JBER nurses, technicians officially appreciated

Published May 11, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
JBER Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Individuals crucial to the medical care of Arctic Warriors were recognized for their contributions throughout the 673d Medical Group this week.

May 6 through 12 was Nurses and Technicians Appreciation Week.

Events included a continental breakfast, ice cream and popcorn socials, and a luncheon which capped the week.

Air Force Major Antoinette Sheppard, the nurse manager for the hospital's Wrangell Element, has been nursing for a total of 19 years - the last 14 have been spent with the Air Force.

She said nursing is in her blood and her mother, aunts and sister are all nurses.
She thinks it is great there is time for the hospital to acknowledge nurses and technicians.

"It feels good to have a week to celebrate and recognize our contributions," she said.

"Sometimes you can feel that you are not being appreciated, and events like this show that is not the case."

The major said she loves every aspect of her job, and her coworkers form a great team.

"We have to work together and cover (the workload) for each other, especially with the telephone consults," she said.

"Each team (of 10) is responsible for 2,500 patients. Things can get pretty busy at times.

"This is a busy environment; we have to take it head-on with a positive attitude," she said.
Airman 1st Class Christopher Stuart, a medical technician, said he enjoys being part of a winning team.

As with the major, medical care runs in his blood. His mother was a nurse for 25 years.
"I really enjoy my job and it has been a great learning experience," he said.

"We have a really good team. If you don't have people who are willing to work and function together it can be a miserable experience.

Our job is to be the provider's right hand man and do what we can to make their job easier," he said.

The Airman said he enjoys dealing with patients, especially when they are able to send them home with positive news.

"My favorite part of the job is to see people happy after a visit when they have received good news," he said.

"Sometimes people come in with a problem like high blood pressure and they are very worried," he said.

"It is always good when we can get rid of their anxiety by pinpointing the problem."

Sheppard said the best part of her job is sending patients home happy as well.

She said the most important thing a nurse or medical technician does is to keep the patients relaxed and at ease.

"It doesn't matter what kind of day you have been having," she said. "Some of the patients are very nervous about their visit.

You have to show a positive attitude at all times to make their visit as easy
as possible."