A new kind of medical career
Grassroot News N .W . - Traditional medical careers
are doctors, nurses and different specialized medical
technicians. The contem porary shortage o f doctors
created the need to expand the responsibilities o f nurses
and the profession o f nurse p ra ctitio n e r was born.
Albina is blessed to have within its boundaries the nurse
p ra ctitio n e r C om m unity Health C lin ic operated by
Juretta L. Webb, a registered nurse practitioner who
specializes in women’ s health care, along with Mariah
A. Taylor, who is also a registered nurse but specializes
in pediatrics.
Nurse practitioners are basically RN ’ s who receive
additional education that prepares them to handle more
responsibilities. Mrs. Taylor elaborates: “ A nurse prac­
titio ne r would work in out-patient clinics and group
health practices to augment the health o f an individual
and family. We deal in health maintenance rather than
illness. You can consider us an alternative to a regular
physician’ s visit. We tend to spend more time than the
four to six minutes o f a physician’s visit because we look
at the whole person rather than at the illness. We also
look at the social and support structures o f an in ­
dividual to see if these are provoking the illness, because
we give individual care, that in itself, makes us con­
sidered an alternative.”
N. P. Ju retta W ebb in her o ffic e at the C o m ­
munity Health Clinic.
(photo: Richard J. Brown»
Mrs. Taylor explained the evolution o f their clinic.
“ We opened up six months ago and organized ourselves
as a group o f two women who are seeking to work in a
community based setting in the area o f our expertise to
bring about wellness. Black people are struggling people
and our level o f living is at the survival level. Thus, we
see many stress related illnesses. Some people have
learned to deal with stress because they have the means
o f a financial release."
In the clinic is a women’ s health department headed
by Juretta Webb. Services provided are physical
examination, cancer screening, pregnancy testing and
birth control. Mrs. Webb responded as to whether she
viewed her role as a com petitor o f the tra d itio n a l
gynecologist. “ We are not in competition because the
role o f a nurse practitioner is to deal with well women.
They gynecologist takes care o f an illness and through
education and check-ups, we prevent them. We deal
with what we can deal with and in cases where we can’ t,
I ’ll refer the case out.”
Mrs. Taylor is involved in pediactrics and well-child
services that include im m u nizatio n, grow th and
development screening and newborn follow-ups.
Other services include home visits, group clinics and
com m unity education classes. Their fees come from
cash, welfare and private insurance. Hours are from 9-4
on weekdays and from 9:00am until 1:00pm on Satur­
days.
How are nurse practitioners viewed by the medical
community? “ Some feel we are encroaching on their
clientele, especially those in pediactrics because we
provide basically the same services. Others view us a
com plim enting their services because they deal with
pathology and we try not to let it develop to that
degree.’.’ Mrs. Taylor answered, adding that physicians
refer patients to them and vise versa.
As a career the nurse practitioner field should expand
as the demands o f the community for doctors increase.
Both indicated that they aren't super nurses but nurses
with a deeper background and varied responsibilities.
$1,420.00 starting per month
$2,022.76 after five years service
The Portland Police Bureau's Minority Recruiting Unit is seeking qualified
minorities and women for the position.
If you are interested in a career in law enforcement and are 21 years or older,
have a high school diploma or G.E.D, are a U.S. citizen and have no felony
convictions, the Bureau is interested in you.
Applications are now being accepted at Portland Civil Service 510 SW M ont­
gomery, Portland, Oregon between the hours of 8:00 and 5:00. Registration
must be done in person. Applicants will be notified by mail as to test date.
For further information contact:
Officer Jeannie Bradley or Officer Beth Knudsen 248 5653. Personnel Division,
222 S.W. Pine Street, Portland, Oregon 97204.
Portland Observer Thursday. July 18. 1981 Section II Page 3