She started her career as CNA and will retire as attending
“Calm, polite and professional, an advocate for her patients, a resource for her colleagues, but most importantly a person with belief and strong faith, here on Earth to help those who need it,” that’s how colleagues reflect on the soon-to-be retired Joung Evans.
“It makes me feel proud, like we must do something right as an institution to deserve such loyalty,” said St. Peter Hospital Lead Dr. Mircea Rachita. “It’s amazing that we’ve been able to benefit from such a wealth of experience.”
Joung is known to bring food more than once to malnourished patients who missed their home cuisine. For Korean patients and their families, she has stepped in and helped translate, negotiating sensitive cultural barriers when needed.
Joung began her healthcare career in 1973 as an ED nurse in Seoul City Hospital after graduating from the top of her class. She came to American a year later and began working as a nurse’s aid at Evergreen Convalescent Center in Olympia.
In 1977, she joined Providence St. Peter, where she worked in Critical Care for more than 35 years as a registered nurse. Through 2015, she held various roles, including Charge Nurse, part of the Rapid Response Team, on the Oncology Unit, in palliative care, on med/surg units and in the Pediatric Unit. During this time, she attended South Puget Sound, Tacoma and Centralia colleges, along with earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Martin’s in 2000 and Master of Science in Nursing from PLU in 2005. She has served as a preceptor for multiple students and RNs.
In 2006, she became an ARNP and managed patients from admission to discharge for Group Health Cooperative. She has continued to precept students, helping prepare those who are becoming nurse practitioners.
“Joung is a colleague with innate dignity, emotional intelligence and true fortitude,” said Dr. Rachita. “As much as we regret to see her retire, we can only wish her a wonderful fulfilling time with her family and happy travel and gardening.”