For Ellen King, RN, St. Dominic Hospital has been a second home. She feels blessed to have worked there for 40 years.
A lot has changed at St. Dominic’s since 1983, the year King started working as a young nurse. While she can’t quite remember her first day, the feeling of friendliness, encouragement and helpfulness she experienced has stuck with her, 40 years later.
Today, King works as a registered nurse in the hospital’s Patient Assignment Center. She feels blessed to have experienced all the ways St. Dominic’s has grown through the years.
“There have been so many technological advances in healthcare leading to shorter recovery times for patients,” she says. King has seen procedures that once required a week-long stay in the hospital become outpatient procedures as technology and practices advance. She’s grateful to be a part of the evolution.
Pursuing a Dream Job
King has enjoyed her career as a nurse and says she has wanted to practice nursing for as long as she can remember. Caring for patients and seeing them thrive is at the heart of why she chose her career in nursing.
“I really enjoy interacting with the patients and seeing them improve and be able to go home,” she says. She has served in various nursing roles, including at the bedside, where she got to interact very closely with patients. Working for a dynamic hospital and system has allowed her to find her perfect fit in the field of nursing.
Life Outside of the Hospital
King and her husband enjoy taking day trips around the state and looking for interesting places to visit and restaurants to try. They have ventured into making jams and jellies and are testing out making pickles from scratch.
During October, our health system celebrates team member anniversaries, recognizing those who have achieved milestone years of service within our organization. We will be featuring team members across our ministry all month long!
