Juanita Porter

Juanita PorterDirector of NursingTwin Lakes Regional Medical Center910 Wallace AvenueLeitchfield, KY 42754(270) 259-9508FAX: (270) 259-9524

Porter retires after 33 years in nursingjporter.JPG (12811 bytes)July 2003 -- "I wish I'd kept a daily journal," said Twin Lakes Regional's Director of Nursing Juanita Porter as she sat behind her desk and pondered her 33-year career as a nurse in the county."I could write a book now if I had." And that she could.From the halls of the former Grayson County War Memorial Hospital to today's Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center, she would have countless memories to share of triumph and defeat, laughter and sadness, miracles and losses, and most of all, fulfilment and satisfaction.A mother of four, Juanita got her career off to a late start, not entering the nursing program at Elizabethtown Community College until her youngest was in school.She received an Associate Nursing Degree in 1970 from ECC; a BSN in 1983 from Western Kentucky University; and an MSN in 1990 from the University of Louisville.She is one of the few remaining members of Twin Lakes Regional's staff to have worked at the old Grayson County War Memorial Hospital where she began as a staff nurse in 1970.Four years after joining the hospital's staff, she became med/surg nursing supervisor.Four years later, in 1978, she became the ER Director and held that position until 1984 when she became Assistant Director of Nursing under Alberta Downs.When Alberta retired in 1989, Juanita stepped into the director's role.
...
Juanita admits she did try other careers prior to nursing.For instance, she worked in a sewing factory-- well, almost."I was there for less than a day when I called Hardin (her husband) to come get me!"she laughed."That was not what I wanted to do!"She was a little more successful with her second job choice, working as an office aide for Duvall Morrison at Caneyville School for almost a year.But again, it wasn't satisfying."I finally said if I have to work, it's going to be something I want to do, so that's when I went to nursing school," Juanita remembered."It was what I had always wanted to do anyway."That was 1967, and the rest is local healthcare history, so to speak.Looking back now, she admits with four kids at home, paying her own way, and driving between Yeaman and nursing school in Elizabethtown almost every day, "I don't know how I did it."
...
Juanita remembered the day: "We never left her side, constantly checking her blood pressure.People were handing us sandwiches through the door.
...
The patient survived, and not too long ago, Juanita was reminded of the ordeal by a family member of the patient."That's what I've missed about direct patient care verses nursing administration," she said."You do something you feel good about and you help someone, then years later you see that person somewhere and they thank you.That's when you know you've done something worthwhile."Juanita said she continued her education throughout her career with the desire to be Director of Nursing one day, but admitted, "it wasn't as fulfilling" as providing direct patient care.The public's obsession with lawsuits today has also taken away from the joy of being a nurse."I remember when doing what was best for the patient was the first and foremost thing on your mind," Juanita said regrettfully."Now it's all about paperwork, documentation, and writing down every little thing because someone, someday might sue."She recalled a local policeman running by the old hospital one night to take her to a field where a farmer was trapped in a corn picker."We took care of him right there in the field until they could get him out and take him to the hospital," she said."You couldn't do that today, though, for the fear of being sued."In another similar incident in 1981, a National Guard truck overturned at the Western Kentucky Parkway toll plaza in Leitchfield.Juanita, then ER director, and hospital surgeons Dr. Thomas and Dr. Joe Petrocelli administered care at the scene to the trapped driver while local rescue squads worked to free him from the wreckage.
...
In 1998, that National Guard Sergeant, who lives in Franklin, Ky., made a surprise visit to the hospital to see Dr. Petrocelli and Juanita (Dr. Thomas had since passed away) to thank them for the part they played in saving his life all those years before.
...
Not pictured: Lois Stone, RN, 33 years; Juanita Porter, RN, Director of Nursing, 30 years; and Mary Jo Hoover, Radiology, 26 years.
...
Not pictured: Lois Stone, 33 years; Juanita Porter, 30 years; Merry Lynn Green, 20 years; and Dorothy Smallwood, 20 years.

Porter retires after 33 years in nursingjporter.JPG (12811 bytes)July 2003 -- "I wish I'd kept a daily journal," said Twin Lakes Regional's Director of Nursing Juanita Porter as she sat behind her desk and pondered her 33-year career as a nurse in the county."I could write a book now if I had." And that she could.From the halls of the former Grayson County War Memorial Hospital to today's Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center, she would have countless memories to share of triumph and defeat, laughter and sadness, miracles and losses, and most of all, fulfilment and satisfaction.A mother of four, Juanita got her career off to a late start, not entering the nursing program at Elizabethtown Community College until her youngest was in school.She received an Associate Nursing Degree in 1970 from ECC; a BSN in 1983 from Western Kentucky University; and an MSN in 1990 from the University of Louisville.She is one of the few remaining members of Twin Lakes Regional's staff to have worked at the old Grayson County War Memorial Hospital where she began as a staff nurse in 1970.Four years after joining the hospital's staff, she became med/surg nursing supervisor.Four years later, in 1978, she became the ER Director and held that position until 1984 when she became Assistant Director of Nursing under Alberta Downs.When Alberta retired in 1989, Juanita stepped into the director's role.
...
Juanita admits she did try other careers prior to nursing.For instance, she worked in a sewing factory-- well, almost."I was there for less than a day when I called Hardin (her husband) to come get me!"she laughed."That was not what I wanted to do!"She was a little more successful with her second job choice, working as an office aide for Duvall Morrison at Caneyville School for almost a year.But again, it wasn't satisfying."I finally said if I have to work, it's going to be something I want to do, so that's when I went to nursing school," Juanita remembered."It was what I had always wanted to do anyway."That was 1967, and the rest is local healthcare history, so to speak.Looking back now, she admits with four kids at home, paying her own way, and driving between Yeaman and nursing school in Elizabethtown almost every day, "I don't know how I did it."
...
Juanita remembered the day: "We never left her side, constantly checking her blood pressure.People were handing us sandwiches through the door.
...
The patient survived, and not too long ago, Juanita was reminded of the ordeal by a family member of the patient."That's what I've missed about direct patient care verses nursing administration," she said."You do something you feel good about and you help someone, then years later you see that person somewhere and they thank you.That's when you know you've done something worthwhile."Juanita said she continued her education throughout her career with the desire to be Director of Nursing one day, but admitted, "it wasn't as fulfilling" as providing direct patient care.The public's obsession with lawsuits today has also taken away from the joy of being a nurse."I remember when doing what was best for the patient was the first and foremost thing on your mind," Juanita said regrettfully."Now it's all about paperwork, documentation, and writing down every little thing because someone, someday might sue."She recalled a local policeman running by the old hospital one night to take her to a field where a farmer was trapped in a corn picker."We took care of him right there in the field until they could get him out and take him to the hospital," she said."You couldn't do that today, though, for the fear of being sued."In another similar incident in 1981, a National Guard truck overturned at the Western Kentucky Parkway toll plaza in Leitchfield.Juanita, then ER director, and hospital surgeons Dr. Thomas and Dr. Joe Petrocelli administered care at the scene to the trapped driver while local rescue squads worked to free him from the wreckage.
...
In 1998, that National Guard Sergeant, who lives in Franklin, Ky., made a surprise visit to the hospital to see Dr. Petrocelli and Juanita (Dr. Thomas had since passed away) to thank them for the part they played in saving his life all those years before.
...
Not pictured: Lois Stone, RN, 33 years; Juanita Porter, RN, Director of Nursing, 30 years; and Mary Jo Hoover, Radiology, 26 years.
...
Not pictured: Lois Stone, 33 years; Juanita Porter, 30 years; Merry Lynn Green, 20 years; and Dorothy Smallwood, 20 years.