Before Brenda Heinz, Licensed Practical Nurse retires at the end of the March; we only found it fitting to spotlight her in the "Day in the Life of" column.

Heinz started her nursing career at North Iowa Area Community College, where she received her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degree in 1969 at the age of 18. After graduation, Heinz started at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, which is now Mercy Medical Center North Iowa as a staff nurse on the pediatric floor. "I always knew that I wanted to care for children," Heinz said. In 1993, she started at the Health Department part time as a nurse in the Immunization Clinic. For the next three years, Heinz was employed part time at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa and at the Health Department. In 1996, she left the hospital to work as a support care worker for Family Connections while keeping her Health Department position.

As a nurse for the Immunization Clinic, Heinz is responsible for providing immunizations to all ages from newborns to 90 year olds. Yet, her responsibilities exceed beyond immunizations. "My job duties also include head lice checks, drug tests and lead tests," she noted. "I also assist with flu and immunization clinics outside the office." Heinz also works with nurses in our county to make sure students are current on their immunizations. This is done by auditing their immunization cards. Heinz also still works for Family Connections where she provides parenting advice, tools and tips to families with children from newborn to five years old.

Throughout her 20 years at the Health Department, Heinz has enjoyed being able to work with children and their families. "I like being able to meet the public and educate them on their own health and ways to stay healthy," Heinz stated. "It's rewarding to be able to provide that one-on-one teaching aspect." Being able to provide preventive medicine such as immunizations to keep residents healthy and active is one of the best features of her job.

As Heinz reflected on her 40 plus years as a nurse, she is thankful for all the opportunities the Health Department has provided her. "I enjoyed being able to represent the Health Department and  teach a continuing education class for area office nurses at NIACC," Heinz said. "It was nice being able to pass my knowledge and education about updating vaccines and their schedules to other professionals in the field." She is also grateful for the staff at the Health Department who are not only great to work with but also have been friends as well.

The staff at the Health Department is thankful Brenda has spent the last 20 years with us. She has been a great asset to the Health Department and to residents of the county. Brenda Heinz will be greatly missed!

Colorectal Cancer: Getting Tested Could Save Your Life

Colorectal cancer is the second- leading cause of cancer deaths in Iowa, but many colorectal cancers can be prevented with regular screening. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so there couldn't be a better time to learn the facts about colorectal cancer and to get screened. It could save your life!

If you are 50 or older, the American Cancer Society® recommends you talk to your doctor about getting screened, even if you have no symptoms of the disease. And if a parent, sibling, or child has had colorectal cancer or polyps, talk with your doctor now-you might need to start testing when you are younger than 50.

Half of all colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented, if people got screened regularly. Most colorectal cancers start as polyps (small growths on the lining of the colon or rectum). Finding and removing polyps before they become cancerous can often stop colorectal cancer before it starts. Screening tests can also find cancer in early, more treatable stages. When colorectal cancer is found early, 90 percent of patients can be treated successfully.

A number of different types of screening tests are available, ranging from simple stool tests that you can do at home to colonoscopies done by a specialist. To learn more about these and other colorectal tests, watch the video via the link below, then talk with your doctor and decide which test is right for you.

For more information about steps you can take to stay well and prevent colorectal cancer, visit http://bit.ly/PreventableTreatableBeatable or cancer.org/colon.

Reduce Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable. You can reduce your risk of ever getting colorectal cancer by:

• Quitting tobacco
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Eating lots of fruits and vegetables
• Limiting alcohol intake
• Limiting the amount of red meat (beef, pork, and lamb) and processed meat that you eat
• Becoming or staying physically active