LaQuita Potts, RN, Nursing Supervisor will retire from Tyrone Hospital in January after more than 41 years of service.
Potts completed nursing training at Altoona Hospital. She joined Tyrone Hospital in 1963. Her first position at the hospital was in obstetrics nursing. During her career, she worked in almost every area of nursing within Tyrone Hospital including medical-surgical, emergency, and intensive care nursing.
She was promoted to her current position, evening nursing supervisor, in 1971. Her responsibility as nursing supervisor has been to oversee all nursing activity within the hospital on the evening shift.
Over a career that spanned more than four decades, Potts witnessed many changes in the healthcare industry. She said when she first started working at Tyrone Hospital, “There were still some physicians on the hospital staff that made housecalls, something that is unheard of in our area these days.”
Looking back over the years, she said there are also some stand-out memories.
“I was pleased to be here to witness the growth and development of Tyrone Hospital,” Potts. “During my years here, a wing was added to the hospital and a new emergency room was constructed.
“It has also been exciting to see the changes in medicine as a result of science and technology. There are many more resources available now to cure disease and extend life, things that simply did not exist decades ago.”
Potts said she will really miss her co-workers and the hospital’s medical staff.
“I will also miss the people of Tyrone. I have always appreciated the support the community has extended to Tyrone Hospital. You get to know people as you care for them or members of their family. I have shared in celebrating many births and likewise been present to provide comfort in times of loss.”
Potts said she delayed her retirement for about a year because, “When you have been a nurse all of your life, it is hard to imagine what else you could possibly do.”
She said once retired she will relax and plans to work occasional weekends at the hospital.
