Faculty Highlight - Bonny Barr

Name
Bonny Barr

Credentials
R.N., Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Colleges/ Universities Attended: Bachelor's in Nursing from Texas Woman's University,
Master's in Psychiatric Nursing Emory University

Previous Employers
Taught at Lane Community College, Central Oregon Community College, Boise State University
Worked as Nurse Practitioner at Lane County Mental Health Clinic, Douglas County Mental Health Clinic
Worked as staff nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene

What made you decide you wanted to be a nurse?

I was a freshman at Indiana University.My parent said they could only afford in-state tuition and I desperately wanted to go to college out of state.I was researching costs in the library and read that if you majored in Nursing at a college in Texas, they would give you in-state tuition.That is the only reason I majored in Nursing. I ended up loving it and found I could pursue my passion (which was psychology/sociology) by becoming a Psychiatric Nurse!

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing nurses today?

Managed care has influenced many health care settings to be run like factories with assembly lines.  Outpatient clinics see one patient every 20 minutes all day long. Inpatient units admit, treat, and discharge as quickly as possible. The challenge for nurses is to not let this type of system exhaust them and eliminate the most satisfying aspects of being a nurse. We need to advocate for and demand time to treat the whole patient. Nursing is about teaching, empathizing, encouraging and listening to patients; not just performing tasks efficiently. By ongoing research and involvement in health policy planning Nurses can continue to show the financial and health benefits of quality nursing care.

What do you do in your “spare” time?

I read, hike, read, hike and spend time with my family: my dog, 2 kids, parents, husband, 3 step-kids and various cousins, aunts and uncles! And go to Mexico and Disneyland as often as possible!