Longtime county health nurse retired

Thirty years ago this week, the community was celebrating the career of a local nurse.

The April 3, 1993, edition of The Commercial Review featured a story about the retirement of Janet Barrett, who had spent the previous 10 years as Jay County’s health nurse.

Barrett, who had a more than 40-year career in nursing, was retiring with plans to spend her summer swimming, fishing, traveling and playing tennis.

“I have loved it,” said Barrett as she looked back on her career. “I wish everyone could enjoy their work like I did.”

For years after her graduation, Barrett worked part-time in order to allow her to focus on raising her three daughters. She took her first full-time job as assistant night supervisor at Jay County Hospital in 1968. She helped to create the facility’s extended car unit, which later became a nursing home.

Barrett stayed at the hospital for more than a decade and eventually began getting calls from Dr. Eugene Gillum when county health nurse Irene Overton fell into ill health and was planning to leave the position. Gillum encouraged Barrett to take over the county job.

“I did, and I’ve loved it ever since,” Barrett said.

During her time as the county health nurse, she conducted health screening programs at the courthouse, worked with schools and emergency workers and conducted hundreds of home visits. As part of the job, she served on the Jay County Health Coalition, the hospital’s Home Health Care board and the boards of Jay-Randolph Developmental Services and Wee Care Child Care.

Barrett had wanted to be a nurse through her youth because of her admiration for great uncle Dr. Jesse Nixon, who had a medical practice in Portland. And, at that time — she graduated from IU Medical School in Indianapolis in 1949 — the price was right.

“I admired him greatly,” she said. “My older brother’s girlfriend was in training and I thought it was great.

“We didn’t have any money and nurse’s training only cost $395 for a three-year diploma.”