Kathy Linde Finds Perfect Job

Location: Junction City, Kansas
Outreach Dept: RHES
Program: Kansas Recruitment Center

Kathy Linde, ARNP, was eager to find a spot in Kansas to begin her new career. Working in a small community is important to Linde. She likes getting to know the patient and their family on a personal level, and taking care of all the different age groups seen in family care.

Because she and her family are concentrated in and around Yates Center, they were excited to move just down the road. “I really can’t see myself working anywhere else but a rural community,” said Linde.

Konza Prairie Community Health & Dental Center worked with the Kansas Recruitment Center (KRC) to recruit Linde. Michael Dolan, Konza COO, is excited to have her at their facility and is extremely thankful for KRC’s assistance in her placement.

“The KRC is important to our clinic because they understand the mission of a community health center,” said Dolan.

Small clinics and hospitals operate on a small budget, but are expected to provide first class service. The only way to accomplish that is with dedicated medical, and dental providers who enjoy the challenge of working in a rural setting. Dolan says KRC finds these people, and at a very reasonable cost.

“KRC was an excellent mediator between the two of us. They helped with the communications flow, and subsequent interviews,” said Dolan. “Without KRC, I am positive that we would never have found Kathy.”

Before her placement, Linde was one of seven students at the KU School of Nursing who took part in a recently developed rural nurse practitioner practicum. Each student participated in different rural Kansas communities including: Clay Center, Washington, Marysville, Chanute, Kingman, Seneca, and Yates Center.

Linde lived and participated in her practicum in Yates Center, learning that working in a rural area was something she wanted to continue. During the Spring 2008 semester she worked with John Atkin, MD who was chosen as Family Physician of the Year. Linde says Dr. Atkin has been in practice for 45 years, and she feels very privileged to have followed him.

“He still makes house calls, and he is one of the few physicians I know of that still publishes his home phone number,” said Linde. “He is one of a kind and I was very lucky to have him as a preceptor.”

Linde says working in a rural community is unique, because frequently the smaller clinics are the only source of medical care that the patient has for miles. The closest hospital is 22 miles from Yates Center, so people sometimes come into the clinic with illness or injuries that should be seen in an emergency room.

“I really can’t see myself working anywhere else but a rural community,” said Linde.