Volunteer Spotlight - Summer 2007

The mission of the Monmouth County Health Department Medical Reserve Corps is to have a core team of trained volunteers who will assist the Public Health Department in the event of a public health emergency or incident. 

 

Volunteer Background Information:

 

Diane Workman has worked for Preferred Healthmate as a homecare staff Registered Nurse (RN). She graduated from Brookdale Community College with an Associate's degree in 1986, and continued her education earning an Associate in Applied Science degree. In 1993, she passed the New Jersey State Boards to become a RN.

 

Diane Workman has experience working with both pediatric and geriatric patients.  Before working as a homecare nurse, she worked in several nursing homes. Ms. Workman also obtained experience with the ventilator dependent pediatric population while a homecare nurse on a per diem basis. When working full time as an agency homecare nurse, she attended Monmouth University to further her education and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing in 2006.

 

Diane Workman is a RN with the MRC.

 

MRC Coordinator, Lisa Lee, asked the staff which MRC volunteers stood out in their minds. The staff all remembered Diane Workman’s volunteering with the health department nursing staff during flu clinic season.  They remembered her kindness and patience when assisting patients that ranged from children to senior citizens.  Not only was she always willing to do whatever was asked, but she was also a very active and devoted volunteer. Lisa Lee said that Diane Workman is “very friendly and cheerful, and in my opinion embodies the spirit of a volunteer. She is available, prepared and self-sacrificing”. 

 

   

Diane Workman joined the MRC unit on Sept 12, 2005.

 

 

When the Monmouth County Health Department MRC was in its early stages of development, Diane Workman met nurses that were MRC volunteers and they encouraged her to participate.  Ms. Workman felt that the MRC would be a place where she could use her skills, broaden her network, meet other nurses with different backgrounds, and fulfill community needs.

 

Diane Workman has participated in numerous training programs with the Monmouth County Health Department MRC including CPR Recertification, Emergency Preparedness Clinic Overview, NIMS 700, Infection Control & PPE, Strategic National Stockpile Overview, Impact of Traumatic Stress on Disaster Relief Volunteers, START Triage, and many more. Ms. Workman feels the many courses she has taken prepared her to help large groups of people in medical emergencies.

 

Ms. Workman assisted in providing flu vaccinations for the health department flu clinics. This allowed her to experience working as a team member as well as with a large numbers of patients.

 

She also participated in Operation Pathfinder, a Regional POD Drill that helped to prepare and train her to deal with crisis situations.

 

Diane Workman is a member of Sigma Theta Tau (International Honor Society of Nursing), the American Nursing Association, and Hadassah. Ms. Workman also graduated from the High School of Art and Design and the School of Visual Arts in New York City and had experience working in art galleries before starting her family and moving to New Jersey.  Prior to pursuing a nursing career, her employment in New Jersey included leading a 4-H group of children, providing child care, working at Brock Glass, and driving a school bus.  Ms. Workman enjoys attending art shows, gallery exhibits, and the theatre. She is also a member of the Atlantic Club in Brielle where she works out and swims on a regular basis.  Her daughter is also a nurse and member of the MRC.