Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Feb. 22, 1995, edition 1 / Page 4
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February 22,1995 4 Campus News Nurses administer TLC to Meredith students by Addie Tschamler For many, it yields a sense of secu rity, a feeling of safety or of comfort. For some, it’s a place to run to in a moment of sickness or high fever. Still for others, it’s a place of reassuamce, to let them know that everything’s going to be okay. But few may realize the work efforts behind the Meredith infirmary. Being a nurse in the infirmary may seem like an end lessly challenging job - caring for the sick, making accurate judgments, nourish ing students back to health and reassuring them. But to the nurses it’s an enjoy able job. “1 enjoy the stn dents,” said Ruth Pearce, director and nurse at the infir mary. “It’s nice to be in a part of nursing where you’re not dealing with acutely ill patients.” The Meredith nurses ’ main respon sibility, of course, is caring for the students. Nurse Loretta Pearson said. But there’s more. “Nurses usually screen the appoint ments and assess the patients first before they see the doctor,” said Melinda McLain, a Meredith nurse. “We have to go through the symp toms to see if it’s necessary for them to see the doctor. The infirmary is like a mini emergency room,” she said. The nurses work on a rotating schedule 24 hours a day, with two nurses in on Monday and Tuesday — the busiest days. So the nurses must work together to keep things running smoothly. “ We try to carry on the needs from one shift to another,” said Pearson, who has been at Meredith three years. “We just follow up on certain things. ” “Since we really rarely work to gether,” Pearce said, “we just try to do things in a similar way. When treating an illness, we try to act in the same manner.” It’s not always easy. There are many obligations and challenges involved. Director Pearce is responsible for scheduling hours for the nurses, get ting doctors, deciding on literature for the infirmary, and attending a variety of workshops. “The greatest challenge,” said Pearce, ”is staying abreast of newthings in medicine.” Medicine is constantly changing with new technology and new discoveries. Pearce said things are never the same from one day to the next. photo by Jan Seate The Carroll nurses rise to the challenges of caring for our students. They are advancing into the next century by computerizing their records next year. Another of the most difficult chal lenges, according to Pearce and McLain, was taking the National Board of Col lege Health exam to obtain certifica tion. “That was a big challenge,” said McLain. One change that will challenge the nurses within the next year is the fact that all immunization records will be computerized. This will help in the long run because when students write in to get academic transcripts, they can a’so get a print out of their immuniza tion records, said Pearce. Although each nurse said she en joyed her job very much, each takes time out for recreation, hobbies, and family whenever possibile. “I enjoy reading and walking too,” Pearson said with a smile. “I love the sunshine.” Pearson had two main jobs before coming to Meredith, including working in a dermatology office and being a mother, she said. McLain, who has been at Meredith four years, has three grandchildren — two of which are twins whom she’ll gladly talk about anytime. “1 enjoy spending time with them, of course,” she said, “just watching them grow. I also enjoy crafts and golf whenever 1 have the time.” McLain held several jobs before noticing the opening at Meredith in a newspaper ad. After graduating from Watts School of Nursing in Durham, McLain held a job as an operating room and recovery room nurse, a head nurse in a medical surgical unit, an instructor at a technical college, and a pediatrics nurse because she enjoys working with young children. Pearce, who has been at Meredith now for 15 years, said she had always wanted to be a nurse, but there was always the question of what type of nurs ing to go into. For a while, Pearce held a job in a rest home but didn’t fully enjoy it. Then she heard about the opening at Meredith and has enjoyed being here ever since. Pearce loves gardening and cooking, going to the theatre, and listening to music, especially at the North Carolina Sym phony. Her son, who lives in Califor nia, is in music professionally, said Pearce. “So I have to like it!” Being a nurse at Meredith is more fast paced than some might imagine, but the nurses here enjoy the chal lenge. “It’s been very rewarding,” Pearce said smiling. “It’s just fun to work at Meredith!” Summer Employment Meredith College pool manager Qualifications: Lifeguard training, CPR, First Aid 40 hrs./wk. for 9 wks. afternoons and evenings Contact Carol Brown, ext. 8334 V J Internship Opportunity: • Northwestern Mutual Life -- a representative will be at Meredith on Fri., Feb. 24. Interested students should sign-up in the Office of Career Services. On Campus Recruiting: Sign up today for these companies: • Jefferson Pilot • Coastal Group • Lady Foot Locker • Health Source • Applied Analytical Industries Employer Resume Review: • Blackbaud • John Hancock • Cache’ Employment Information Session: • Learn how you can become a trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Meet Sergeant W.S. Hunter—Wed., Feb. 22, Career Resource Room 10:00-10:50 a.m. Employment Opportunities: • Implementations/Training Coordinator positions with ATCOM • Staff Accountants with Coastal Healthcare Group, Inc. • Community Manager with Summit Management Company • Entry Level Marketing Positions with Management Recruiters
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Feb. 22, 1995, edition 1
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