Nurses on campus answer questions and provide care for students in need.
RACHEL SACHER
Staff Writer
On location in the RHO parking lot at the corner of Huntsinger Circle and Towers Road is the Pepperdine Student Health Center or the “SHO.” At the health center, there are men and women from highly qualified medical backgrounds. Each brings a different skill set of medical experience.
Barbara Stern is one of those highly qualified individuals. Stern works in the health center as a Registered Nurse. One of Stern’s responsibilities is to answer phone lines and respond to student questions. Students can ask Stern everything including how to combat annoying headaches, how to relieve skin burns from cooking and any special medial needs of students.
The job of RN requires that Barbara complete a variety of roles for the student body.
“I’ve been called advice nurse, research nurse, first-aid nurse and immunization nurse and at times creative motivational nurse,” Stern said.
Stern’s helpful attitude allows for a comfortable environment in which students receive advice and treatment.
Stern has work at the SHO for the past 14 years. Before coming to Pepperdine as an RN, Stern was born and raised on the East Coast in Hudson, Mass. It was in California though that she received her license to become an RN. After receiving her license Stern worked in a Pediatricians office in Westlake, Calif.
After working with children, Stern made the move to the college level. She enjoys working with and helping students.
The students are fun and in return it is fun working with that age group, Stern said.
“Everyday I am challenged by the students, and they think of new things to ask me, problems specific to their age,” Stern said.
Stern works a full week clocking in 40 hours, Monday through Friday.
“I never say no to a student,” Stern said. “I will always talk to students”
Stern’s job is fast paced, and she says she does her best along with the Health Center team to get to each student as quickly as possible to keep them from waiting.
The most common and reoccurring illness is found in the upper respiratory cavity, which manifests itself in the form of coughs, bronchitis, asthma and earaches, Stern said.
In addition to answering questions and talking to students, Stern gives a lot of shots. Stick-or-Treat was a program offered by the SHO this past week, to provide free flu shots.
Barbara Stern said she is dedicated to the service of others, and she uses her life experiences to help educate her younger patients.
“I’m on the other side of life, as I look back, in my thoughts right now, I encourage students to do more for others,” Stern said. “That is the meat and potatoes of life. That is where you get gratification and joy out of life.”
The SHO is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and for assistance after hours, the Health Center extension connects students to health services in Connecticut, where registered nurses are available answer health related questions.
During the daytime hours, the nurses on campus are available for medical assistance. Stern is one of three medical practitioners, here at Pepperdine, contributing to the health of the student body. Jacqueline Fernandez and Dina Newman are the other two medical practitioners at the SHO dedicated to helping Pepperdine students.
11-02-2006