Meet two 20-something Pike County, IL, natives who represent everything that is right with healthcare today and inspire a healthy dose of hope for a future.
Deme Batchelor is a native of Pleasant Hill. Bailey Ottwell was raised in Milton. The women became certified nursing assistants during high school and met when working at the same Pike County nursing home. Both decided to make healthcare their career and met up again when both joined the Illini Community Hospital staff.
“I always heard good things about Illini,” said Bailey. “In high school I did a tour of the hospital as part of an anatomy and physiology class.”
Bailey and Deme continued on the same trajectory - both earned their associate degree in nursing while working at Illini and recently passed the national registered nursing exam. While nurses are in demand coast-to-coast, Bailey and Deme say they are where they want to be – Illini Community Hospital.
“I really like the work environment here,” Bailey said. “We work as a team very well and I like the care I have seen given here. I feel we give great care.”
Deme echoes Bailey’s sentiments about the Illini work environment. She also likes the size of the hospital.
“I feel comfortable as a new graduate nurse here,” she said. “I am ready and able to get out on the floor.”
Alyssa Heavner, RN, is Bailey and Deme’s nurse manager.
“Living in a rural area, it’s not always a big attraction to stay. So when you find people who are dedicated to staying near their hometowns, career growth and development is important,” she said.
“The Illini management team talks frequently about - when you find people who want to be successful, help them be successful,” Alyssa continued.
Illini did just that, adjusting Deme and Bailey’s work hours as they attended nursing school.
“As soon as they had Christmas and spring break, they were knocking on my door asking to work as much as they could. Both of these women had a mission to become registered nurses and they got there. I think that says a lot about them,” Alyssa concluded.
This story will continue. Both Bailey and Deme plan to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree by enrolling in the RN-to-BSN program at Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences in the near future. And both women plan to remain caring for the patients of Illini Community Hospital.
“I plan on working here, focusing on my skills and learning in my job. I see myself here for most of my career,” Bailey concluded.
“I want to get to know how to be a good RN and know my skills well and be confident in my job - to know how to care for my patients in the best possible way,” Deme added. “I feel like Illini is a good place to do that.”
For more on Blessing Health System career opportunities, go to blessinghealth.org/careers.