EDWARDS
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
622 West 8th Street, Kinsley, Kansas
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NANCY KIRKWOOD, R.N., B.S.N Nancy received her B.S.N in nursing at the University of Arizona in 1976. Her first job was at a small County Hospital in Mohave County, Kingman, Arizona. She was responsible for the 2nd floor hospital ward, and an OB delivery nurse. Her second job was as a Public Health Nurse in Casa Grande, Arizona. There she worked with mother/infant and child care, WIC, Family Planning and she also covered all communicable disease follow ups for the area. This job was excellent preparation for her next exciting assignment. Told in Nancy's own words: "I applied to a Church Mission to serve overseas as a nurse/missionary. I was accepted and left the summer of 1979 and served in Sangha, the Dogon tribe (known as the African Cliff dwellers), in the Republic of Mali, West Africa. I was use to the hot, dry climate (having been raised in Arizona), but it took a little getting use to not having electricity or running water. I was stationed with another nurse, we ran a "back-door" clinic out of our stone built house. The people would start to come around sun-up 5:30am or so and the clinic was usually over by mid-morning. We'd usually see around 6 to 12 patients a day. It was a stretch to use our nursing assessment skills to diagnose and treat various problems. Eye infections in babies was very common - the babies traveled on the backs of their mothers all day and the flies were always around their eyes. We also treated many colds with fever, cough and ear infections. Occasionally we would treat severe cuts, we were able to suture and bandage as needed. At times we would be called out to assist in a difficult birth. Some malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, and measles were seen and treatable. In Africa, we were able to get medications in the big cities from the pharmacy to take back to the village. A big part of the medical work was in training the Pastors of each of the outlying villages some elementary medical skills and providing them with the means to help their people. Aspirin, malaria medication, bandaging supplies, anti-biotic ointments, a formulation of boiled water, salt and sugar to give to infants/children dehydrated from diarrhea. We also taught preventative lessons on hygiene, the basics of how germs spread, care of drinking water, preserving food, washing of food and cooking. Recognizing communicable disease and isolation, prevention of the spread of disease. I was challenging and very fulfilling work. For our local church mission, I was working on developing children's church materials that the African women could use in teaching their children the Bible stories as well as teaching the women and children to read and write in their own Dogon language, as I also was learning it! They helped me in language study as much as I helped them in developing Sunday School materials." When Nancy returned from Africa she went to work for Public Health in the Mojave Desert of California, a small community for Kern County. She spent 11 years there. In the summer of 1997 she returned to her husband's (Butch) home town of Kinsley, KS where she was able to take this job in Public Health here at Edwards County. Nancy speaks Spanish very well and helps communicate with our Spanish speaking client's. She is in charge of many programs and has been a very big asset to our department. We are very happy she is with us!
“It is PREVENTATIVE
Health Care…I have always liked that aspect of Health – if we can help educate
the public and prevent disease, I feel a great satisfaction in that concept – and it
works! I have always enjoyed the client contact that allows enough time to give health
education. I like to build friendships and trust with individual clients and their
families. Also, the field of Public Health allows me to develop and maintain contact with
the community and schools and their leaders – I like the community
involvement.”……….Nancy |
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KANSAS TOBACCO QUITLINE 1-866-KAN-STOP (1-866-526-7867)
Webmaster Email Friday, April 18, 2008ŠEdwards County Health Dept. All rights reserved. |
