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Times Advocate, 1999-09-22, Page 18UT 23114640 i4M•12p.777i isagaltelg 18 Crooa Wednesday, Septernber 22, 1999 Yoe** IwvMometst Amiss 1 year 5.35% 5 year ..... b.' (subject to change) Exeter 2354368 Exeter Times Advocate SH Hospital welcomes nurse practitioner South Huron Hospital's 'new nurse practitioner, Lel Morrison taxi rform dudes that registered nurses can't, such as prescribing antibiotics and orderingiagnosuc tests such as x-rays and blood work.After working in large cities like Toronto and Hamilton, Morrison says she's glad to be in a small -community. By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER -- Many people may be unfamiliar with the job title, but the new nurse practitioner at South Huron Hospital will offer unique skills to patients. Lel Morrison started working at the hospital on Sept. 1 as the first nurse practitioner in the Huron Perth Hospitals Partnership. A nurse practitioner for over five years, Morrison brings medical experience from working in large cities like Toronto and Hamilton to the rural health field in Exeter. Morrison earned' her Bachelor of Science from McMaster University and. later decided to get her Master of Health Science degree in 1993. She said the decision to upgrade from a registered nurse (RN) to nurse practitioner (RNEC) came about because she likes the scope of practice a nurse practitioner has. Morrison left a job in Hamilton at a family prac- tice to move to Exeter with her husband and two children. She said it has always been a goal of hers to live and raise her chil- dren in a small town. And so far, her decision has been the right one. "I love Exeter. I love walking to work," she explains. Morrison applied for the job at South Huron in April after seeing an ad on the Internet. She says up until recently most nurse practitioner jobs have only been in large cities. Working in the health field in a small town has its advantages, Morrison says, because it will allow her to get to know the people in the community and it means she has a small amount of health care providers to consult with. In addition to doing everything a nurse can dpi, a nurse practitioner can perform assessments on patients, order diagnostic tests such as x-rays and blood work and can treat episodic illnesses such as ear infections or bronchi- tis. Morrison can also pre- scribe antibiotics and set fractures. Morrison said she can do most of the work required in an emergency room or family medical practice and the work she does at South Huron gives the doctors more time to work on the more serious illnesses at the emergency room. While the nurse practi- tioner works independent- ly, Morrison says there is also a strong collaboration with the other doctors and specialists in the hospital. Dr. Tom McDonagh agrees a nurse .practition- er lightens the doctors' workload. Having worked in the U.S. for years with nurse practition- ers, he said they are more commonly used in the States, although there has recently been "a wave" of nurse practition- ers being introduced in Canada. Chief of the emergency room Dr. Peter Englert said Morrison's role in the emergency room probably isn't the best place for her, but it is the only place available right now. ` "I think if she were set up in association with a physician or in a new clin- ic with a group of physi- cians, that's where she can be the most useful." He adds that the new clinic in Grand Bend intends to hire two or three nurse practitioners when it opens. "I love the I love the a LE Morrison says her own expertise is in women's health and pediatrics and her experience includes ten years at Toronto General Hospital. The fact that she is a female nurse practitioner, Morrison a says, is good for the com- munity because many women feel more comfort- able with a woman health worker than a man. She also said family planning and women's care are two things she plans to spend a lot of time on and she plans to meet with Deb Homuth, principal of South Huron High School, and perhaps some of the students, to find out what kin d oP health service students want. She also encourages anyone . wi#fit ideas on health promotions or pro- grams to call her at the hospital. And though most of her work has been in the ER so far, Morrison says the goal ' xhWit4. R I- ly won oout ora medical clinic in Exeter, where patients will be able to book appointments with her. The move to Exeter, says Morrison, has been positive for her .and her family. "It feels really right," she says of coming to Exeter. I love the town and I love the area." town and rea." L MORRISON Manynew.teathers fill area schools EXETER -- With a new school year come new sub- jects, new classmates and new teachers. Last week the T -A phoned area schools to find out who the new teach- ers are. In Exeter, Sharon O'Toole has been hired as the new resource teacher at Precious Blood School. O'Toole retired from St. Boniface in Zurich a couple of years ago. Also new to Precious Blood is educational assistant Karen VandenHengel. Exeter Public School went through only one staff change this year: Betty Beer of Hensall is the school's new vice principal. South Huron District High School has seen many new changes this year. New teacher Tim Anderson will be teaching accounting, while Steve Baker, who taught in Goderich last year, is now SHDHS's science/biology teacher. The school's new history/world issues teacher is former Seaforth teacher John Bell, while Jennifer Cronsberry Is teaching english. Also new to the school are vocal music and english teacher Lynn Gracey, new math teacher Denise Haines and Gr. 10 automotive/manufacturing teacher Jeff O'Brien. Rounding out the new staff at SHDHS are Marian Siren, english; Anca Bogerin, physics/Gr. 9 tech; Melanie McCowan, chemistry; and educational assis- tants Wendy Case and Ben Oke. Ron Ritchie and Judi McLeod are teaching Bridges to Agriculture. Usborne Central School has two new faces: Krys Kipfer is teaching Gr. 2/3 and Lori Bearrs Is teaching early years. The only change to Stephen Central School is part- time kindergarten teacher Darlene Brooks of Exeter. There are 'many changes to Hensall Public School this year. Audrey Melick is teaching French and Jeff Forde is the school's new resource teacher. Forde splits his time between Hensall and Huron Centennial. Also new are Jan ° Hoover and Denise Allen, junior • kindergarten/senior kindergarten education assistants. McCurdy Public School has two former Exeter Public School teachers on staff this year: Kathy Thiel is teach- ing Gr. 4/5 and Alex Vanderkam is the school's new vice-principal and Gr. 7/8 teacher. Also new to McCurdy are special learning needs teacher Dorothy Duncan, resource teacher Brenda Martin and educational assistants Marion Dutton, Michelle Uniac and Sandy Wondergem. Over at Zurich Public School, Kerri-Lynn Case, a recent college graduate , is teaching Gr. 7 part time. Jacqui Van Nie is filling in on maternity leave as a school resource teacher, while Christine Allen is work- ing as an educational assistant with kindergarten stu- dents. Sandy Wondergem is splitting her time between Zurich and McCurdy Public School as a resource educa- tion assistant. St. Boniface School is welcoming Gr. 8 teacher Dan Gracey and Gr. 2/3 teacher Brock Appel. Both are new teachers. �' f Also new to St. Boniface is Melanie Cronin, who is teach- ing primary students part time. Heading to Middlesex County, Lucan Public School students have new teachers with former Parkhill teacher Helen Hearn teaching Gr. 1/2 and former Toronto teacher Stephen King teaching Gr. 2. The school's new part-time librarian is newcomer Sheryl Ledingham. At Biddulph Central School, Shari Moritz is covering a maternity leave and is teaching Gr. 7/8. St. Patrick's Separate School has one new teacher in Joanne Zientara, who taught in London last year and will be teaching ,French. Carol Cope, also coming from London, is the school's new teaching assistant. McGillivray Central School students will see three new teachers this year: Corrine Teeple, Gr. 5/6; Lesley MacIver, Gr. 7 and French; and education assistant Barb Courts. Mount Carmel Separate School sees Keri Rutten teach- ing Gr. 6/7 full time this year after teaching kinder- garten part time last year. Also new is teaching assis- tant Leanne Regier. There are many changes at Huron Centennial School this year. Mary Burton, who taught in Stratford last year, is now teaching Gr. 4 at Huron Centennial; Bonnie Laprise is teaching Gr. 1;. Sanya McClinchey, Gr. 5; and Judy Skochinski, kindergarten. \ Also new are part-time resi,urce teacher Jeff Forde, hearing impaired teacher T uuy Dunning, education assistants Carla Chapman and Diane Shapton and secretary Stephanie Allan. Grand Bend Public School didn't supply the T -A with a list of new teachers in time for press.