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WEIRTON — As general practice physicians are in short supply and the national battle over health care continues, one local nurse is taking the step out on her own. J. Lynn Prosser of Steubenville has established a stand-alone practice as a nurse practitioner. Her office, Paris Preferred Family Health, is at 85 Steubenville Pike Road, Burgettstown. She also is known to area steelworkers as a plant nurse at Severstal Wheeling and at ArcelorMittal Weirton, where she took time out from giving employee flu shots recently to talk about her practice. Prosser became a medical assistant after graduating from Jefferson Technical College in the early 1970s. She later earned an associate degree from West Virginia Northern Community College. After that, she spent more than 18 years in the military, first in the reserve, then in the regular service, serving as an Army nurse in various posts across the nation, including in Texas and California. While in the service, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Excelsior College. While stationed in Pittsburgh, she earned her master’s degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and is in the final year of doctoral studies at Robert Morris University, where she expects to earn her doctorate next fall. She mustered out at the rank of major about two and one half years ago and started working as a steel plant nurse and as nurse practitioner in Dr. Maria Tranto’s Weirton office. Prosser saw her first patient as an independent nurse practitioner Monday at Paris Preferred Family Health. She said nurse practitioners usually work in a physician’s office but can work out on their own. The nurse practitioner can advise on wellness, order lab work and formulate treatment plans and perform health assessments. She said they’re often called “physician extenders.” “I don’t like that. We’re the next best thing — a nurse,” she said. Prosser said she’s working with various insurance companies to become credentialed for coverage, though she said most of the major insurance companies already recognize nurse practitioners as independent practitioners. Prosser brings a level of energy to her work that indicates a passion for her patients and her vocation. She works more than 40 hours a week at ArcelorMittal Weirton in the Thompson dispensary next to the old No. 1 Steelworks gate at the plant’s north end, and at the Severstal Wheeling coke plant. Her day starts at the Severstal Wheeling coke plant at Follansbee at 6 a.m., followed by a shift at the ArcelorMittal plant until 3 p.m., when she heads off to her private practice to see patients from 3:15 p.m. on. She said she’ll see patients up to 8:30 p.m., especially as her practice grows, as well as Saturday hours. She said she’s even willing to see patients on Sundays if that’s needed. “I want to serve the working people who can’t take off during the day to go to the doctor,” she said. “A working mom can’t take two hours in the middle of the day to go to the doctor.” She manages to get some doctoral research done between seeing patients at the mills, she said. Prosser said establishing her own practice is important. “There is a shortage of family physicians now,” she said. “We’re filling that gap.” She and her husband Tim have three grown children. She said she likes to encourage other adults to continue their education. “I am working and getting a doctorate. I thrive on education,” she said. “I do not like hearing people say ‘I’m too old and I can’t do it.’ Yes, you can, and it will open a lot of doorways.” She said people should take advantage of education offers when their employer makes them. “Do something. Don’t just sit idle,” she said. Prosser’s Paris Preffered Family Health may be reached by calling (724) 414-5013. (Giannamore’s e-mail address is pgiannamore@heraldstaronline.com.)

 

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