Anita Poole:
CLASS OF 1969
Colonial Heights High SchoolClass of 1969
Colonial heights, VA
Anita's Story
When I was in first grade, I got a nurse's uniform (dress, hat, red cape, first aid bag, etc.) as a Halloween costume. I wore it everyday for a week until my parents took it away from me because it didn't smell very good. Ha!
Years later I earned my R.N. and practiced orthopedic, pediatric, neurology and psychiatric nursing. I never did get the red cape or the plastic first aid case. Ha!
I met my late husband on a blind date that Arlene Sweeney (a sister's best friend) arranged. We were engaged 2 weeks and a day later. I attended Richard Bland college before we were married in 1971.
After a year of marriage, we drove a U-Haul trailer to Denton, Texas where he enrolled in college. Neither of us had family nearby to rely on for help or guidance so we looked to each other for answers.
We traveled extensively across America during our vacations each year. Have been tubing on the Comal River in New Braunfels (Texas), looked down on the Royal Gorge, walked in the Grand Canyon, gambled in Las Vegas, crossed Death Valley on the way to the '84 Olympics in LA, visited Mt. Rushmore and Mt. Ranier, saw the Football Hall of Fame in Canton(OH), walked downtown Albuquerque and Santa Fe, antiqued in Shelbyville(KY), drove to a wedding in Juarez (Mexico),looked through a telescope at the observatory on a Charlottesville mountain and many other places. In '05 I took an 8-day cruise to Alaska with relatives.
The first few years my husband was in college I worked in the Student Health Center doing clerical work and realized that I wanted to be a nurse. My husband finished his undergraduate and graduate degrees, and I re-enrolled in college.
The Bicentennial was a great year because our son was born. I was going to summer school and working part time at a local university for the Chairwoman of the Psychology Dept., delivered our son on a Friday and returned to Chemistry, and Anatomy and Physiology classes the following Tuesday! There wasn't anyway I was missing those classes. Fortunately I was awarded a full scholarship to Nursing School.
During my nursing career I worked in pediatrics, orthopedics, neurology and psychiatric care. Later I was the Head Nurse of an Adolescent Chemical Dependency Unit. My nursing staff and I took care of the medical needs, co-facilitated therapy groups and I learned important parenting lessons from those teenagers during those 2 years.
The unit closed and I went to work at an HMO as a Care Manager and then as a Provider Relations Coordinator. When I was a Care Manager, every phone cal...Expand for more
l from a psychiatric family member or patient (intoxicated or not) was transferred to me to handle. I learned quickly how to talk to these people in a way that would help them. Later, in the Provider Relations department, I learned to effectively negotiate contracts with lawyers, hospitals, mental health providers and psychiatrists. It was an exciting position. Also managed 300 pharmacies during this period: it was a steep learning curve!
One of my HMO facility providers offered me a position as the Director of Marketing for a psychiatric hospital, 22 outpatient psychiatric clinics and 3 Intensive Outpatient Chemical Dependency programs. I accepted and the work experience afforded me an opportunity to grow professionally. Again, it was a steep learning curve!
During this period, I competed on a Texas Amateur Athletic Foundation Swim Team in the over-25 year old division for three summers. I placed third in the backstroke in the state competition. The medals, team pictures,clippings and ribbons are framed in my laundry room.
One of my managed care company clients offered me a position as Director of Provider Relations and Account Services, which I accepted. I was the fifth employee at the company and during those days everyone did whatever was needed. I began building a nationwide provider network. Later, I was able to choose between Provider Relations and Account Services and chose the Account Services position. I then became Vice President and began to be a part of Sales presentations to potential clients.
The company grew at a steady pace and there was a need for someone in Operations to manage and lead all corporate implementations of new business. I continued in the V. P. Account Services role and added implementation to it.
After 17 years at this company, I retired in October, 2008. Yahoo!
Since then, I have been able to travel, pursue new and old hobbies such as quilting, see my son and daughter-in-law, and friends more often, and work on projects around the house. For the first time in many years the yard is looking great! Mowing, edging and blowing the edging back onto the yard in the 90+ degree Texas summer is my way of blowing off steam. It really works!
I've wanted to be a grandmother for > a decade and in 2013, my first grandson was born. He is handsome, sweet and tall! My granddaughter arrived in 2015 and both children are blessings. I'm known as "Granny" but answer to any noises directed my way.
I am active and my plan for the future is to keep active and healthy.
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