Nurses are the heart of our healthcare system - whether you arrive at the emergency room by ambulance, are admitted to the hospital, get treatment at the clinic, or come to live in the Skilled Nursing Facility. The District employs 26 nurses with different levels of certification to provide your care. We are very proud of the qualifications of our nursing staff.

Nurses in an isolated rural hospital must be extremely versatile. In large hospitals nurses are specialized in obstetrics, intensive care, respiratory care and so on, and are called when their particular area of expertise is needed. In our local hospital, the nurses perform all of the various functions involved in caring for the patient.

You probably know someone who has been brought to the emergency room with heart problems. All of our emergency-room nurses have extra training in basic and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and are able to keep patients alive and stabilized for the trip to a heart specialist in Fortuna, Eureka, or Santa Rosa. Many of the nurses also have training as Mobile Intensive Care Nurses (MICN), enabling them to work with EMTs in the ambulance to begin caring for the patient before arriving at the emergency room.

The nursing staff

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at Jerold Phelps Community Hospital includes 20 registered nurses and six licensed vocational nurses. There are also four certified nurse assistants (CNA). CNAs assist in bathing, feeding, recreation and transporting skilled nursing facility residents to therapy. Some registered nurses started working at the hospital as certified nurse assistants and continued their education to obtain licensure as registered nurses. Licensed vocational nurses function under the direct supervision of registered nurses. Staff members work as a team to ensure the best care for the patient.

Teamwork is essential when working 12-hour shifts. Shift scheduling for the emergency room, the hospital and the skilled nursing facility is coordinated so the right blend of qualifications and experience are present at all times.

Some of the nurses travel from Fortuna, Eureka, or Arcata to work here; most live here in this community and may know you, your family and/or your friends.

The small size of our hospital allows nurses to give more personalized care. The ratio of nursing staff to patients is very high compared to larger hospitals and long-term care facilities, so a patient here receives more individual attention. Because of their familiarity with our local area, nurses appreciate the diversity and independence of our patients.

The nurses want you to know that they will do their best to care for you when you come to the emergency room, hospital, clinic or skilled nursing facility. If you have a story to tell or a comment to make about the care you received from our staff, you can contact Patti at the Mary Bendle Health Resource Center (923-2275), or fill out a short questionnaire available in the facility and return it to the hospital. We welcome your suggestions for improving our services and appreciate your compliments.

The Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Wednesdays the clinic is open all day, including through the lunch hour. To make your appointment, call 923-3925. Walk-ins are also welcome.