Growing up with nurses in the family, Isa Andrade learned firsthand about the need for nurses and the need to help others, she said
This inspired her to pursue a career in nursing
She currently works as a clinic nurse at the Cole County <a href="https://healthylife7.com/what-your-feet-can-tell-you-about-your-overall-health/” title=”What your feet can tell you about your overall health”>Health Department, where she helps patients with things that include immunizations, tuberculosis testing and health education
And as a bilingual nurse, she said she’s ready on a moment’s notice to help if a translation need arises
Andrade, who grew up in Missouri, is a first-generation American — her mother emigrated to the U.S. from Nicaragua and her father emigrated from Honduras
She has been with the Health Department for six months after previously working 6½ years as a pediatric nurse at the Community Health Center of Central Missouri following her graduation from State Technical College of Missouri
Andrade said she enjoys working with the community, and now she gets to serve the broader Cole County community at the Health Department
“I like being with kids,” she said. “But this gives me the opportunity to work with adults as well, so I enjoy educating them and letting them know that they’ve got the support that they need here.”
In her short tenure at the Health Department, Andrade said she’s already seen how much the Public Health team cares about Cole County
“It’s a wonderful place to work,” she said. “From my co-workers to my manager, the director, they’re all wonderful people who care about Cole County. They care about the community and let them know, ‘We are here for them.’ So whatever the community needs, we’re here to support you.”
Andrade said the most rewarding part of her job is when she knows that a patient went home with what they needed from the department and are leaving happy and satisfied with services
On the flip side, Andrade said she sometimes wishes she had more time during appointments to give patients all the health information that’s out there
When Andrade is not busy at the health department, she enjoys crocheting, baking sourdough bread, gardening, reading and caring for her three children
