Celebrating Nurses! Residential Nurse Tina “Dori” Hall and Charge Nurse Bola Falana

In honor of our dedicated and hardworking nurses who serve selflessly in our facilities, we conclude our Honoring Our Nurses series with Tina “Dori” Hall, BSN, Residential RN and Bola Falana, RN, BSN, Charge Nurse, Long-Term Care

While we feature a small group to honor nurses in May, we are celebrating all our hardworking and committed nurses.

Tina “Dori” Hall, BSN, Residential RN

Nurse Baptiste, a pediatric nurse in an inpatient ward at a military hospital, greatly influenced me many years ago. I remember her well as she left quite an impression on me as a sick little girl under her loving, skillful care. I knew I would be okay as long as she was there to support me. I also knew then that I wanted to be a nurturing, caring, and supportive nurse like Nurse Baptiste.

There was a very long road ahead of me to achieve my goal of becoming a nurse. I remember passing a marquee on a country store that read, “A goal without a plan, is but a dream.” Over the years that quote has resonated with me and often pushes me to pursue my goals/dreams when life distracts me. I went to a community college and then on to university. I spent a total of seven years in college, getting a couple of degrees. We never stop learning and there is always new equipment or tests to get familiar with or a new disease to research.

I’ve been in medicine in some capacity for over 30 years. I remember when NCLEX was an all-day written exam, paper charting, MRI and CAT scan when they were first introduced and so much more. I have seen medicine evolve and change in ways that support healthcare quality and delivery in unprecedented ways.

Becoming a nurse has been one of my greatest achievements. My career has allowed me to pursue my other interests such as crocheting, quilting, camping, fishing and traveling. I’ve been to places that I never dreamed I’d visit. My next big trip is Europe.

I absolutely love the people of this town. I am always looking for ways to volunteer. I currently volunteer at the Food Bank. Giving time and resources to meet others’ needs is very fulfilling on many levels.

Aspiring nurses should remember that a nursing career doesn’t have to be only about blood and guts. It can be very rewarding in other ways as well as there are options like case management, legal RN, hospice and home health, to name a few. Or you can travel around the world with your RN license as your passport. I did just that. I didn’t go overseas but I did come to Alaska and found my home here in Bethel.

Bola Falana, RN, BSN Charge Nurse, Long-Term Care

Receiving care and seeing loved ones go through medical situations and witnessing the care provided by nurses in hospitals and in other healthcare settings inspired me to pursue a nursing career. I witnessed both positive and negative patient-care experiences. Fueled by my passion to help others, the negative experiences encouraged me to become a nurse and contribute to solutions to healthcare concerns.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program generally takes about four years to complete. Some take less time and others longer to complete, depending on individual circumstances. I took detours in my BSN program and had to overcome many obstacles in my journey to become a nurse. However, I am happy that I persisted and was able to graduate in spite of life’s challenges.

Being at YKHC has provided me with opportunities to help others as I learn and grow as a nurse fresh out of college. Nursing has provided me with personal growth and fulfillment, career stability and opportunities, and a challenging work environment.

Nursing can be physically and emotionally demanding, requiring resilience and the ability to cope with stressful situations. However, overcoming these challenges has helped me to become stronger and more resilient in my career and in other areas of life.
As a nurse I am able to contribute to improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities I serve. Public health initiatives, immunization drives, and community outreach programs to promote overall well-being are areas that I wish to explore.
My advice to aspiring health professionals is to research and understand the different areas of healthcare and develop a well-rounded skill set. Moreover, they need to embrace continuous learning, take care of themselves, stay focused and be compassionate towards those they serve.
Nursing is a rewarding career where there are many opportunities to make a positive, profound impact on people’s lives.