Leah Ford, APRN, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with the Dallam Hartley Counties Hospital District
Get to know Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Leah Ford, who serves patients in Dalhart, Texas.
Leah, an advanced practice registered nurse, works within the Emergency Department at the Dallam Hartley Counties Hospital District in Dalhart, Texas.
Dallam Hartley Counties Hospital District is a growth-oriented healthcare organization and is committed to being the primary quality healthcare resource for Dallam and Hartley Counties and the surrounding areas. The organization includes a 21-bed critical access hospital, two family practice clinics, an assisted living facility, nursing home, physical therapy clinic, home health and hospice. Its comprehensive range of services include a 24-hour emergency department, surgical services, telemedicine, and state-of-the-art radiology and imaging, as well as cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Leah is a third generation registered nurse with her grandmother graduating in 1971 and having nearly 50 years of nursing experience under her belt. Growing up, she saw first-hand the emotional connection and care that nurses provided as her mother and grandmother provided hospice care within the community. They are from a small rural area and people would stop to talk to her because her mother made such an impact on them during the most challenging time of their life. This was the most influential drive for her to go to nursing school.
In 2011, she graduated with her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Amarillo College School of Nursing. She then went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2017, followed by her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Houston Baptist University in 2019.
During school and after graduation, Leah knew nursing was where her calling was. Attributing her success to her family being her driving force, she loves her patients and has her own passion for patient care.
Continuously staying up to date in her field, she holds certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS – not intended for postnominal use), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). She is also a Trauma Nursing Core Course Instructor (TNCC-I – not intended for postnominal use) and a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN).
An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a nurse who has obtained at least a master’s degree in nursing. APRNs may work across various healthcare settings, including hospitals, ambulatory clinics or long-term care facilities. They provide medical support and preventative care to patients, along with additional responsibilities of coordinating patient care and using specialized knowledge to manage complex patient conditions. APRNs can diagnose and treat as well as order and interpret tests and prescribe medications.
An active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Leah has received many awards and honors for her expertise. These include: the Service Excellence Award from Moore County Hospital District for excellence in compassionate care, Honors Society Nomination at the University of Texas at Arlington, and membership status within the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing – Delta Theta Chapter and the Society for Collegiate Leadership & Achievement.
Among her work with charitable organizations, she is a volunteer for geriatric activities at Memorial Nursing and Rehab, a volunteer assisting elderly with meals at Moore County Senior Citizens Center, a volunteer assisting with animal adoptions at Moore County Animal Shelter, and a volunteer feeding the homeless of Amarillo, Texas with Mustard Street Charity. In 2009, she served as a volunteer on a medical mission trip to Belize.
Learn More about Leah Ford:
Through her online profile, https://todaysnurse.org/network/index.php?do=/4146975/info/
