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Clinton News-Record, 1979-05-10, Page 23I I1 After school is completed 37 girls from Clinton and the surrounding area dress in red and white aprons as they take on their duties as candy stripers at the Clinton Public Hospital. Here Susan Wallace gets a helping hand from Carol Cartwright and Karen Erb, two of the other girls who work the three hour shift. by Shelley McPhee Some people tease and call them candy strippers, but the girls who wear the red and white aprons at the Clinton Public Hospital are no joke. "We certainly do appreciate the candy stripers. The little things they do really make it easier on the rest of the staff," Jean Cox, director of nursing at the hospital explained. Not only do the nursing staff at the hospital appreciate the girls' work, but many patients themselves look for- ward to seeing the bright uniforms and the smiling faces of the teenagers. "If there's nothing to do, I tell them t6 go in and visit with the patients," Barb Hicks, co-ordinator of the stripers explained. "Many of the girls enjoy visiting with the older patients and it's good for the patients themselves to keep in touch with younger people. The girls help to feed them, read to them and write letters for them," Barb added. But those are only a few of the many jobs that the 38 girls do, 365 days a year. Each day, from 4 to 7 pm three girls come to the hopsital. After dressing and checking with the head nurse the girls begin their duties which range from handing out washcloths, making beds, feeding patients, giving out mail and flowers and entertaining the younger patients in the nursery. "Most of the girls are getting as much out of it as they're giving," Barb said. "Somedays the girls get down," Barb admitted,"but it's not often thathere isn't anything for them to 00. The life of a can.dy....tr.iper isn't easy.No matter whether it's Christmas, a special weekend or a beautiful summer day, three girls must be on duty. Barb explained that on Christmas Day volunteers are asked to come in, even if it is only during the supper hour. During the summer when many of the girls work Barb says, "Rather than kicking the whole program, .I tell them to come in one day a month." "I don't want them to go home and tell mom their problems here," she went on.. Barb stresses communication with the girls and tries to know each name and face. Although many days she doesn't get to see the girls, a sign -in bookkkeeps the two in contact. Barb will put in comments beside the girls' names on a daily basis. "I trey to be ,their friend and find out where they're at. If I haven't talked to them in awhile I phone them," she emphasized. "The candy tripe meet a great deal of frustratic but they're becoming valuable young people," Barb said. She stressed, , "If you're not frustrated then you're not learning and if you're not frustrated then you're stagnating." Candy striping is not just for those who hope to go into nursing. Although Although making beds and filling water bottles may get a little boring, no candy striper minds taking on duties in the nursery. Karen Erb of Bayfield, Susan Wallace and Carol Cartwright, both of Londesboro take a few minutes out to pamper one of the younger patients in the hospital, Luke Harris. Y,.• rove -worth -at -Clinton P u 511 cHospiicrl some of the stripers want to go into the medical profession many of the girls, who come from the surrounding area, are helping because they like people and want to do something for them. Karen Erb, a 16 • year - old from Bayfield explained, "You meet dif- ferent people and help out when you can." Susan Wallace, a 16 -year Fold from Londesboro agreed,"I like working with and getting to know people." Carol Cartwright, a 15 -year old from Londesboro, who has completed 50 hours as a striper, hopes to go into nursing"a1-id is using her experience as a striper as background. Each girl is always proud to tell how many hours she has put in at the hospital. Special awards are given out for completing this. After 50 hours of wo4king, t*he candy striper is given a cap and the Clinton Public Hospital Air rd. After 100 hours they receive the Provincial Auxiliary Association Certificate and at 200 hours they receive the teenage volunteer award from the Provincial Auxiliary and A gold pin. As more hours are ac- cumulated bars are added to the pin. "I think the cap is the biggest thing After the applications have been filled in and the in- hospital. Barb Hicks takes the girls on an orientation tour terviews given, the new candy stripers must become and later the new girls are teamed up with more ex - familiar with the workings an equipment in the perienced stripers. for the girls. it completes the unifor- m," Barb said. The candy stripers would never be complete without the support of the Auxiliary to the Clinton Public Hospital. The auxiliary sponsors the girls, financially and morally. Although the candy. --stripers are supported by the hospital, it is the girls them°selves that make the program a huge success and one of the biggest in thc„area. The 'Clinton candy stripers have only 31 IIIII11111IIIIII11111111111111111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJIII111111111111111lllll111112 photos and story by Shelley "McPhee iillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllNllilllllllill III II I IIIIIIIIIillllll IIII I Illllr-r.' been in operation now for two years, . but it is unlikely that in the near future they will disband. "They • would be greatly missed if they weren't here, Mrs. Cox ad- mitted. Learning their duties, finding out where everything is located and what the different pieces of equipment are is a necessary procedure for girls who want to become candy stripers. Since the gids will be working side -by -side -with the staff at the hospital, it is also important that they know each other. Barb Hicks introduces Doug Coventry, hospital administrator to the girls. One of the most important jobs that a candy striper has is to give comfort Ansi care to patients. Older patients especially enjoy the strlpers'visits and attention given, like Carol Cartwright of Londesboro Is offering.