ENID, OK - Pamela Joseph’s nursing career came full circle recently when she retired from the profession after 40 years.
The emergency department nurse chose May 14, 2022, as her final day for a reason. That was the exact date she graduated from nursing school at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1982.
The Hennessey native knew from a young age she wanted to be a nurse. “The only thing I ever wanted to do growing up was be a nurse,” Pamela said.
In the late 1970’s, Pamela got her first taste of working in the medical field as teen volunteer. “I was a candy-striper at Bass when I was in high school,” she said. “Then I attended Autry Vo-tech and got my CNA license. I worked in the urology department at Bass the summer after my senior year in high school.” It was there that Pamela met a nurse who encouraged her to continue in the profession.
After graduating nursing school, Pamela worked briefly at the hospital in Shattuck as a graduate nurse before moving to Midwest City, where she took a job in an emergency department.
In 1999, at age 39, Pamela made a major change and joined the Air National Guard as a flight nurse. Two years after she swore in, the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened, and she was deployed while working at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. In all, she served five tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. “I loved working as a flight nurse,” Pamela said of her experience. “The people we cared for were so appreciative. We worked alongside soldiers from other countries, and many of them were young. I was older, so they called me ‘mom’, which made me feel good. If my children were in the same position, I would want someone to look after them.”
Pamela retired from the military in 2010 and moved back to Hennessey to be closer to her aging parents. She came back to INTEGRIS Bass Baptist Health Center in 2016.
“Pamela was a pleasure to work with,” said Emergency Department Manager Jamie McAlister. “She took fellow caregivers under her wing and truly enjoyed assisting other nurses and sharing her knowledge and experiences. Anyone that crossed her path benefitted from knowing her.”
On her final day, Pamela wore her nursing whites and white hat. She came with photos and badges from her time in the military, as well as all of her nametags from past jobs.
In retirement, Pamela plans to spend time with her mother and sister, who is also retiring and moving back home to Hennessey, where she is building a house next to Pamela. She has a sewing cabin full of fabric, machines for sewing and monogramming, and she plans to spend much of her time there.
According to McAlister, Pamela’s retirement is bittersweet. “Not only is the department losing a great nurse, but also a great friend. We truly wish her the best as she transitions to a retirement full of hobbies and traveling.”
