Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Amy Hulsey found the perfect path in research and pediatric care
At Bethany Children’s Health Center, our employees truly are the heartbeat that drives the organization. Every day, through the care and service they provide, they live our mission of maximizing the potential of every child and exemplify our core values of compassion, integrity, excellence, service and stewardship.
We hope you enjoy getting to know our amazing employees through our Heartbeat profiles.
We never know when a passion will be sparked, and a life path will change. Growing up, Amy Hulsey played viola in the orchestra and was active in high school theater productions. She was accepted into the Art Institute of Dallas for Sound and Lighting Engineering, but marriage and family kept her close to home in Oklahoma City. Her interest shifted to pursuing a degree in business law, until her first pregnancy, when the care she received from a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner inspired her to pursue nursing.
Amy worked as a staff nurse, charge nurse and nurse educator at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health. While there, she became interested in how research affects nursing practice. She decided to pursue a master’s degree and became a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist.
“During graduate school, I did a rotation with Tami McMichael (my hero) and fell in love with the patients and culture at Bethany Children’s,” Amy shares. “I was initially hired in 2007 to do education and research as part of my role here and have been excited to complete three research projects with more to come.”
Amy says that while many people associate research with “boring” data and statistics, she is excited by seeing the end results of a research study and the impact on patient outcomes. “There are so many people involved in the research process at Bethany Children’s. If you have an idea for something that is felt to be a ‘gap in practice’ or a process that might need investigation for improvement strategies, there are experts to help!”
Research is only a part of what Amy does at Bethany Children’s. She is the primary care provider for 14 patients, some of whom she has taken care of for the 15 years she’s been at the Hospital. “In addition to the treatment of my patients for some common conditions and illnesses, I do well child checks and collaborate with specialists to make sure that all of their medical needs are met,” she says.
“The most rewarding part of my work here is getting to watch these children grow up and the relationships I have developed with their families over the years,” she admits. “Additionally, I could not imagine working with another group of providers and team members. Everyone here is the best.”
Amy’s caregiving doesn’t end with her workday. She is blessed with four daughters, ages 13 to 28, and eight “furbabies” at home. Given the chance, she says she’d go back in time to see her girls grow up again, because time flies.
Fun Facts:
A recent accomplishment you are proud of: Recently inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society at Oklahoma State University
What three words would your best friend use to describe you? Sarcastic/Comic, Loyal, Compassionate
Favorite hobbies/ways to spend free time: “I love to read science fiction and fantasy novels and have spent the past six months camping in my new RV.”
Favorite TV show or movie: “Anything 80s but The Goonies is at the top of the list.”
Favorite food: wedding cake
Favorite inspirational saying/quote/verse: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” 1 Corinthians 13:4
From the bucket list: “Honestly, I am trying to live in the moment but maybe someday I would love to travel to Santorini, Greece.”