The Life of a Nurse and Acupuncturist as One.
Treating conditions through Oriental medicine and acupuncture
Theresa (Terre) McPartlan, a registered nurse and acupuncturist is a dedicated woman to her job in the hospital and at her own business for Acupuncture. McPartlan had spent many years studying to get where she is today. Not only does she have two jobs but she has two separate lives that follow it as well. While McPartlan is studying Acupuncture in Columbus, Maryland living some of her life there, she is also managing her own private business at 77th Street in Brooklyn, New York working as an Acupuncturist and living half of her weeks there as well. She is so dedicated to her job and interests in life that she travels back and forth from New York to Maryland between her two jobs. After receiving her master’s degree in Maryland she had the National Commission of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine certify her in this profession as well as being certified by NADA. MCPartlan has specifically studied and specialized in the training of acudetoxification, which specifically deals with acupuncture for effective treatment of addictive behavior.
I asked McPartlan how many years of experience she had and she replied, “ For over 25 years I have had experience in the healthcare field. I’ve worked as a registered nurse for many years and this has most definitely brought good experiences to my newest job of Acupuncture. I believe that my wide knowledge of western medicine compliments my understanding of the patient’s condition when seen for acupuncture.”
McPartlan said she had 25 years of experience in healthcare and I asked her to further explain her experiences and education history:
In 1977 McPartlan received her Associates Degree in Nursing at Long Island College Hospital School Nursing, Brooklyn, NY. In 1986 she received her Bachelor Degree for nursing at Wagner College, Staten Island, New York. In 1998 she received her Master of Arts in Sociology at City University of New York and finally, in 2004 became a Master of Acupuncture at the Traditional Acupuncture Institute. For employment she had been to quite a few places learning many different experiences. In 1977 – 1981 McPartlan worked at Maimonidies Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York as a Staff Nurse and Medical Unit. Then she transferred over to University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois as a Staff Nurse and Medical Intensive Care Unit from 1981-1984. In 1984 – 1987 she worked at a Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, New York as a Staff Nurse and Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit. Then from 1987 to 1991 she worked at Blue Cross-Blue Shield, New York, New York as a Health Care Coordinator and Managed Care Program. For two years after that she worked at another Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, New York as a Per Diem RN and Medical/Surgical ICU. For Four years after that she worked at Bayley Seton Hospital, Staten Island, New York as a Staff Nurse and Chemical Dependency Unit. From 1998 to 2001 she worked again at Maimonidies Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York as a Trainer for Clinical Systems and MIS Department. And finally, in 2004- 2010 she practiced private Acupuncture in Columbia, Maryland practicing Clinical Supervisor, Traditional Acupuncture Clinic. She also worked as an RN –Chemical Dependency Unit, in Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore.
I asked McPartlan to give us an insight of what it is like in her everyday life’s work. She explained it as so: At her business in Brooklyn she explained that Patients are seen individually in a private Bay Ridge office located in Brooklyn. On a person’s first visit to her business she asks her patient a series of questions about their lifestyle, habits, and most importantly health conditions so that she may contribute her job to that patient’s condition. She makes sure to meet every need of the patient and work well with them, to “assist the natural healing process through treatment.”
After asking what is necessary to use for this treatment, McPartlan exclaimed that needles is the primary utensil to use. Needles are key. She goes through many sterile and disposable needles that are about the size of two or three human hairs.
I was surprised to hear that her job required so many needles and was curious to know how people could bare the pain of needles or why they would even stick a needle in them. McPartlan explained,” needling is not like the type of needle you’d think it is. Needling often results in a small sensation sometimes unnoticed sensation. Some people may feel an unnoticeable amount of pain, or feel none at all; every person experiences it differently depending on their sensitivity to the needle. They also experience different attitudes during treatment resulting in some people feeling energized by treatment, while others feeling relaxed.”
I wanted McPartlan to explain what acupuncture really is for those who don’t understand it. She went into such detail she could tell the overwhelming intake it can have on people and told me to go to her website pinsheal.com to truly understand her explanation on Acupuncture.
On her site it says, “ Acupuncture is a system of health care that originated in China & has been used for over 3000 years. This form of healing works with the vital energy that is inherent within all living things. This energy is referred to as Qi' (pronounced "chee"). It flows along specific pathways called meridians, each of which is linked to a physical organ within the body.
Spiritual, mental, and physical health are influenced by acupuncture. It restores the balance of Qi' as it moves along the meridians. Health is achieved by maintaining the body in a "balanced state".
Those without symptoms also benefit from acupuncture. One can prevent illness, experience a greater sense of well being & improve their current state of health through treatment.
Acupuncture has become widely accepted in the United States & has been endorsed by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH).
The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture in the treatment of over 50 common diseases including ~ headaches, allergies, back pain, hypertension, digestive ailments, asthma & infertility ~ to name a few. Many conditions may be alleviated very rapidly, while others may require slow, steady progress. Patients are encouraged to actively participate in their healing process.
Patients often report improvement or disappearance of their symptoms, along with increased vitality and stamina and an ability to take better care of themselves in their daily lives.”
I thanked Terre McPartlan for her time spent with me for the interview and she ended the interview telling me to always “FEEL GOOD.”
