It Takes a Special Person
Nurse Karen Bell uses her job to share love with those who need it most.
Words by Micah Harrison | Images by Ryan McGill
Becoming a nurse is a formidable challenge, and navigating the demanding landscape of active nursing is no less arduous. While many nursing graduates are drawn to the high-tech environments of hospitals or the adventurous paths of travel contracts, working in a nursing home holds its own unique rewards. An oft-echoed sentiment is that "It takes a special person to work in a nursing home," and the truth of this statement is exemplified by individuals like Karen Bell.
The Townley, Alabama, native currently serves as the Assistant Director of Nursing at Cordova Health and Rehabilitation. Her journey in the nursing profession began after graduating from Carbon Hill High School in 1989, followed by education at Shelton State Community College. The decision to enter the nursing field was natural for Karen, fueled by a genuine desire to help people. "To me, it's just really rewarding," she says.
Karen earned her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification in 1992, initiating her career at a nursing home in Double Springs. Several years later, she obtained an associate degree from Walker College in 1999 to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Like many nurses, Karen's career trajectory took her through various specialties, including pulmonary, infectious disease, orthopedic, and surgery units, before finding herself at a facility in Birmingham.
The demanding nature of her previous role prompted Karen to seek a job closer to home. In 2019, an opportunity arose at the Cordova nursing home, and she seized it. Reflecting on her time there, Karen notes, "Since I've been here, I've loved it. Once I got here, I realized that it truly is a family. We laugh and have a good time, but we are serious about caring for our residents."
Karen's journey in nursing has not been without trials. In the early 2000s, Karen battled addiction to alcohol and narcotics. She faced the loss of her job, family, and almost everything she held dear. "It was getting to the point to where I knew I was going to die," she recalls.
Determined to overcome these challenges, Karen voluntarily entered the Alabama Board of Nursing's Disciplinary Action Program, undergoing three months of treatment at Bradford Health Services and an additional six months in a halfway house. It was not easy to leave her five and seven-year-old boys at home, but she was determined to get clean.
"When you go to rehab, they tell you maybe one out of fifty of you in the program will succeed... well I had to be that one. That's just how I am; you're not going to tell me I'm going to fail," she says.
Back on her own, she attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings, group sessions, therapy meetings, and outpatient sessions to maintain her sobriety. "I've been free of drugs and alcohol since July 24, 2006," she says, "I got clean, and by the grace of God, I've never relapsed."
Karen's faith helped her reach sobriety. "I've always believed in God and leaned on Him heavily. Eventually, I got into church," she says. She is currently a member at Townley First Baptist Church, where she has taken on different roles including teaching children's church and singing in the choir. One of the most significant rewards of her sobriety is the time she gets to spend with her sons, Cade and Ryan, and her new granddaughter, Hadlee.
Karen is not the first in her family to enter public service. Her mother, Pearl Jones, was the lunchroom manager at Townley Junior High School for many years, and her father, the late Danny Jones, worked at the Townley Water Board and was the Fire Chief at the Townley Volunteer Fire Department for 37 years. Spending time with her father at the fire station and helping out during calls sparked her love for helping others. That passion was passed on to Cade, who was recently named Fire Chief of the Townley Volunteer Fire Department as his grandfather once was.
Despite her challenges, Karen's dedication to caring for the older population remains steadfast. "To me, elderly nursing is my calling," she emphasizes. "If I can be their family and let them know somebody cares, then I've done what I set out to do." 78