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Nursing with a Prayerful Heart
Barbara Balwin: Nurse, Hairdresser, Mentor
by Angelina Musik
Medics rushed through the emergency room doors at the Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital and rolled a new patient into the hands of Triage nurse Barbara Baldwin. From the spirit of the gentle-hearted nurse you can hear the faint whisper of The Lord's Prayer: "Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed be thy name," Barbara prayed as she carefully plucked glass and debris from a car windshield from the patient’s scalp.Barbara, an emergency room nurse for thirty years before retiring in 2002, says that Triage was her favorite nursing duty. “Working Triage was like being in a detective story—you got clues to the bigger picture of what had happened. It was fascinating and provided me with insight on how to pray for a patient’s need and comfort,” Barbara says."I felt that God was using me to offer hope and peace in the midst of their physical, mental and spiritual needs. When I would share with a patient that I was praying for them, their response was always one of thankfulness—and relief that someone was even taking the time to care about them," Barbara shares.In 1979 Barbara’s experiences with car wreck patients prompted her to take a cosmetology course, which then led her into Hospital Hairdressing. Today Barbara is a nurse with a hairdressing and prayer ministry. She visits patients in various hospitals throughout the city. "I had always enjoyed doing hair for the patients who got caught off-guard or had a lengthy hospital stay. I felt that doing their hair would be a morale booster and give them a feeling of normalcy," she explains. “Once a week for six months, Barbara swept in to help remind me I was human. I couldn't write, walk, speak, eat, except through tubes. Her touch was comforting. She gave me hope during a time that was very difficult,” shares Eden Dawn Morgan of Seguin, Texas, a car wreck survivor.Praying during these times also gave Barbara the strength and confidence to be the nurse that God intended her to be. Through it all, He helped her to balance her life as a wife and mother of three children. "God is a fantastic resource," Barbara explains. "I believe in taking early morning time to have a visit with Him. I seek the wisdom to handle different projects and goals. I believe in God first, then family and then work," she adds.God's Call ChangesWanting to serve children beyond her home, Barbara created a babysitting program called Safety Why’s, Promoting Responsible Youth for Helping Kids. Co-sponsored by the San Antonio Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association, it offers babysitting safety and education, leadership, and community outreach. The program, which began in 1989, trains kids (ages 11-17) with a 7-hour course. “My feeling is that kids can do a lot. With prayer and direction they will realize positive results of their actions," Barbara explains. "By understanding babysitting safety and prevention, they will have a better understanding of the concept of 'cause and effect' in their lives." With that in mind, Barbara sought to establish an annual National Babysitter's Day to recognize and promote responsible youth for helping children and parents through babysitting. In 2000 she collected 2500 signatures, representing 45 states, and sent a petition to President Bush. In 2002 the request was granted. National Babysitter's Day is now the Saturday before the established Mother’s Day. To help fund 'Safety Why's' Barbara sells Arbonne Skin Care Products to nurture the scalp and skin of those she still helps in her hairdressing and prayer ministry. “I've seen this unfold in such a way that I see God at work,” she says. “This is the mission that God has for me. The students I train have dubbed me the Patron Saint of Babysitters, which coming from children is kind of cute."For more information about Safety Whys Babysitting or skin products that promote healing, contact Barbara Baldwin, RN at 210-695-9838 or www.safetywhys.com.DO YOU KNOW? saworship.com is the leading online resource for finding a San Antonio church. Click here for our directory of San Antonio churches.
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Angelina Musik
Contributing Writer
Angelina Musik arrived in San Antonio as a 14-year-old German immigrant. As the founder of MOMtrepreneurs.com, she won two awards from the US Small Business Administration and was recognized by Governor Rick Perry for helping women succeed in business. In 2004 she hosted the Angelina TV Show on PAXTV. Currently she hosts the Woman In Business Radio Show that airs online. Her passion is to empower, give hope and enhance the belief systems of others personally and professionally by using media, print and technology. For interviews and speaking engagements, call 210.497.2372.
Angelina@AngelinaMusik.com
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