Community Nursing Services
Community Nursing Services is a nurse-managed health center sponsored by the SIUE School of Nursing. Community Nursing Services provides affordable primary health care, educational, and wellness services in St. Clair and Madison counties. The professional nursing staff consists of School of Nursing advanced practice and clinical nurse specialist faculty. Community Nursing Services is committed to improving the health of the community and its residents by:
- providing comprehensive and evidence-based wellness and primary care services;
- serving as consultants to local agencies and health care providers in health education, health care delivery, and health care management;
- working with residents, health care providers and agencies to identify and develop plans to meet the health needs of local communities;
- educating students in professional nursing and other health careers.
These services are provided under the supervision of SIUE faculty and staff as a function of their teaching, research, service and practice mission.
Available Services
Community Nursing Services offers pediatric and senior services, as well as health education programs throughout the community. Specialized nurses, including advanced practice nurses and community health nurses, perform these services that help families maintain wellness and manage other health care needs.
Pediatric services include:
- blood pressure, height, weight and BMI with documentation on the CDC growth and development charts;
- childhood immunizations;
- lead and hemoglobin testing;
- well child exams;
- school and sports physicals;
- hearing and vision testing (State of Illinois certified);
- flu shots;
- child care safety assessments;
- inservices on pediatric topics for the staff;
- “Hands are Not for Hitting” program presentations (anti-bullying and infection control education program that in partnership with the St. Clair County Medical Alliance).
Senior services include:
- blood pressure, height, weight and BMI;
- flu, shingles, pneumonia vaccinations;
- hemoglobin testing;
- memory, dementia and delirium testing;
- physical exams;
- foot care clinic;
- fall risk and safety assessments;
- presentations on health topics.
Health education programs include:
- anemia;
- diabetes;
- ‘Get Up & Move!’;
- cardio-vascular disease;
- osteoporosis;
- fall risk and safety assessments;
- foot and wound care;
- asthma;
- hypertension;
- vision & hearing: delirium, dementia or depression;
- seizures;
- emergency preparedness.
Additional services and presentations are available by request.
Service Locations
Services are provided at these locations:
- Community Nursing Services
- Head Start sites
- senior centers
- churches
- schools
- day care centers
- businesses and corporations
Payment for Services
Community Nursing Services accepts:
- Illinois Public Aid
- insurances
- sliding scale
- fee for service
Nursing Faculty and Staff
- Ginger Behrhorst, APRN-C, MS, Faculty, SIUE School of Nursing
- Charlotte Chance, RN, MSN, PHN, Faculty, Faculty, SIUE School of Nursing
- Jacquelyn Clement, RN, PhD, ARNP-BC, FNP, Faculty Emerita, SIUE School of Nursing
- Rhoda Headley, RN, MSN, CS, APRN, BC, CPNP, Faculty, SIUE School of Nursing
- Cheryl Jackson, RN, MSN, PHN, Faculty, SIUE School of Nursing
- Bernadette Sobczak, RN, MSN, PNP-BC, Faculty, SIUE School of Nursing
- Kathleen Thimsen, RN, CWON, MSN, FNS, Faculty, SIUE School of Nursing & Clinical Director
- Kim White, RN, PhD, MSN, CRRN, Faculty, SIUE School of Nursing
Contact Community Nursing Services at:
SIUE East St. Louis Higher Education Campus
601 James R. Thompson Blvd. Building D, Suite 2015
East St. Louis, IL 62201
Phone (618) 482-6959
Fax (618) 482-8311
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
K. Thimsen, RN, CWON, MSN, FNS
Clinic Director
(618) 482-6959
