Name: Naomi F. Hayes
Title: Licensed practical nurse
Department: Thomson Student Health Center

Background: I am originally from Westville, but I tell everyone that I'm from Camden because no one has heard of Westville! I've worked at the Thomson Student Health Center for 10 years. Prior to coming here, I worked at Palmetto Health Baptist for ten years.

What brought you to Carolina? I enjoy working with a younger generation. It has been a wonderful, eye-opening experience. I also look at working at Carolina as a chance to get a "heads up" on what to expect when my two children start college.

What do you do at the health center? I work in the allergy clinic. This is especially nice because I regularly see a small group of students who come to me to administer their allergy injections. I also give all other shots and do TB testing. My goal as a nurse is to put the students' needs first. I am not only here for the students, but I am also here because of the students.

What do you like about the job? I really like the rapport I have developed with the students. I love knowing that I have said or done something to make our students feel better or help them to continue their academic studies.

What is challenging about it? The most challenging thing about working in the allergy clinic is trying to communicate with a student who may be behind in their injection schedule about why I cannot increase their dosage. They can get really upset about that.

How do you spend your free time? I enjoy singing in my church's gospel choir and am very active in several ministries within my church. Most of my free time is spent with my family: my husband and our two teen-age children. We love to travel. We go to Gatlinburg every year. We've been to San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Annapolis, Maryland, and New Haven, Conn. We plan to go out to Texas soon, and to Detroit, Michigan--home of the Temptations. I'm really looking forward to going to Hitsville, USA!

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