Victoria Ibarra earned her assistant nursing degree while employed as Border Partners’ Assistant General Manager. She’s seen here at the site of the commemoration service.
Victoria Ibarra, Border Partner’s Assistant Manager, continues to amaze all of us who watch her accomplish her life goals. Many of us were her in Puerto Palomas in 2012 when she arrived from Oaxaca in southern Mexico. She was a single mom with a young daughter at that time. Vicky also now has a four year old son, Manuel. He and her partner, David, are her biggest supporters.
Victoria decided to attend the first training Border Partners ever held for “Promotoras” (Health Educators). Ever since that first group of promotoras began service, she has faithfully served the community as a health promotora.
But, that was only step one. Since that time she has done so much more for Border Partners and the community of Puerto Palomas.
In 2023, Victoria completed her GED (high school equivalency). Immediately afterwards, she started work on her Assistant Nursing Certificate.
In 2024, she participated as a founder of the first Lion’s Club in Puerto Palomas. That year, she accepted the designation of the Woman for the Year in the Municipality of Ascensión (the equivalent of a county in the United States). This award honors people who serve their communities.
Last month, on Sunday, February 23 she and twenty other local residents received their official certificates recognizing them as Enfermerias Auxilaras (Assistant Nurses).
Victoria Ibarra, Assistant Nurse
Auxiliar–or assistant–nurses in Mexico are professionals who provide basic health care to patients. They work under the supervision of registered nurses. You will see assistant nurses at work in hospitals, communities, and/or homes. Some functions assistant nurses often do are to:
- Feed patients
- Record patient’s temperature, weight, and pulse
- Change bandages
- Administer medications
- Make beds and tidy clothes
- Help patients get dressed and go to the bathroom
- Provide emotional support
- Collect samples for laboratory tests.
Border Partners is very grateful to Victoria Ibarra for her consistent and dedicated efforts to make life better for people in Palomas. We know her very well. We can say with assurance that she is committed to improving the lives of the people in her community.