Marion County Letters to the Editor

Doctor offers perspective on practical nursing program

Dear Editor,

The Marion County Practical Nursing Program came about primarily through the efforts of Senator Ralph Gasque and Dr. J.B. Berry. The program was designed to give local people the option to become nurses on a low budget as well as to help relieve the critical shortage of nurses in the area. The Practical Nursing School has been very successful in turning out top flight nurses. The practical nursing staff has the amazing ability to take people from a wide variety of backgrounds giving them unlimited extra help, with attention to their personal lives and needs. Their product as measured by the graduates showcase their exceptional skills as graduates from the Marion County School of Practical Nursing regularly surpass the national average in all testing measurements.

Students going through this program regularly learn the necessity of attenuation to excellence but perhaps a greatest asset, a quality often lost in today’s fast paced world, is in maintaining excellent patient skills and personal attention to their needs. They learn that spirituality and healing go hand in hand. They understand that 20 to 30 percent of recovery depends on how the patient feels about themselves and those who care for them. These qualities set the Marion County Practical Nursing Program aside from many other programs including those which offer R.N. and BS degrees.

The school has always been successful in finding employment for the graduates whether it is in hospitals, nursing homes, office, schools or industry. It is a fact that many nursing homes and some other areas simply could not function of practical nurses cease to exist. The school has never had a problem in finding employment for all of its graduates. We are very grateful for the extensive effort which Senator Ralph Gasque and Dr. Berry made to help this school become an entity. We are also grateful for the dedication and continued conscientious effort of the practical nursing staff and the vocational school who have managed to give its graduates the wings of the Angel of Mercy.

Thank you,

Dr. James L. Suggs

Resident responds to newspaper article

Dear Editor,

Recently, I read the front page article about phasing out LPNs at the Marion County Medical Center. I wonder what message this is sending to our young men and young women. Well to me, the message is very clear. They don’t recognize quality when they see it or have it. They don’t appreciate the hard-earned education and strenuous training that LPNs go through.

As a former Marion County Medical Center patient, I had the opportunity to experience care from RNs and LPNs. I can honestly say that I received better quality care from the LPNs. They actually checked in on me and made sure that I got the care that I should and deserved. I am not saying that some RNs didn’t give quality care, but a good number didn’t want to be bothered.

Now every time I hear Preacher Wilson on the radio saying that “Marion County Medical Center gives back to the Community,” I will always wonder how the phase-out of LPNs fits into this “give back to the Community” theme. Mrs. White and the Marion County Medical Center need to understand one of life’s basic principles: “Be careful how you treat people, because you don’t know who you’re going to need down the road.”

Sincerely,

Caesar McCummings

Boys and Girls Club soliciting support

Dear Editor,

All Marion City, Marion County parents, friends, neighbors are requested to lend their support by attending the Marion City Council Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m.

The Steering Committee of the Marion County Boys and Girls Club will present information to the council regarding the status of the establishing of this club and to request funding to assist in this endeavor.

The establishment of a local boys and girls club in Marion County is of much concern to our community and should be a source of pride to all.

Thank you,

Boys & Girls Club steering committee

Writer says LPN care is quality care

Dear Editor,

As Director of Human Resources and Diversity Management, Knicole “Kay” White has greatly missed the mark in her description of the Licensed Practical Nurse.

As a former long term department manager at Marion County Medical Center, as well as being a past graduate of the LPN program at Marion County Vocational Center (25 years ago), I have a much different perspective than White.

The Licensed Practical Nurses at MCMC do give quality care every day. Without the LPN’s dedication not only to the patients, but to the organization, MCMC would not be a viable community hospital. Safe, quality patient care is accomplished by the combined efforts of all direct and indirect patient care givers. The scope of practice for nurses is well governed and defined by the State Board of Nursing.

The LPN program in Marion County is one of the most successful in the state and has been a tremendous asset to the Pee Dee area.

Having had the opportunity to work with the instructors and students while employed as Infection Control, Employee Health-Safety Manager at MCMC, I have witnessed their dedication and desire to provide quality care. Many of the Registered Nurses (including me) were an LPN or CNA (certified nursing assistant) before becoming an RN.

The LPNs at MCMC have played a large role in helping the students from the LPN program realize their careers; they have nursed many patients through short term and long term illnesses; consoled patients, their families and loved ones as well as each other through those illnesses and sadly, at times, through the loss of a loved one …  all the while, ensuring quality care was given.

Healthcare has changed dramatically over the past quarter century with many mandates and regulations put into place. Criteria must be met; regulations adhered to; accreditation maintained; core measures; infection prevention and safety, etc. — most of these intended to improve patient outcome. Nurses and other healthcare workers have adapted and added many duties to their shifts and are still determined to give quality care to their patients.

The LPNs have attained the education and licensure to practice nursing ...

Sharon H. Elvington, RN