Selena Prichard has been a nurse for 25 years, the last six with Kristina Wood-Stubbs, NP, who owns the new Hometown Health Care of Magee, formerly Miller Family Care.
Prichard loves her position as Kristina’s nurse as well as her patients. “We try to make everybody comfortable. The main thing is show them respect. Make sure they’re well taken care of. Most of the time everybody says they’re coming back because we love y’all,” Prichard said with bright laughter.
Since the move from Tuscan Towers, Prichard has noticed they are seeing more patients than before, which she is happy to see. “I love my job; I love taking care of patients. I decided to become a nurse after high school graduation. I was taking care of my uncle, Mr. Kenny Blair. He was a senior English teacher at Mendenhall and he got down real bad sick. I helped take care of him during my junior year.”
Prichard graduated from Mendenhall High School in 1997.
It was that care giving that lead to her career in nursing. Prichard went to Jones County Junior College, graduating in 2000 as an LPN. She previously worked in nursing homes as well as Millcreek and Magee General Hospital. For two years she traveled between Mississippi and Louisiana to assist wound care patients.
Prichard was working at MGH when Dr. John Miller II approached her about coming to work in his clinic. The thought of Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and holidays off appealed to Prichard. She worked PRN to get her feet wet before joining full-time.
There are not many differences in level of care between hospitals and clinics. The major difference is that Prichard really gets to know her patients. She is the first person to see patients before Kristina, gathering the appropriate medical information.
Prichard was quick to say she uses a manual blood pressure cuff as she does not like electronic. “I’m old school. You get the more accurate reading with a manual blood pressure.”
Patients tell her she is good at her job. “I had a patient tell me ‘You give a pretty good shot.’ I said, ‘that’s what I hear.’ I just wish I had a dollar for every shot I’ve given in 25 years. I’d be a rich woman!”
Prichard says you must have a heart for nursing to select it as a career. “It makes my job a lot more, knowing I can take care of someone and make them feel special and well taken care of before they leave our clinic.” She makes sure too, that either she or someone in the office responds to voicemail messages before goes home. Prichard leaves the clinic at varying times sometimes as late as 8 p.m.
One thing missing from their new clinic is the year-round Christmas tree from the old waiting room, and patients have noticed. Prichard will buy a new one this year. She always decorates for the holidays.
Several years ago the tree Prichard put up was so heavy she opted to leave it up all year and change the décor with the holiday. She includes Valentine’s and Easter; then red, white and blue for Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day; followed up by fall; then she starts over again with Christmas. Her favorites are Christmas and especially Easter. “It holds a special place in my heart because that’s when our Lord and Savior rose.”
Prichard said, “Kristina is the best person that I’ve ever worked for in all of my 25 years of nursing. She’s one of the best practitioners out there to take care of babies to elderly. Like I said, I love it! I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
