DATE: Sunday, April 13, 1997                TAG: 9704110181

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: CLOSE-UP 

SOURCE: Rebecca Myers Cutchins 

                                            LENGTH:   90 lines

DIANA JARRETT: NURSING DIRECTOR

It was an extremely close relationship with a great-grandmother that led Diana Jarrett to seek a nursing career in long-term care.

And except for a nine-month stint in a local hospital, Jarrett has worked with the elderly for 22 years.

``This was not a very popular specialty for nurses to get into, especially when I first got into it,'' said Jarrett, director of nursing at Mary-view Nursing Care Center, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility right outside of Churchland.

``When you said the word `nursing home,' people would cringe and want to duck and hide,'' she said. ``And some people had the mistaken notion that nurses who worked in long-term care facilities couldn't get jobs anyplace else, and nothing could be further from the truth.''

Jarrett's dedication to her profession paid off recently when she was selected ``Director of Nursing for the Year'' by the Virginia Association of Directors of Nursing Administration and Long-Term Care.

``Diana has a very strong sense of mission toward the elderly that I rarely see in people unless they're very, very dedicated to what they're doing in life,'' said Eileen Malo, the nursing care center's administrator.

``She feels strongly committed to enhancing the care and the needs of the elderly,'' said Malo, who nominated Jarrett for the award. ``And whatever she can do to support that and to make their lives better, she throws her whole heart into.''

Jarrett has been at Maryview Nursing Care Center since the facility opened in 1989. In fact, she worked in temporary office space for eight months before the center was completed. She remembers her first day on the job like it was yesterday.

``I was just sitting there, and it was me, a legal pad and a pen, just trying to come up with a vision for how I could see the facility operating once we were finally able to get in,'' she said. ``So this has been like my baby.''

Jarrett said the most rewarding part of her job is knowing that she can have a positive impact on others' lives.

``For a lot of these people who are here, this is going to be where they're going to spend their last days,'' Jarrett said. ``And, just knowing that, I can affect somebody positively, and knowing I can make a difference in what their day is like, it's really rewarding to me.''

Jarrett said she was especially honored to be selected for the statewide award because it gives her the opportunity to have a forum for long-term care.

``More importantly, it gives me an opportunity to let people know that nursing facilities are wonderful, thriving places where people live,'' she said.

Name: Diana Lynn Jarrett.

Neighborhood: Hatton Point.

Number of years in Portsmouth: Nine.

Birthplace: Canton, Ohio.

Birthdate: Dec. 31, 1956.

Occupation: Registered Nurse - Director of Nursing Services.

What job other than your own would you like? None.

Marital status: Married 20 years to Dennis (in May).

Children: Three - Robyn, 14, Angela, 13, Dennis II, 11.

Fondest childhood memory: Eating homemade barbecue at our Fourth of July family picnics.

First concert: James Brown, 1964, Memorial Auditorium, Canton, Ohio.

What song or book title best describes your life? Song - ``If I Can Help Somebody Then My Living Shall Not Be in Vain.''

If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you would buy? A new home for our parents.

If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? My mother so that I could garner all of her wisdom at one time.

Biggest accomplishment: Developing a strong family unit for my children to thrive in.

Most embarrassing moment: The first roast beef I cooked was so tough, my husband ended up hospitalized after trying to eat it.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'd be taller.

Perfect way to spend the day: Reading a good book.

I can't resist: My mom's cooking and my husband's hugs.

Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: The Circle.

Favorite Portsmouth hangout: My house.

Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Juvenile crime.

If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?

Better image in our surrounding communities.

Continued decrease in crime rate.

Increase the allocation of funds to our school system.

Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? The wonderful people who are committed to improving our community. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL

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