II staff portraits II Pat Rice, director of Student Health Ser~ vices, measures a stu– dent's blood pressure in the campus clinic. Rice, who has been at Hard ing for more than 20 years, didn't know what to expect on a typical clinic day. (Photo by Amy Beene) A day in the life: more than just medicine For Pat Rice, registered nurse and director of Student Health Services, there was no ordinary day at the campus clinic. "I can't tell you what a typical day here might be because I don't know what to expect," Rice said. The nurses' clinic, open from7a.m. to3:45p.m. Monday through Friday, served Harding students in need of medical care. Many of the cases Rice saw in a typical day were related to colds, sinuses, allergies and upset stomachs. "We see the most students in October and between March and April," she said. "The change in temperature and the flowers blooming cause alergy, sinus and cold problems." Despite the common occurrence of these problems, students still came to the clinic for help. "Most students aren't sure what to take to treat these illnesses," Rice said. "We ask them what medicine they normally use, and most reply, Whatever my mom gives me.' We try to teach them what decongestives and antihistamines are, so they learn how to treat themselves." However, Rice and her staff treated more than just physical ailments, dispensing love and advice as needed. Some students weren't physically sick, but homesick, coming to the clinic strug– gling with "broken hearts or grief over the loss of a parent or friend," Rice said. "We love our students," Rice said. "We love the opportunity to serve them toward total wellness - mentally, physically and spiritually." In1982, Rice became a nurse at the Harding clinic, and the direc– tor of Student Health Services in1984. Rice said her role at Harding involved more than just medicine. More than once, she and her husband, Guilford, transportation officer, opened their homes to students in need. She remembered Aiichiro, a former Harding Academy student and patient at the clinic, was not able to return home to Japan one Christmas, so the Rioes took him in. "A family Christmas decision [was) made because there was no room in the 'inn' for him. We decided to be inn keepers." Aiichiro stayed with the Rices for another 12 Christmases and two summers. A doctor of biochemistry, he worked for a biotech firm this year that researched drugs for cystic fibrosis. Aiichiro still keeps in touch with the Rices. Full of many more anecdotes from her life and her patients' lives, Pat Rice said everyone had a story to tell. "Mine is a 23-year story in the making," she said. "You can't tell it in just one day." - Megltan Michaelson 142 11 leadership
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==