Have you seen teens changed from decisions they’ve made about sex and relationships?
Yes. I’ve seen people who think they’re in a monogamous relationship and then they get an STD test and it comes back positive and they’ve only had one partner. Then they have to re-evaluate because they sure didn’t get it from the toilet seat.
Do teens surprise you with their knowledge, or lack thereof, of sexual health?
Once when I had a contract with Jobcorps, I made the mistake of asking one girl if she was in a monogamous relationship. She replied “Yes, I only have one partner at a time.” That was surprising. So I had to change my wording for future patients.
What do you think of the recent backlash from the community against two Canby high schoolers who advocated for birth control services in their school?
I felt bad for the students who aren’t getting the services they needed and I’m sorry that people have such a closed mind. What they don’t realize is that students are going to have sex no matter what, so it’s really a missed opportunity.
Is it true that students can just walk in and get condoms at our health center?
No. Students need to get a condom Gold Card and show it to Janice at the front desk before they can come behind and get condoms.
What exactly is a condom Gold Card?
It’s really a little gold card that says “Gold Card” on it that students can get through application. They can receive one if they go through birth control education. So students come in and say “I don’t want all this other birth control stuff. I want condoms!” I’m like “Do you want to be a father? You gotta go through birth control education, which covers safe sex and condom education. They also have to fill out an application that makes them a patient of Multnomah County. But I assure them that it’s all confidential.
How do you cope when you get invested in kids and they make bad decisions?
For me, I’m thrilled when a kid comes in for a sports physical and they’re 14 and they haven’t had sex because it’s a decision that directly impacts their lives and futures. I just don’t want them to get pregnant. But also, you have to disconnect your personal feelings from it.
Did any life event really pique your interest in nursing?
Well, back then girls could either be nurses, teachers or housewives. But there was a series kind of like Nancy Drew called Cherry Ames. She was a nurse and had all these adventures. She always did really cool things, which was unique for a girl at that time. Also, in high school I was a candy striper. I got to do things like help feed people and it really made me aware of how blessed I was to be healthy, and it made me want to do something about those who weren’t.
How does it feel to be an adult who’s so keen on today’s adolescent problems?
It’s been quite an education. Some of the challenges that adolescents of today face are very different. But it’s amazing to me how honest kids are. I would say about 97% of the time they give you and honest straight answer.
You’ve said circumstances are very different between the days of your youth and today in terms of opportunity. What makes you think that?
The school-based health center adolescent health survey looks at nine different parts of life. One question asks where you see yourself five years from now. It’s amazing to me the answers I get. Some kids are going into the Peace Corps, urban architecture, the opportunities are endless. For me, it was a nurse, but girls today want to be a pediatrician or neurosurgeon.
Check out the rest of our Time With interviews for more brief snapshots of Grant community members.
