Alice McGowan Nurse Manager of Emergency Services Okmulgee Memorial Hospital

I obtained an Associate Degree in nursing and one year in nursing at Oklahoma Baptist University.

As an Emergency Room Nurse Manager with Registered Nurse experience that spans over 30 years, my background and experience has enabled me to an insight that is needed to direct new nursing graduates. As the nurse manager, my duties involve scheduling, education, orientation, performance improvement, E/M leveling, daily chart audits for charges/documentation, staffing issues, budgeting, serving on committees internally (code blue, trauma) and externally on Regional Trauma Advisory Board and their CQI committee, LEPC for Okmulgee County, Board Member for Okmulgee County EMS. Okmulgee Memorial Hospital is a non-profit hospital, licensed for 66 beds. At Okmulgee Memorial Hospital, my work experience includes Labor and Delivery for three years, House Supervisor, Medical/Surgery, Home Health, Recovery Room Nurse, and Emergency Room.

“Nurses from OSUIT’s program are prepared academically, and I am impressed at how empowered they feel, and confident, and ready to tackle the nursing world. In the clinical setting and as graduates they are eager to learn and easily directed. My involvement as an Advisory Committee Member for OSUIT Nursing Program helps me stay exposed to different aspects of nursing, and keeps me in contact with prospective employees. I would like to see our new nurses have very positive learning experiences while performing clinicals.”

Ben Bradley, MSN, RN Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer Henryetta Medical Center

I have been employed at Henryetta Medical Center for more than 5 years. I received a Master of Science in Nursing from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southwestern College in Winfield, KS, and an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, OK. I have been a nurse for 12 years and have served as a Chief Nursing Officer for the past 10 years.

Since opening its doors in 1981, Henryetta Medical Center has been dedicated to providing quality health care. The hospital is a 41-licensed bed general acute care hospital. From its location at the highway crossroads of I-40 and I-75 in the heart of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, it serves the communities of Henryetta, Okemah, Dewar, Hoffman, Bryant and much of Okmulgee County. The medical staff includes active members who live and practice full-time in Henryetta, as well as specialty physicians who regularly visit. This allows the hospital to meet a wide variety of health needs, including family care, orthopedics, tele-cardiology and ophthalmology. We provide 24 hour emergency room services and a surgeon. Henryetta Medical Center joined Hillcrest HealthCare System in October, 1997.

“OSUIT’s Nursing program has significantly impacted the nursing needs of Okmulgee County and the surrounding area. They have an excellent program that produces outstanding graduate nurses that are able to assimilate effortlessly into the acute care environment. The Nursing program is a great asset to Okmulgee, Henryetta, and the surrounding healthcare community. Graduate nurses from OSUIT’s Nursing program are a prominent part of our nursing staff. They demonstrate great skill and provide compassionate care for our patients. We are privileged to have a strong nursing program in our area that produces outstanding graduate nurses. It is extremely important for leaders in healthcare to provide constructive input regarding the ever changing environment we see in healthcare. As a nursing leader at Henryetta Medical Center, I am committed to partnering with the nursing program at OSUIT to ensure a steady supply of well qualified nurses for the future.”

Charlotte Dunn Vaughn Nursing Director Connors State College

I earned my Master’s Degree at the University of Oklahoma in 1990 and graduated in 1994 with a MS in Nursing with Education Emphasis. I have been a nurse for 34 years. I am new to being director, and I am finding that I have multiple duties. My faculty and I work to keep the program functioning and help students graduate and pass NCLEX. Along the way, there are reports to write, statistics to keep, records to maintain, and issues that involve faculty and students that transpire.

I obtained my BSN at Texas Woman’s University in 1975. From that point, I worked in the medical-surgical area primarily. I had general hospital nursing experience until 1978, when I moved to Muskogee with my (former) spouse, who was a physician. Together, we opened a clinical practice in family medicine. I assisted with the clients by assessing, doing laboratory testing, treatments and education. Office management and insurance filing was part of my job, along with transcription. Eventually I returned to hospital PRN staff in the 1980’s, and went on to full-time medical-surgical nursing at Muskogee Regional Medical Center.

In 1989, I took a part-time position with Connors State College doing lab skills and OB/peds. I started my Master’s Degree at the University of Oklahoma in 1990 and graduated in 1994 with a MS in Nursing with Education emphasis. By that time, I was teaching full-time. Throughout the years of teaching, I have maintained a PRN position at Muskogee Regional Medical Center with the last few years being in the Maternal/Child area. I left Muskogee Regional in January 2009 to take the director position at Connors State College.

Connors State College just celebrated its 100 year anniversary. The nursing program graduated its first class in the 1987. The main campus is in Warner, Oklahoma. Another campus is located in downtown Muskogee.

“The director of OSUIT’s Nursing Program is a graduate of Connors State College, and since the schools are closely related in curriculum and are serving similar communities, it is in the best interest of the programs to work together.”

Diana Mashburn Nursing Professor Northeastern State University

My education includes an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Bacone College in 1987, a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Northeastern State University in 1990, and a Master of Science from the University of Oklahoma in 2004. Presently, I’m working towards my PhD from the University of Minnesota with complete coursework and a nearly finished dissertation.

I teach Professional Nursing Role and Professional Nursing Synthesis, the first and last classes in NSU’s RN-BSN program, where nursing classes are 100% online. Northeastern State University was the first to have a RN to BSN program in Oklahoma.

“I think the OSUIT Nursing Program is a quality program. I enjoyed adjunct teaching for two summers with this program. I believe it is necessary and important to foster the relationship between OSUIT and NSU through the Advisory Committee and encourage the graduates to go on to further their nursing education.”

Glenda Mariano Practical Nursing Director/Instructor Green Country Technology Center

I started out in nursing as an LPN in 1976. As the Director of the PN program I coordinate classes, develop policies, chair meetings, attend meetings, make assignments, schedule clinical and teach.

“OSUIT accepts nursing students from GCTC and they seem to be prepared when entering the work force. Students usually learn the job after leaving school. I think the older nurses need to do a better job mentoring the new grads. I’m actively involved with OSUIT’s Nursing Program Advisory Committee, and I believe as a mentor to all students, that I’m dedicated to making sure nurses are prepared to accept the challenge of being an excellent nurse. OSUIT’s school of nursing has been very gracious to accept students from Green Country and have an articulation agreement with them.”

Kathy Machetta Chief Nursing Officer Okmulgee Memorial Hospital

I graduated from St. Anthony’s School of Nursing in 1979 and have been employed at Okmulgee Memorial Hospital since 1986. I work with a nursing staff of approximately 100, caring for patients in a variety of settings.

I worked at St. Anthony’s and Presbyterian hospitals in Oklahoma City prior to moving to Okmulgee in 1986. Since my employment at Okmulgee Memorial Hospital, I have worked in a variety of departments: CCU, Medical/Surgical, and Home Health. I assisted with the opening of the HOPE unit in 1986, the second Geriatric/Psychiatric unit in Oklahoma at the time. I worked in Nursing Education and Infection Control and the last three years have been the CNO.

Okmulgee Memorial Hospital is a 65 bed hospital that serves our community. We have an active Emergency Department, with an average of 1,100 patients each month. The HOPE unit has recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, continuing to meet the needs of our senior citizens. We have an extremely busy Home Health department as well as a Medical/Surgical inpatient unit. Our Surgical Department performs approximately 200 procedures each month.

“The Nursing program at OSUIT does an excellent job preparing students for the clinical requirements of nursing. The LPN to RN bridge program has been very important to our staff as they work to advance their education. The students/graduates of OSUIT are especially competent clinically when coming to our hospital. The instructors work well with our staff during clinical experiences. I have been a member of the Advisory Board since its inception. I feel that my involvement not only assists the school, but also my community and the hospital where I work. We have been the proud employer of six of the OSU graduates and hope to employ many more in the future.”

Russell Torbett Administrator, Koweta Health Clinic Muscogee (Creek) Nation Health

I have been employed with Muscogee (Creek) Nation Health for 12 years and am presently the Administrator for the Koweta Health Clinic. My educational background is a Bachelor’s in Administration from OSU. Muscogee (Creek) Nation provides healthcare to Native Americans within the eleven county area of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation through five outpatient clinics and one hospital as well as numerous community-based health programs.

“OSUIT’s nursing program prepares students well, not just to be nurses but to be contributing members of society. We have had a very positive experience with the students and instructors from OSUIT’s Nursing Program. I am involved as an Advisory Board Member for OSUIT because I believe it is an avenue in which I can make a positive contribution to the betterment of my local community.”