22 Oct 2017 A heart for nursing: Reflecting on 54 years of service

by John Patton
and Sonja J. Keith

Pat Skelton recently retired after spending almost 54 years caring for patients at one workplace, Conway Regional Health System. The reaction on her retirement day left no doubt how much she will be missed by doctors and co-workers alike, many of whom left her hand-written messages of appreciation.

Pat initially told her co-workers in the Pre-Admissions Testing unit that she wanted no parties or gifts. After 53 years, surely she wanted something they insisted. “The only thing I want is a chocolate cupcake and a hug,” she told them.

A Conway native and a graduate of St. Joseph School, Pat graduated from the St. Vincent School of Nursing. “Nursing is all I’ve ever had in my head,” she said, adding that she was in the eighth or ninth grade when she chose her career path along with classmate Beth Hambuchen. “My heart had always kind of gone out to the folks in need and the elderly.”

When Pat started work, fresh out of nursing school in September 1963, she made $18 a day. Now-a-days many nurses make more than $18 an hour. Long before the days of critical care units and da Vinci robotic surgery, most procedures were done on Station 2 or Station 1. 

The day Pat graduated from nursing school as a registered nurse was the same day her high school sweetheart and future husband, David Skelton, gave her an engagement ring. The couple have three children, Jim, Matthew and Amy Guthrie, and two granddaughters.

“They don’t make them like her anymore,” said Amy, Pat’s daughter and a Fayetteville school teacher. Amy and her brothers “grew up at Conway Regional.”

Reflecting on her time as a nurse, Pat has seen many changes in the field, including the uniforms – from a hat and white pantyhose and shoes to scrubs. “The technology is tremendous and how it’s evolved and what nurses have to use as tools.”

Over the years, she has also witnessed changes at Conway Regional. “I think it was great to watch this hospital grow and see what it’s become,” she said. “It’s a great place. It’s excellent.”

Pat is appreciative of those who helped her along the way at Conway Regional. “I had a lot of good mentors here who taught me a lot.” Her advice to new nurses is to work in a med surgery area for six months. “That knowledge will put things in perspective,” she said. “It just brings it all together.”

On her last day at the hospital, Pat was greeted with a humungous chocolate cupcake and lots of hugs at a surprise party in her honor. Other gifts included an honorary brick with her name on it in the walkway at the Conway Regional fountain.

A long line of colleagues, including Drs. Carol Angel and Jevin Smith, Conway Regional’s Chief Nursing Officer Angie Longing, and friends took their turn giving Pat a hug.

When Pat retired she was into the tenure of her seventh administrator, Matt Troup. “We have a great leader,” Pat said. “I just can’t say enough about him. He is so kind to everyone.”

Pat has a special fondness for those she has worked with over the years, describing them as family.

“Pat is the most compassionate person I have ever met,” said Kathy Wesson, a co-worker of 17 years. “She could always cheer us up in bad situation.” In addition to compassionate, her co-workers used one-word descriptions such as “fun,” “caring,” “blast” and “crazy” to describe Pat. “She is a river of living water that gave us hope and strength when we came here every day,” added Kathy.

Pat plans to “just enjoy the simple things” in retirement with her husband David. She has a list of home projects she would like to undertake and said the couple may take a few trips.

During her life, Pat has learned several powerful words which reflect her outlook on life – faith, hope and love. Humility and forgiveness are important too. She tries to remember and live by those words every day. A good sense of humor helps too.

“It’s not easy. You have to work at it. When you do, life’s journey is much easier.”

Pat said she did not have any particular retirement plan in mind, but knew when the time was right, she would know. She did not envision that she would be working at age 75. She has enjoyed most meeting people and those she worked with at Conway Regional. While there were tough times, especially when helping families through grief, there was also a lot of joy. “I love what I do. I’ve always loved it.”