She Nurses A High Regard For Nursing
Prospective nursing students have a role model of sorts in Lynda Barker.
In fact, Barker’s unlikely career path serves as an inspiration to anyone contemplating a fresh start in life.
The 46-year-old Spirit Lake mother was inspired to transform herself from housewife to registered nurse shortly after the birth of her son, Christopher, now 10. Barker now speaks at schools and businesses about public health issues throughout the Panhandle and is credited with starting several health programs.
Six months after Christopher was born, he required extensive, and expensive, medical treatment.
“The birth was covered by insurance, but the medical costs were not,” Barker said. “The attending nurse looked like he truly enjoyed his job helping my young son - like he enjoyed taking care of people. I was hooked.
“I asked him what it took to get into nursing.”
Her next stop was North Idaho College and the start of a new career.
“Trouble was I didn’t know a blood pressure from a bed pan,” she said. “They asked if I wanted into the LPN or the RN program. I didn’t know the difference - except one took 11 months to complete, the other two years.”
She went on to the classroom and the study of bones and blood.
“I remember having to take a speech course, which was fine until I heard I had to speak before the class, plus have it videotaped,” Barker said. “I was mortified.”
The night before the speech, she remembers sewing an outfit to wear for her “performance.”
“At least I could look good,” she said, quietly admitting her class voted her top speaker.
Then came microbiology, a subject Barker assumed meant “the study of little biologies.”
“Learning was all so new to me, I felt like I had an advantage over the other students - if that makes any sense,” she said. “Every new fact, new figure stuck with me. I truly enjoyed every day even though it meant juggling my heavy schedule to include time for my five children and caring husband.”
Barker continued to endure late nights of study, limited sleep, and financial hardships with an eye toward graduation. She worked at the NIC bookstore and on the college switchboard to make ends meet.
Finally, graduation came and her proud moment of being voted Student Nurse of the Year by her 31 fellow students.
Barker is the first to admit her success has not come without years of hard, intense effort, as well as financial, emotional and psychological drain.
“Whew. Do it again? Encourage others to do what I’ve done? Without question, in a heartbeat,” she said.
She went to work - first part time, then full time - at Kootenai Medical Center’s orthopedic ward.
She continued her education through evening courses at Lewis-Clark State College, earning a bachelor of science degree in nursing, while still working full time at KMC.
Next, Barker earned her Certification in Medical Surgical Nursing, then graduated into public health nursing. She kept her full-time hospital job and worked part time at Panhandle Health District.
Some 18 months later, she moved into a full-time job at the health district.
Somehow she squeezed in time to start the “Naptime Talk Program,” aimed at providing families with an educational outreach in areas of growth and family development, infectious disease control, parenting and creating a stress-free home environment.
Most recently, Barker has started quit-smoking seminars.
“I’ve been going to all the elementary, junior high and high schools throughout the five northern counties telling our young people of the health risks associated with tobacco,” Barker said.
Lately, businesses have hired her to speak with their employees on the hazards of drug use.
She started the Perinatal Substance Abuse Council, a program designed to educate pregnant women on the perils of drug use.
“Some years ago, I was invited to Career Day at Post Falls High School,” Barker said. “Just last year a nursing student came to me, said she got into nursing because of what I had told her class. I felt so good, so proud. I just love nursing.”
xxxx