Mary Ruiz Cortez, LVN, a Licensed Vocational Nurse who is retired from practice
Get to know Licensed Vocational Nurse, Mary Ruiz Cortez, who served patients in the Brazos Valley in Central Texas.
Mary is a licensed vocational nurse who retired after 27 years from CHI St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan, Texas. She was as an OR scrub nurse, but also worked in several different areas when she was needed. She worked in all areas of the OR, but she was a long term member of the Heart Team.
CHI St. Joseph Regional Health Center is a 235 bed center offering the Brazos Valley a Level II Trauma Center. With a widely recognized surgery program. CHI St. Joseph Health is also known throughout the region for it’s cardiac, cancer and rehabilitation programs. They have recently acquired a second hospital in College Station, Texas. Formally known as The College Station Medical Center, it is now CHI St. Joseph Health-College Station Hospital.
After earning her high school diploma from Hearne Independent School District, Mary started out her career as a Certified Nurse Aid. She worked hard and learned as much as she could by continuing her education. She went on to earn her nursing degree from Blinn College in Bryan, Texas.
After her retirement, Mary decided staying at home was not for her. She took the position as the Hearne ISD nurse. School nursing is a specialized practice of public health nursing that protects and promotes student health, facilitates normal development, and advances academic success. School nurses perform a critical role within the school health program by addressing the major health problems experienced by children.
Among her many achievements, Mary was awarded District Staff Support of the Year (2018) and was a Nominee for Regional Staff Support of the Year, 6 Regions in Texas.
A licensed vocational nurse (LVN) is a job title specific to Texas and California. LVNs are known as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in all other states. LVNs and LPNs work under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and physicians, providing basic bedside care to patients.
LVNs are typically responsible for monitoring patients’ vital signs, including their blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature, height, and weight. Other tasks that LVNs are responsible for include giving enemas, recording intake and output of foods and fluids, collecting samples for testing, maintaining equipment, and dressing wounds – among others.
On her free time, Mary enjoys baking and spending time with her family.
Learn More about Mary Ruiz Cortez:
Through her online profile, https://todaysnurse.org/network/index.php?do=/4142114/info/
