NP graduate reaches out to those in need
by Heather MurphyPublic Relations
Just days before receiving her master of science in nursing degree, Jeni Greene contemplated what sort of advice she might have for other nurse practitioner students.
Dora
Stadler, from left, family medicine resident from Cornell Presbyterian
in NYC, a Ghanian woman, Jeni Greene, and Erica Phillips, family medicine
fellow also from Cornell, smile for a picture before leaving Sekondi, Ghana
in Africa.
She smiled behind wire-rimmed glasses, “Seek opportunities that will challenge and stretch you in ways you never thought you could be stretched. Most importantly, develop a personal interest as well as a professional interest in the population that you serve.”
Throughout her time as an MUSC student, Greene traveled to many Central American countries including Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, and the Dominican Republic, as well as Ghana, India, and Peru.
“I’ve always been interested in Hispanic culture, language, and people,” Greene said. “They are extremely warm, caring, accepting, and fun.”
Greene’s love of Hispanic culture influenced her career path so much, she decided to apply for the Migrant Health Care Fellowship, offered by the Migrant Clinician’s Network and Bureau of Primary Health Care. Hers was one of eight acceptance letters distributed to students throughout the country. She begins work at Beaufort and John’s Island migrant clinics in June.
Her involvement with the South Carolina Interdisplinary Program of Training last summer opened the door to migrant heath care in Beaufort.
“My day would start around 2 p.m. visiting and getting to know the workers and their families while going to different work camps and fields,” she said.
“In the late afternoon we held informal health education sessions. A bus picked up the people interested in going to the clinic around 5 p.m. and then we’d see patients throughout the evening,” Greene said.
Greene lets only a wisp of emotion enter her tone when she says, “While getting to know many migrant workers, I saw a difference between common stereotypes and the reality of their lives. Most of the patients were men who had left their families to live on next to nothing while sending the majority of their earnings home,” she said. “Many of the men were cooking for the first time in their lives. Their diets were terrible. It’s not uncommon to see as many as 20 Hispanic men living in a trailer on John’s Island while working construction or whatever day labor that’s available. It’s hard for me to believe that the living conditions here are better than the ones back home.”
As most of Greene’s graduate work centered on the Hispanic population, she was able to offer some expertise as a 2003 Presidential Scholar.
“I’ve known Jeni since she was a student in the bachelor of science in nursing degree program,” said Mardi Long, student and alumni relations director. “I’ve watched her enhance her nursing knowledge and develop her skills. She’s served in numerous leadership roles at the College of Nursing, as well as with the MUSC Student Government Association.
“Her greatest leadership experiences have been to the community, not only locally, but nationally and internationally.”
“She exemplifies the ideal of the nurse as an integral part of the community,” said Claire DeCristofaro, M.D., co-faculty advisor for the Graduate Student Organization. “Her cheerful willingness to devote her time to others is always done without regard to thanks or recognition. How she found time to assume a leadership role in the GSO and continue to devote herself to her many community volunteer activities I’ll never know.”
Greene desires to see more consistency in the definition of a nurse practitioner and feels that professionals with her same degree have an opportunity, if not duty, to become more involved in providing health care to rural and underserved areas.
“Jeni epitomizes the very best of nursing,” said Gail Stuart, Ph.D., R.N., College of Nursing dean. “She is intelligent, committed, ethical, and dedicated to the social and health issues of individuals, families and communities. Her high standards, caring outreach, and gentle sense of humor set her apart and earn her the respect of her peers and faculty alike.”
Her passion for the Hispanic population fuels future plans as she is determined to devote her career to “medical missions.” Her plans include working with the local Hispanic population and possibly seeking funding for a mobile health unit to provide primary care, health education, and promotion to a growing, yet underserved, population.
“The faculty in the College of Nursing do a wonderful job of encouraging students to understand and participate in eliminating health disparities. Many of our faculty see patients in underserved, outlying areas going as far as Orangeburg (S.C.),” Greene said.
A modern missionary, Greene blends her medical knowledge, faith, skill, and heart to reach out to those who need it most.
I couldn’t have made it through MUSC without: My faith in God
and the knowledge that His will is perfect.; knowing the best is yet to
come; my family; frequent travels; and frozen yogurt.
—Jeni Greene
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