for 13 years. I also dabbled in permanent makeup.”

After having her daughter in 2006, she decided to go to nursing school and began at Southwestern Community College in 2007. “I started my nursing career because I had to support my child. But now, honestly, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Like many RCH nurses, Shawn really enjoys taking care of people. “I’ve always been customer service oriented,” she said. “With nursing, it’s kind of the same thing. And I enjoy being challenged and learning something new every day.” After 10 years as a nurse, Shawn described how her skills and intuition continue to grow as well. “You walk into a room and just know when something’s not right. I can pick up on things that may be unsaid.”

The camaraderie among the Acute Care nurses is great, according to Shawn. “We work well together and have a great team. Everyone knows what to do and follows their strong skills. The physicians also give us a lot of space to be good nurses. It’s really great.”

Being a registered nurse and raising a 13-year old daughter would be plenty for most people to take on. Shawn is also the hospital’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, a CPR instructor, and a volunteer EMS for Clearfield, IA. In her spare time, she raises German Shepherds and Corgis. “I love the area here,” she admits. “I live in the country on 25 acres and I spend a lot of time on my front porch. I’m fortunate. I have a really good life.”

We appreciate our nurses!We are celebrating the hard work, compassion, and dedication of nurses everywhere. Here at Ringgold County Hospital, our thanks go out to all the nurses in our hospital and clinic who care for our community every day. In this month’s newsletter, we’re profiling two more outstanding nurses for their contributions.