- April 25, 2024
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Ryan Alton is one of America’s 3.1 million registered nurses being honored May 6, on RN Recognition Day, as part of National Nurses Week, May 6 to May 12.
Florida Hospital Flagler registered nurse Ryan Alton couldn’t stomach the thought of a desk job.
After his time as a Marine, he enrolled and quickly withdrew from engineering school. He craved something active.
“If you would have told me seven years ago that I was going to be a nurse, I probably would have laughed at you,” he said, checking in at the nurse’s station at the beginning of his shift to get the day’s patient load. “ ... I feel like I started at the complete bottom (and) worked my way to the top.”
For a stint, he was a firefighter paramedic. Now, he takes hospital-funded online college courses to eventually become a physician’s assistant.
About three out of five nurses, Alton says, take advantage of the hospital’s education funding program.
In celebration of RN Recognition Day, May 6, and National Nurses Week, May 6 to May 12 — the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing as a profession — Alton strode down the hospital’s fluorescent-lit hallways, explaining routine protocol and procedures. He showed off each room and described each department.
He introduced Bob Hudson, who mans the front desk triage and, in his 23 years of local medical work, says he has cared for most of Flagler County at least once.
Then he introduced Mike Fritz, a Matanzas High School 10-grade volunteer, who hopes to be a doctor some day.
“I just like to help people,” Frtiz said. He also likes to interact with them, get to know each patient and learn their stories. “ ... Together we make it a lot of fun.”
Annually, the hospital’s Emergency Room sees more than 40,000 patients, and that can get stressful, admitted Alton, who works three shifts a week from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.
But that’s the job.
“It takes a certain kind of person to work in a hospital,” he said. “You see people when they’re at their worst ... and you have to be (at) your best.”
BIZBUZZ
+ Prater named Chamber development consultant
William Prater has joined the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates as a new business development consultant. Previously a debt analyst for the Tax Defense Network, Prater has more than 12 years of sales experience, including business-to-business, retail, wholesale and distribution. He has lived in Palm Coast since 2005.
+ Flagler faring well in online votes for best beachside bars
A public online poll is being conducted by FloridaBeachBar.com to determine residents’ favorite beachside hotspots of 2011.
As of April 15, Flagler Beach’s The Golden Lion Café (second place), Finn’s Beachside Pub (11th) and High Tides at Snack Jack (20th) are all ranked.
Polling ended midnight, Saturday, April 30. Results will be posted in early May.
+ Clymer Funeral Home relocates to Palm Coast
Clymer Funeral Home and Cremations of Bunnell has moved its facilities to Palm Coast. The new location, at 39 Old Kings Road N., opened its doors April 25, is almost four times the size of the previous facility, has more parking, two chapels instead of one and an onsite crematory. Call 585-7575.
Send business news to mike@palm coastobserver.com.
