School Nurse Soothes Students’ Symptoms

            From everyday health, to headaches and sniffles, to emergency care – the new Blinn College Health Clinic has great opportunities for students.  Both the Bryan and Brenham have a health clinic, now fully open and available to all students.  Free of charge, both clinics have a registered nurse on staff Monday through Friday, 8:00am until 5:00pm.

The nurses work under the authority and regulation of Dr. Charles Williams and are able to provide assessments, counseling, referrals, and answer the basic question, “Am I sick?”  Students who come to the office with complaints such as stomach aches, headaches, coughs, sniffles, allergies, etc. can be assessed and treated on the spot.  The office has many over the counter medications for these common symptoms which can help the students get through the rest of their day.  If the nurse deems it necessary, she can refer the student to see a physician and stay home, and the college recognizes an absence excuse from the health clinic as excused.

Beyond basic illnesses, the clinic is also open for health education and counseling.  Students seeking nutrition advice, experiencing mental health issues, or any other health questions are invited to visit the health clinic and seek professional answers.  The nurses are also open to giving advice on safe sex and answering questions on sexually transmitted diseases.  “If the students are going to be having sex, I want them to be smart about it”, Brook Mikles, RN at the Bryan campus told The Cord.  She has information on safe sex, pamphlets on STDs, and a location to send students to get STD tests for only $20.  The health clinic also has pregnancy tests and condoms for students’ use as needed.  “We usually refill the box of condoms out front one to two times a week, and went through a whole box on Friday.  I’m glad that the students are using them,” Brook added.  Although she said there is some debate about the condoms being there, Brook supports their presence and feels that it is a good movement towards campus health.  Additionally, the clinic’s rest facilities offer another great convince to students. Anyone who needs privacy and cleanliness for anything from changing bandage dressings to breast feeding are welcome to use these rest facilities.

Any services that the health clinic is unable to provide to the students directly, the nurses will refer the students to the proper facilities at the best price.  For example, the clinic has handouts for low cost self-pay office visits that give a special discount for Blinn students.

The health clinic is new and looking to improve even further.  Many additions are expected in the future when funding allows, and the new clinic is open to students’ opinions and input.  There is a survey available at the clinic that will better enable the nurses to meet the students’ wants and needs.  More information and ways to contact the clinic are available at their website: www.blinn.edu/healthclinic.html.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to be here at Blinn during the change towards better student health. It’s an exciting time and I look forward to my time here at the clinic and the changes still to come.” — Brook Mikles, RN