Health care hero: ‘Nursing is so amazing’

The Dayton Daily News is profiling the people who work hard every day to save lives and take care of us. Nominate a Health Care Hero by emailing Rebecca.Mullins@coxinc.com.

Name: Jane Combs

Hometown (where you live now): Brookville

Job title: Patient Educator Registered Nurse

Where do you work: Kettering Health Network

COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Describe what your day is like/what you do: I am screening patients, visitors, and employees at Grandview Hospital and Huber Height Urgent Care/Emergency Department. The only people allowed into these facilities are those having a procedure/evaluation, labs, visiting a loved one for surgery or an end of life situation, or going to work. We check their temperature and ask them questions like: "Have you been around someone with COVID-19?" "Are you being tested for COVID-19?" or "Do you have a fever, cough or any other respiratory symptoms?" KHN has a protocol, which is updated regularly, for how to handle anyone who may have or has been exposed to COVID-19.

What inspired you to get into health care? 

I knew that I wanted to help people. Through studying the bible, Jesus Christ, who is my lord and savior, showed me that nursing is what he was calling me to do. I am very blessed to work for an institution that lets me pray with and for my patients.

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What's a memorable experience you've had in health care? There are so many. When I was first out of nursing school, I remember a woman who was on her deathbed, holding her hand, being with her as she took her last breath and left this world. There are also funny memories, like the man who was on the "smart bomb team." The team included himself, Bill Clinton and Willie Nelson! There is also nothing like the first cry of a newborn baby. Nursing is so amazing. Now, my highlight is helping people to be healthier by reviewing biometric screen results with them and establishing their next steps.

What do you want readers to know about your job right now: Two months ago I was not screening patients for COVID-19. I work at a different site and station each shift, varying work shifts and meeting new people almost every time. Please be patient with me, have faith that I am trying to keep COVID-19/coronavirus from spreading, and that I sincerely want to help in any way I can.

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Sometimes I feel that I am not doing enough as a nurse, that I should be going to New York and working on the “front lines.” I keep in mind what the Bible says, “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:14-20