Armed Forces Day celebrates those who sacrifice,
including employees who are 'citizen soldiers'

The Health Science Center has a number of employees who serve in military reserve units, representing each of the different branches of the military. These men and women commit to at least one weekend a month and a two-week period each year in reserves training. Many of their military skills they bring back to their jobs at the Health Science Center.

This week the country will celebrate Armed Forces Day, recognizing the sacrifices individuals in the armed forces make and remembering veterans past and present.

Health Science Center employees Yolanda Montes and David Barrera are just two of the many reservists who work at the institution.

Montes had always wanted to be in the military. Raising a family put thoughts of a military career on hold for more than a decade until the spring of 1991, when Montes was finally able to achieve her goal and join the U.S. Naval Reserves.

Last year Montes was named Sailor of the Year for the San Antonio region of the U.S. Naval Reserves, recommended by the chief of her reserve unit, Socorro "Suki" Servantez, computing resources. Montes, who is a qualified ammunitions handler in the Navy and who has worked in an administrative capacity as well, recently received a promotion to petty officer second class.

With the recent announcement that reserve units could be called upon during the ongoing conflicts in Yugoslavia, some employees at the Health Science Center are wondering if they will be joining the ranks of those called into active duty.

"It is part of what you agree to," said Montes, who went to her required monthly reserve training last week, but does not know yet if her group will be mobilized. "That is the job."

Barrera, director of graphic services, agrees. He has been a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves for 32 years, working as a logistics planner for a combat logistics squadron out of Kelly Air Force Base. He heard about the reserves while he was working his first full-time job, immediately after high school. He joined up and has never regretted it. "There is a certain amount of patriotism involved," said Barrera of his decision. He also credits the friendships he has made with his decision to stay in the reserves for so long. "I think there is a different kind of camaraderie than you find in civilian life. You depend on someone else and they depend on you."

Montes said another benefit has been the amount of traveling she has been able to do. Her reserve training has taken her to Spain, Hawaii and California. She has also been able to earn skill certification in a number of areas, including the operation of a forklift.

Better employees
Both Barrera and Montes said the training they received in the reserves, including management skills, helped them in their jobs at the Health Science Center.

"I have been through a number of schools and workshops that have ultimately benefited me here," Barrera said.

"It certainly doesn't hurt," said Montes. "I can take those skills with me."

On May 15 both Montes and Barrera will celebrate Armed Forces Day along with thousands of other active duty soldiers, reservists, retirees and veterans around the country and those stationed in faraway lands.

Registered nurses needed
in care settings,
say rally speakers

School of Nursing graduate students who have been focusing on issues affecting the profession held a rally May 7 during National Nurses' Week. Several speakers--including a City Council member--discussed the need for more registered nurses (RNs) in health care institutions and agencies across the country.

"Today there are fewer registered nurses taking care of more patients, and these patients tend to be sicker," said Nadine Thomson, graduate student in the Nursing Role in Policy and Management in Health Care course. "In addition there is increased use of unlicensed, unqualified assistive personnel, and they are being used as registered nurse substitutes. We do not want to wait for tragedies to occur in our health care institutions before legislative policies are enacted that would ensure safe nurse-patient staffing ratios and would set policies to limit inappropriate use of these unlicensed assistive personnel."

Thomson noted that a "Patient Safety Act" reintroduced into Congress addresses problems facing registered nurses in the workplace. It also would protect RNs as they report or voice concerns about poor staffing; a violation of this provision would make an institution ineligible for Medicare reimbursement.

Speakers stood in front of a backdrop of posters in the courtyard between the School of Nursing buildings. "WHO is at the bedside?" one asked. "RNs--the Link Between MDs and Patients," another read. "Every Patient Deserves a NURSE," another stated.

An estimated 43 million Americans--including 11 million children--have no health insurance. Registered nurses are advocates for the poor and the helpless, Thomson said. "We would like to have a magic wand to make these problems go away, but we have no magical solutions. What we do have are 2,558,874 registered nurses in this country. We have 2,558,874 voices and votes that can change hearts and minds about health care issues."

City Councilman Mario Salas, who represents District 2 on the East Side, recalled a time when one of his daughters was sick and needed to visit a doctor. Salas and his wife selected a physician from an insurance list and headed for the office. When they arrived, Mrs. Salas asked for a nurse to take the child's temperature. The office did not employ one.

"I dropped off my wife and daughter and went to park the car," he said. "On my way back, my wife was standing in the door saying, 'Let's go.' 'What happened?' I asked her. She said, 'I asked for an RN or someone of equal qualifications to take our daughter's temperature and they didn't have anyone on board.' All they had was an unlicensed person on board."

He noted that his community "is no different from anyone else's--we want quality health care. It is in that regard that I am here to speak in support of this effort, to do whatever possible to make sure that we get the kind of quality health care we need in our city and in our nation. I am prepared at any time to present a resolution before City Council asking the Council to support a measure that would generate enthusiasm and encourage professionals in the field to hire trained personnel."

Graduations May 21-22

• Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (conferring doctoral and master's degrees), 5 p.m. Friday, May 21, Health Science Center auditorium, speaker: The Honorable Dolph Briscoe Jr., former governor of Texas

• School of Allied Health Sciences, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 22, Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University, speaker TBA.

• School of Nursing, 1 p.m. May 22, Laurie Auditorium, Dr. Margretta Styles, former dean of the Health Science Center School of Nursing

• Medical School, 4 p.m. May 22, Laurie Auditorium, Dr. Frank F. Ledford, Jr., president, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research

• Dental School, 7:30 p.m. May 22, Laurie Auditorium, Dr. James Kennedy, professor of periodontology and dean emeritus, School of Dental Medicine at The University of Connecticut Health Center

Heart program set

Dr. Laura Collins, Department of Medicine, will chair the event, which begins at 5 p.m. with a health fair including an array of interactive exhibits geared toward better health. The heart healthy dinner is set to start at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a panel presentation featuring Dr. Eli Whitney, medical director of the Heart and Vascular Institute of Texas.

Tickets are $25 per person and $250 for a table. For details, call 614-4121.

Surplus auction May 22

Viewings of the auction goods will be held Friday, May 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the next day from 8 to 9 a.m. Refreshments will be sold.

For more information, call ext. 6021.