by Maitland Woody. When children are young, parents often ask what they want to be when they grow up. The answers are familiar: police officer, firefighter, doctor or professional athlete. But as childhood gives way to adulthood, those dreams often change.
For Macey (Mulherin) Coughlan, they never did.
For as long as she can remember, Macey has wanted to be a nurse. In 2020, that dream took on a deeper meaning when her grandparents were diagnosed with COVID-19 and her Mimi passed away. The experience solidified her decision to pursue nursing and help others through some of their most difficult moments.
A lifelong Kingfisher resident, Macey graduated from Kingfisher High School in 2020. She and her high school sweetheart, Presten “Pete” Coughlan, have been together for eight years and married for nearly two. They are expecting their first child, a baby boy, in December.
Macey said she is excited to become a mother, feels blessed and knows God will be by her side throughout the journey.
After high school, Macey attended Northern Oklahoma College in Stillwater, earning an associate degree in science. She then attended nursing school at Chisholm Trail Technology Center in Omega, where she earned her licensed practical nursing certificate.
Nursing combined Macey’s love of helping people with her desire for a hands-on career. She is also fascinated by medicine and how the field continues to change and advance.
Her connection to Mercy Hospital Kingfisher began in 2020, when she worked as a certified nursing assistant during the COVID-19 pandemic. She returned in 2023 as a nurse technician before becoming a licensed practical nurse in July 2024. She is now beginning classes toward earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing and has also earned certifications in ALS, PALS, CPR, ultrasound and IV therapy.
Macey primarily works in Mercy’s medical-surgical unit and occasionally floats to the emergency room. Her favorite part of nursing is interacting with patients and building relationships with those in her care.
Nursing has taught her that patients are often experiencing some of the worst days of their lives. Because of that, she believes everyone deserves to be treated equally and with the same compassion nurses would want for themselves or their loved ones.
That approach recently earned Macey the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
She learned about the honor after being unexpectedly pulled from the floor and told she needed to attend a work meeting. Although she thought the request was odd, she had no idea what was waiting for her.
Macey was excited, grateful and honored when she learned she had received the award.
The nomination came from a patient she had cared for multiple times during their stay. For Macey, it showed that while she may feel like she is simply doing her job, taking time to advocate, listen and make a patient more comfortable can leave a lasting impact.
It also reinforced her belief that making a difference does not require a grand gesture. Sometimes it is asking how someone’s day is going. Other times, it is sitting down and having a meaningful conversation.
The award reassured Macey that she is where she is meant to be, caring for others in ways both big and small.
Away from the hospital, Macey enjoys hunting, baking and spending time with Pete, friends, family and their two fur babies, Whiskey and Nelli. She also enjoys being outdoors, whether soaking up the sunshine, cool air or a rainstorm.
Her advice to those considering nursing is simple: always be kind and compassionate and never give up.
Some days will be harder than others, she said, but even when nurses feel like they are simply going through the motions, they are impacting lives.
At the end of the day, Macey said, know you have done your best, keep going and never underestimate the difference you may have made.
