The American Nurses Association is in the midst of its annual month-long celebration in May that promotes understanding and appreciation of the invaluable contributions nurses make to the health of our communities. Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) would like to take this opportunity to provide some insight into the vital role of nurses at our clinics.
Nurses are called on to play a variety of roles in our clinics that go beyond what might be considered traditional nursing tasks. “Nursing is not limited to giving medications, giving injections or establishing care plan,” says Rulita Wells, LVN. “It is listening and being present with someone who is not in the best of life circumstances. It is becoming a friendly caregiver, a coach and cheerleader, a teacher, a companion. It is every role possible wrapped in a single title, an individual who is called to nurture.”
Nurses are a vital part of SBNC’s patient care teams. Through patient education and care management, they help control and prevent the complications of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma. “As an SBNC nurse I am motivated by my patients,” says Sophie Mengele, RN. “When my patients are curious, eager and willing to learn it makes me feel inspired. As a care management nurse, I am able to follow a patient over longer periods of time and watch them progress and improve. I feel accomplished when I see my patients take ownership of their health.”
SBNC nurse Joana Flores, LVN is also an Asthma Educator. “SBNC has showed me that the voice of a nurse never goes unheard,” she says. “A small visit with the nurses can change lives.”
SBNC provides opportunities for nurses at all stages of their careers, and appreciates the diversity of experience they bring to our clinics. “I chose to be a nurse because I wanted to be in a career where I could continue to grow and learn,” says Sophie Mengele, RN. “The different specialties in nursing seem almost endless, and when one season of your career ends, there is always something different you can do. As I have gone through different specialties, I am continually in awe of information that I gain. Especially after working through the pandemic, I have grown immensely as both a nurse and as a person.”
Nurses at community healthcare centers have been on the front lines, not only during the pandemic, but for decades. They have their finger on the pulse of the state of health care in our community and understand social determinantes of health. Through their daily work with patients, they are aware that well-being depends on having a safe place to live, educational opportunities, food on the table, and stable income. Along with SBNC’s Wellness Navigators, who connect patients with a wide array of community resources, they protect the lives and health of hundreds of vulnerable individuals in Santa Barbara.
This month, please join SBNC in saying “thank you” to all of the nurses who work so hard every day to care for their patients with skill and compassion.
