PAGE – Education is the most powerful weapon which one can use to change the world. And Jessica Jimerson is one who is changing the world through the central spirit of nursing.

That ethos is of care and service. And Jimerson is bringing about a powerful, positive change in the lives of her patients at Encompass Health Service where she is an advanced-practice nurse. Jimerson, 30, moved here in early spring, just a couple of months after graduating from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and earning a master’s degree in nursing.

Jimerson is from St. George, Utah. She is bright, has an inquisitive mind and an enthusiasm for rigorous, challenging work. Now, she is one of the motivated by a commitment to serve this community with a population of around 9,000.

“My biggest motivation to get through all the schooling and stuff was mainly (care and service),” Jimerson said. “I want to help patients and be a primary healthcare provider. And family practice gave me that ability to really make a difference in people’s lives.”

The other motive is her children, said Jimerson.

“I am a single mom,” she said. “I want them to realize that … anything’s possible if you believe in yourself, and you’re motivated, and you work hard enough. I want them to realize that being female you can get through education in school and be what you want to be.”

Jimerson practically grew up here. Her family had a house boat in which they spent summers on Lake Powell and learned about the local culture.
“So, when I was younger, we would always come here during the summer,” Jimerson said. “So, my first impression of Page (was) that it was really friendly and bright. Everyone was very welcoming – down-home kind of feeling. That was what I noticed the most.”

“I really admire Encompass,” she said, “with their approach and integrated health. As a nurse practitioner, that’s what we’re taught, (namely), holistic health and treating the whole patient. That was what made me really want to take the job so much.”

National Nurses Week begins next week, from May 6 to May 12. And nurses like Jimerson change the world every day. They are the unsung heroes of the medical field – they not only provide the care of patients, but also perform tasks few others are willing to do.

“The job kind of just found me,” Jimerson said. “It’s kind of weird but I wasn’t looking in this direction (of Page). I was definitely looking to relocate and make a change. So, it really was awesome how things worked into place. I think everything happens for a reason.”

She added, “It’s definitely the best job I’ve ever had. I love, love my job. I love coming to work. I love how everybody here is really friendly and helpful. I have really good support with different patients.”

Jimerson says her patients are truly down-to-earth individuals who tell her stories of the community, of the people, and even share a little history of the Page-Lake Powell area. As for her colleagues, “they’re funny.”

“Dr. David Hipkin, he’s funny. He always has his jokes. But he’s been a real excellent mentor to me coming on (board). (His mentorship) has been a blessing and it has helped me and the patients as well.”

Jimerson is an alumna of Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, where she earned a bachelor’s in nursing. Among her list of impressive accomplishments and credentials, including starting a scholarship program in Cedar City, she is also an alumna of Colorado Northwestern Community College in Craig, Colorado, where she worked for a pediatrician’s office.

Jimerson is the 1997 Junior Miss Dixie, 2003 Miss St. George, 2004 Miss Iron County Rodeo Queen, and the 2005 Dixie Roundup Rodeo Queen. Thus, she always knew she wanted to serve people.

In fact, she is a former surgical nurse of Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George and a former home health representative.

Now that she is permanently living here, Jimerson wants to give back to the community of Page.

“I love health promotion and focusing on areas that really need to be focused on. And I see that,” Jimerson said. “The younger generation is kind of my area that I like to focus in on. I’d like to implement a health promotion program and a wellness program in the community to get community members involved with awareness and teaching kids in middle school.”

She added, “That’s a really vulnerable age with experimenting and trying new things. So, a lot of times they don’t know what (drugs and alcohol) actually do to your body, how it’s harming you–– the long-term effects of it. I feel like if they know more about that, then they might be a little more careful with their decisions. So, I’m most passionate about teaching wellness and health promotion, especially with the younger population.”

Jimerson says she is interested in visiting with the local schools to see if there is an interest in a health and wellness program that she would lead.