MONICA IBARRA Buildingtrustwithpatients

“I wasscared.IthoughtI wasdying,” Ibarra said.“She wasthere to hold my hand.” able,accessiblecare, andthefamilymoved to Nebraska.Later, Ibarra becameillandshe was taken to Children’s by ambulance.

Ibarra,who worksinthe Women’s Health Clinic at OneWorld CommunityHealth Centers,saidthat experience at Children’s Hospitaland Medical Centerinspiredher to pursuenursing. Another experience–when she wasillbutherfamily,livingin Utah at the time, waswithoutinsurance–inspiresher work at OneWorld.

“Atthispoint, I was by myself. My parents weren’tthere. Iamscared. Thislady, whoseonlyjob was to bewithme, toldme to squeezeherhandashardasI could.I squeezedwithbothhands.”

BY KEVIN WARNEKE

Monica Ibarra,then14,wishesshehadhad theopportunity to saythank you to thenurse whohelpedherwhenshe foundherself aloneinahospitaland fearfulshe wasdying. Shealso wouldlike to thankher forinspiring Ibarrato pursueacareerinnursing.

“Itgoesback to nothavingaccess to care,” shesaid. “That wasdifficult for my familyand Idon’t want anyoneelse to gothroughthat experience.”

Whichiswhyshestartedhernursing career at OneWorldandhasn’t left.

Somebackstory. Ibarra andherfamily were livingin Utahwithoutinsuranceandaccess to healthcare. A relative toldthemabout OneWorldinOmaha,whichprovidesafford-

Ibarra laterwroteaboutthe experiencein a collegeessay, whichhelpedherearnafull scholarship.She couldchooseher fieldof studyandchosenursing.

At OneWorld, Ibarra first workedinfamily practice, and recentlymoved to women’s health.Sheenjoys the teamapproachthat OneWorldemploysto providecare.

“Eachdayisgoodwithjustbeingable to work asa team. It’s rewarding knowing we didthebest we could forourpatientseach day.”