92.7 WOBM is taking time out to honor the hard-working nurses of Ocean County during Nurses Appreciation Week Monday, May 5 through Friday, May 9.

Read about some of the featured nurses from Kimball Medical Center Then, join Shawn & Sue as they bring WOBM's Ocean County Breakfast Show to a different hospital each day.

Barbara Hayles| Michele Price |Nina Reyes|

Pat Wyckoff |Christine Shaw-Mitchell

Barbara Hayles, R.N.

As a nurse in Community Medical Center’s Emergency Department, Barbara Hayles, R.N., likes the fact that no two days are ever the same. For the past four and one-half years, she has welcomed the fast-paced environment of New Jersey’s busiest ER, where more than 95,000 patients are treated each year.
“You never know what each day will bring, and that for me is the most challenging and rewarding part of being an ER nurse,” says Barbara, who describes the ED staff with as “the glue” that keeps the delivery of care in a constant state of motion. “We support each other, and that’s what makes us ready and able to handle all types of emergencies.”
Barbara’s perspective as an ER nurse has been influenced by her own experience in two other highly specialized areas of nursing. Before joining CMC, she was a psychiatric nurse licensed in chemical dependency counseling — knowledge she now draws upon to address the needs of ED patients with drug and alcohol problems. “These people don’t necessarily have a physical illness, but they are still suffering with emotional pain,” she explains. “To understand their addiction, you have to have compassion but also hold them accountable for their actions.”
In January 2007, Barbara entered the field of forensic nursing, joining Ocean County’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) after she earned certification as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). All hospitals in the county, including CMC and sister affiliate Kimball Medical Center, participate in the statewide SANE program, which ensures that victims of sexual abuse have access to quality health care treatment in a timely fashion.
“We provide survivors of sexual assault, who are primarily women, with comfort and care during the information and evidence gathering process,” says Barbara, who is part of a team that includes other specially trained nurses, law enforcement officials and rape care advocates. “It’s gratifying knowing we can help these individuals at a time that is extremely difficult and overwhelming for them.”

Michele Price, RN

Michele Price, RN, is a case manager in Community Medical Center’s Home Health Department. She has worked at Community since 1996b when she graduated from Ocean County College with her nursing degree.

She began her career in the Intensive Care Unit on the night shift, and also worked in Same Day Surgery. What Michele loves most about her role in Home Health is advocating for the patients, and educating and teaching family members how to care for their loved ones.

The majority of Michele’s patients reside in Holiday City, a local retirement community. She said the older adults she works with are wonderful, and she is proud to work in such a caring situation.

“I really enjoy the human response,” Michele said. “Being a home health nurse is not easy, but it is very rewarding.”

Michele and her husband live in Toms River with their three children, ages 16, 15 and 9.

Nina Reyes, RN

Nina Reyes, RN has been a nurse at Community Medical Center for almost 17 years. Her entire career has been spent in the Operating Room where she assists surgeons with all types of surgical procedures. She is always there for her patients, offering her technical expertise, and compassionate, calming manner.

Prior to joining Community Medical Center, Nina worked in New York City as a nurse for 10 years. She earned her nursing degree in the Philippines.

Nina is a resident of Toms River.

Pat Wyckoff, RN

In the past 20 years, Pat Wyckoff, RN has seen thousands of babies come into the world in her role as a certified inpatient obstetrics nurse at Community Medical Center. She spent time working in Post-Partum and the Nursery during the early part of her career, but for the pasts 15 years, she has been a fundamental fixture on the Labor & Delivery Unit caring for new moms and their babies.

Pat said over the course of her career she has probably delivered more than 20 babies herself, and assisted the physicians with literally thousands of births. Coupling her outstanding clinical nursing expertise with a compassionate, dedicated and calming demeanor, Pat has touched the lives of countless families from Ocean County.

Pat earned her nursing degree from Ocean County College, and also holds a degree in Respiratory Therapy. A resident of Toms River, she is married and has two grown sons.

Christine Shaw-Mitchell, RN, BSN

Christine Shaw-Mitchell, RN, BSN is a critical care nurse at Community Medical Center. She has been a member of the hospital’s nursing staff for almost 21 years. In December of 1972 Christine graduated from Brookdale Community College with her nursing degree. In May 2006, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Bloomfield College. Currently, Christine is studying for her Master’s of Science degree in Nursing from Stockton State College.

Prior to joining Community Medical Center, Christine worked at Monmouth Medical Center as a staff nurse in Obstetrics and the Nursery. She also worked as a critical care nurse at Riverview Medical Center. In 1987 she joined CMC as a Home Health and Hospice nurse.

Today Christine says she has done “everything from A to Z” when it comes to nursing, but admits she is “a person who works very well with end of life issues.”

“My love is nursing,” Christine said. “I love it with all my heart. I love to come to work because I know there are lives out there that I haven’t touched yet. I know I can help people get through a very difficult time in their lives, even if it is just holding their hand.”

When she’s not at work, Christine enjoys being the grandma of two special grandchildren.