When Jeannette Emily Barnes was born, she faced a serious and life-threatening medical condition. The hospital had never seen a case like hers before and thought she was going to die, but she beat the odds because a surgeon there took a chance. This inspired Ms. Barnes to pursue health care, too; she wanted to give back and help others through situations like hers. To help make her dreams a reality, she earned a diploma in nursing from Temple University in 1958, a Bachelor of Science in nursing education from Wilkes College in 1969, and a Master of Arts in counseling from Marywood College in 1981. She also became a certified legal nurse consultant through Kaplan College, a licensed professional counselor and an RN in the state of Pennsylvania, a diplomate though the National Board of Disability Analysts, and a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
Ms. Barnes’ first professional position was staff nurse at Moses Taylor Hospital, followed by nurse anesthetist at the Dr. W. Waterman Clinic and the Communications Medical Center, and nurse and counselor for the Dr. W. Barnes Clinic and Mercy Hospital. As her reputation for excellence began to spread, she began to advance more rapidly through the field. She became the chief nurse anesthetist at the Scranton Surgery Center, a staff anesthetist at the Holy Spirit Hospital and Pennsylvania Gastroenterology Consultant, a private practice counselor at Caring Counseling Services, and a student counselor at the Mercy Hospital School for Anesthesia. Ms. Barnes loved her work because it was a challenge that required her to remain constantly vigilant; she always had to be at the top of her game. She ultimately retired in 2003.
The highlight of Ms. Barnes’ career was getting a chance to work with the surgeon who saved her life. Being the one to provide anesthesia for his patients while he operated was the greatest thrill. She was also proud to earn the Squibb Scholarship Award from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and to be named a fellow of the National Board of Clinical Hypnotherapists.
Outside of health care, Ms. Barnes spent more than two decades as the vice president, secretary, and owner of M.J. Spott Construction Co., Inc.
In her spare time, Ms. Barnes enjoys music, reading, and cooking.