Tammy Barbour is a Nurse Practitioner at Questar III BOCES. She has been with the BOCES for 21 years and said she loves it because it keeps her on her toes.
Q: What is your role here at Questar III, and where do you work?
A: I am the school Nurse Teacher /Practitioner. I have an office at Rensselaer Academy, but my role covers anywhere in Questar III regarding student health services, mostly in special education.
Q: How long have you worked here?
A: I believe this is my 21st year!
Q: How do you see your role in supporting the BOCES and the school districts it supports?
A: I make sure that students’ health needs in our schools are met and that State Education requirements for student health services like physicals, hearing screenings, vision screenings, immunization requirements, etc. are followed through.
Q: What is your background like – previous jobs, your education, etc.?
A: I was a burn unit nurse, then pediatric ICU nurse at Albany Medical Center for about eight years. Then I was a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist for three years for Eddy Visiting Nurses’ agency. I have B.S degree in nursing from SUNY Plattsburgh and M.S. degree in Parent/Child nursing from Russell Sage College. I obtained my Pediatric Nurse Practitioner license after that.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love the absolute varied nature of my job, from the gamut of medical and psychiatric diagnosis of some of our student population, to the developmental stages of our students – as they range from pre-K to 21 years old. I get bored easily, so Questar III keeps me interested! It always offers a challenge.
Q: Tell us a bit about your life outside of Questar III.
A: I have a husband and two children. My son is 21 years old, and my daughter is 19. I have two dogs and one cat. I live in the sleepy river town of Coxsackie right in the village. I like to garden, participate in church activities, read, bake, and just keep company with the people around me.
