Great Stories
Montana Campus Corps:
College Students Meeting Critical Community Needs
The Value of Investigation and Personal Disclosure by Melissa Miller

This summer I did a public health nursing internship at a rural Montana county health department. I interacted with a variety of patients. One who stood out to me was a female of about 19 years. I believe she was complaining of irregular menstrual bleeding. The public health nurse and I recommended that she have a female exam done. The lady was hesitant to have the exam, citing concerns of informing her mother as well as insurance problems, if I recall correctly. After the public health nurse had left the room, I asked the woman if she was nervous about having a pelvic examination or Pap smear done. She was! It seemed that her nervousness was actually the primary reason why she was hesitant to have the examination. She and I were close in age, and I think this similarity encouraged her to share her anxiety with me. I shared with her that I had been pretty nervous to have an exam also, but that I had recently had one. I counseled her to find a female provider and I believe I was able to reassure her about the exam. I am so thankful that I was able to get to the root of the problem and, I hope, to help this young lady overcome her fear and obtain the care that she needed.

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