FHCHC Gets Two New Nurses
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 01:44 p.m., June 24, 2008
Updated 01:44 p.m., June 24, 2008
Flint Hills Community Health Center nurse practitioners Joan Grother and Diane Wrenn practice medicine through the whole life span — from infant to elderly.
Grother joined the health center’s staff full-time on May 26. Previously, Grother was PRN. Wrenn joined the staff on Feb. 26. Both moved back to Emporia after being in other states for many years. Wrenn was in Wyoming and in Texas for a few years and Grother was in North Carolina. Both moved back to be near family.
A desire to help people led both women into the field of medicine. Grother’s passion lies in children and infant health.
“I always wanted to help people and take care of people,” she said. “I was always interested in (being a) nurse practitioner because I could help more people.”
Wrenn said she’s been interested in nursing for a long time.
“I was always interested in nursing since I was nine years old,” she said.
As nurse practitioners, Wrenn and Grother can do more than evaluate patients. A nurse practitioner is considered a mid-level position, meaning they can assess, diagnose and prescribe treatments of medications. They function more independently, Grother said.
“A nurse practitioner can actually have their own practice and put out their own shingle and take patients,” Wrenn said.
While nationally, practitioners can open their own practice, in Kansas they must work under the umbrella of an association. Wrenn and Grother are nationally certified so they would have that option if they moved to another state. Grother is certified as a family nurse practitioner and women’s health practitioner and Wrenn is certified as a family nurse practitioner.
No two days are alike in their profession, Wrenn and Grother said.
“I love the variety,” Wrenn said. “It’s different every day. ... You can’t get bored with it.”
The medical field doesn’t come without its challenges, including the health care system as a whole and patients with lack of insurance and resources available for those patients. Despite challenges, the community health center and Kansas in general has a lot more resources than Wrenn is used to.
“The resources are better here than in Wyoming,” she said.
Wrenn said she’s done both private practice and community health. She chose to work in a community health center because of the ability to reach out to more people.
“I felt I probably helped more of those in need verses those in private practice,” she said. “Here I feel like you reach out to more of those in need.”
Grother agreed and added some other reasons.
“Being a PRN here I just felt like the staff was very supportive of mid-level providers,” she said. “I felt they would treat us good.”
The availability of interpreters is another perk. The community health center has several interpreters available to providers.
rdgrey (anonymous) says...
Great addition, Emporia is very lucky to have them.
June 24, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
Always great to have good people come here.I'm curious about the budget,though.I've heard there has been some help from the state level.But not how much that was,or what tax increases are needed from us.I'd like to think additions to staff are only made when there is a need.So if there is a need,what changed and where are the funds coming from?
June 26, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Penny (anonymous) says...
Are you kidding? They've been down by 2 physicians for months, of course there is a need. Nurse Practitioners actually are a very cost effective way to provide quality healthcare. I applaud the Center's decision to move in this direction given the difficulty in retaining physicians in public health.
June 26, 2008 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )