Iredell Health Honors Long-Serving Employees: A Conversation with Wanda Matthews, RN, Outpatient Surgery

Iredell Health System celebrated its 70^th Anniversary on May 1. It’s not just a celebration of passing time. It’s a testament to the dedication and loyalty of the people who made, and continue to make, it all possible — its employees.

Iredell Health System has a long-standing history of caring for its community. What sets Iredell Health System apart is its deep connection to the community it serves. Many of its employees are not just healthcare professionals — they are our neighbors, friends, and family members. In fact, Iredell Health System has more than 70 employees who have worked at Iredell Health System for over 30 years.

Wanda Matthews began her Iredell Health System journey on June 13, 1977, at 17 years old. Her love for healthcare and desire to become a registered nurse started in her high school health occupations class. Students in the class enjoyed a field trip to tour Iredell Memorial Hospital, including the human resources department, where she was introduced to various career opportunities at the hospital.

“My instructor, Zoe Williams, was amazing and she was actually one of the people who, if she saw the desire in your heart, she helped feed it and be a guide for it,” said Matthews. “She asked if I’d like to put in an application. I said I really needed to get a job and I would love it in healthcare. I had no transportation, but God put it on my heart that if I get a job, he will lead the way.”

Matthews was hired that same day as a nurse assistant. Fortunately, one of the other girls hired that day gave her a ride to work until she was able to save up for a car. In July of 1980, she was selected to be a secretary and nurse assistant in the brand-new Outpatient Surgery Department with Jackie Greene, supervisor, and Alice Fleming, RN.

“A big, significant change at Iredell was the first time we opened Outpatient Surgery because, back then, it was never heard of to have surgery and go home the same day unless you went to the dentist office,” said Matthews.

The 1980s were a decade of life-change and opportunity for Matthews including her marriage and the birth of her son and daughter (both delivered at Iredell like their parents were). In 1986 while on maternity leave, she received a call asking if she was interested in accepting a position in the endoscopy department, which had been moved to where the emergency department once was before the 1986 tower addition. Matthews jumped at the opportunity, but her desire to become a registered nurse was still tugging at her heart.

“I felt God’s calling to become a nurse and to help others in their time of illness. I was blessed from the start with the best nurses, LPNs, and nurse assistants to teach me their knowledge of nursing, love, and compassion,” she said.

In winter of 1989 she applied to the nursing program at Catawba Valley Community College but was told it was full and she would have to wait a year or two. Matthews, wanting to get a head start, began taking a few basic college courses in her spare time until she could begin nursing courses. A few weeks later, she received a surprise call stating the college had received her letters of reference and wanted her to begin in the fall. Several hospital employees, including S. Arnold Nunnery, the hospital’s CEO at the time, had written letters of reference for Matthews. CVCC representatives said these references were some of the best they had ever seen. Known for her honesty, compassion, and work ethic, Matthews had discussed her career goals with Nunnery prior to applying for school.

“I want to become a registered nurse at some point, but right now, life hasn’t let me,” she told Nunnery. “I did things backwards, but one day I’m going to go to nursing school.”

Nunnery let her know the hospital would do everything they could to help Matthews achieve her dream. This included naming her a Nellie Martin Holland scholarship recipient for both years of nursing school. Nellie Martin Holland was a beloved operating room supervisor at the hospital. Recipients were chosen based on need and their desire to become a nurse.

“It seems like the scholarship was right at $500 because it actually paid for my med-surg book in nursing school. I would carry that book and I would think ‘the hospital paid for this for me!’ I would thank God,” she said.

While juggling a family, school and work, Matthews cross-trained in different departments to accommodate her busy schedule, including working third shift as a switchboard operator. Third shift switchboard was relatively uneventful on most nights, but that was not the case on her first night alone.

“There was a bus coming from Tennessee to Florida. They had eaten somewhere four hours before. There were all these people sick and we called the code for trauma,” she said.

That same night, the smoke alarm went off, prompting her to call the fire department. This was when smoking was permitted in the hospital, and an anesthesiologist had accidentally triggered the alarm while taking a smoke break in the hallway. Matthews credits her trainer, Margie Parks, for well-equipping her for the job.

Matthews graduated from CVCC in May of 1991 and worked as a registered nurse applicant on 1 North before taking and passing her state boards in July of 1991.

“I knew the journey to becoming a real registered nurse was just beginning. I had many of whom I consider the greatest nurses, like Becky Johnson, Jackie Greene, Elaine Wilhelm, Gail Fox, and Julie Rupard, who supported me along the way. They all showed me their compassion, knowledge, skills, ability and personal touch for their patients while showing me God through their daily walk at work,” Matthews said.

In December of 1991, Shirley Kunkle, the current operating room nursing supervisor, hired Matthews as an OR nurse. That is where she found her true calling. In fact, Matthews intentionally arrives at work early each day to allow herself time to pray for her patients and all those involved in their care before her day even starts.

“To this day I love taking care of patients in the operating room! My heart’s desire is that God touched someone, by using me, to deliver his loving care as others on my journey have touched me,” she said. “Also, that folks see that here at Iredell, I strive to give the best of my knowledge, skills, ability and heart to my patients and coworkers.”

Matthews believes patients aren’t the only ones who experience top-notch care at Iredell. When her daughter-in-law suddenly passed away last year, the visitation service at the funeral lasted over three hours with several of her past and present coworkers in attendance.

“The funeral was delayed because there were so many people lined up in the parking lot. It was coworkers. Some of them had not worked with me for a year or two and some of them had retired and came. People told me they were in that line for three hours,” she said.

The camaraderie and compassion at Iredell may have remained unchanged over the years, but advances in healthcare are being made each day.

“I’ve worked in the operating room since December of 1991, and I can’t express how they really try to keep up with the best and most modern procedures,” she said.

Matthews speaks on other major changes she’s seen at Iredell over her nearly five decades including the addition of telemetry (digital heart monitoring) and the cardiac catheterization lab, which allowed people to receive life-changing care locally rather than having to travel.

“Anyone that’s going to walk in that hospital, I feel Iredell will offer them the best from medicines to procedures to care. I don’t know that you get that everywhere else,” she said.

Matthews feels her 47-year journey at Iredell Health System has been a blessing.

“As a 17-year-old to current time, many folks on my journey here at Iredell have taught me, helped raise me, and been with me blessing my heart. Through it all, Iredell has been and is good to this now 64-year-old,” she said. “This is a journey worth every mile! I pray some of the folks see and now know some of ‘Wanda’s personal touches’ God has and does display through me.”

Iredell Health System is proud to serve the community for more than 70 years through compassionate employees like Wanda Matthews.