Spotlight on: Kaitlyn Anderson, LPN, Intake Nurse, Jones Walk-In Clinic

Kaitlyn Anderson, LPN, didn’t plan on being a nurse. But during high school she worked at the Jones Memorial Hospital registration office, and was intriguged by what she noticed going on around her. She was suddenly drawn to the idea of being part of direct patient care, and chose LPN school at Belmont BOCES. “After about a week and a half of the two-year program I fell in love with nursing,” she said. “I love learning and knowing that I can help people.”

Anderson plans to continue learning. She is pursuing her RN and hopes to go on to be a certified nurse midwife or a nurse practitioner. She has a passion for women’s health care and serving those in rural areas. “There are people in this area who have trouble accessing care because of transportation and other issues. I feel strongly that everyone deserves care, especially during pregnancy, and I want to be part of the solution,” she said.

As the intake nurse in the walk-in clinic at Jones, Anderson works with a provider, and she finds the clinic work extremely rewarding with different experiences every day. She also works on the Jones surgical service and finds that experience equally fulfilling. “You see patients that come in and don’t feel well,” she said. “We do our best for them and it’s wonderful to see them improve.”

The Scio resident also takes overnight shifts in the Jones ED and during the height of the COVID pandemic assisted at the Jones drive-through swab location. “I’m glad I’m having a variety of experiences at Jones,” said Anderson. “And I love working with people I know in our community.”

For a while patient volume was low in the clinic and surgical services due to the pandemic but Anderson says things are ramping back up. “We are almost back to full capacity in the clinic and ambulatory surgical services, as well,” she said. “We are doing all we can to make sure our patients stay safe.”