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Free health clinic seeks more nurses to volunteer time

By JON WILSON
Published August 3, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - The St. Petersburg Free Clinic is looking for a few good volunteer nurses.

Faced with a booming client load and a cyclical downswing in its nurse roster, the clinic would like to hear from both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, said Gregg Rose, director of volunteers and special events.

"We're probably down to a half-dozen regulars, where we could easily use a dozen to 20 who are regularly on the schedule," Rose said.

The clinic's walk-in health center offers acute medical care, prescription help, community health outreach and health-related support groups. Nurses deal with a variety of medical issues.

The health center is behind the James B. Sanderlin Family Center at 2335 22nd Ave. S.

Most of its clients are men and women ages 18 to about 65, Rose said.

"The population we look at at, we call the working poor. Most of them are working, but are working minimum wage jobs and don't have benefits, especially health benefits," Rose said.

"But because they're working, they make just that little bit too much" to qualify for government help, he said.

Client numbers have been increasing "astronomically," Rose said. He estimated that health center volunteers currently see 350 to 400 people a month.

Last year, 4,796 people received consultations and treatment, about 9,000 prescriptions were filled and another 1,000 individuals got help through support groups and personal counseling.

The health center is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some evening hours.

For information about volunteering, call Rose at 727 821-1200, ext. 118, or contact him by e-mail, greggspfc@yahoo.com

[Last modified August 3, 2005, 00:36:17]