InTouch with Southern Kentucky June 2020 | Page 15

Labor of Love
Labor & Delivery nurse retires after nearly 44 years
BY JANIE SLAVEN
COMMONWEALTH JOURNAL
“I from Lake Cumberland Regional
just really like helping people. I
always kind of knew I would be a
nurse.”
Janet Roberts recently retired
Hospital after 43 years and 10 months —
having spent her entire career there, right
from when the hospital first opened.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my career,”
Roberts said. “I’ve been very blessed.…I
got to work with the best doctors. The
obstetricians were so good and so
knowledgeable.…The hospital has been
really good to me.”
Roberts grew up the fifth of six children
born to a farm couple in the Naomi
community. Her mother had always wanted
to be a nurse, which inspired Roberts to
pursue that career. She graduated from
Nancy High School in 1974 and credits
Principal Bill Mauney and his wife Margaret
for helping her pursue her dream. Mrs.
Mauney was a member of the Somerset
Junior Woman’s Club, which awarded
Roberts a scholarship to attend Somerset
Community College.
“I was told at one time that I was their
first recipient that actually graduated,”
Roberts said. “Had it not have been for
them, I probably wouldn’t have been able
to go financially to be honest. So I really
look up to the Somerset Junior Woman’s
Club.”
She earned her degree from SCC as a
registered nurse in May 1976. She started
that June 7 at the new hospital which
had just opened to replace Somerset
City Hospital — and would eventually
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Janet Roberts, kneeling, is shown with Rose Bullock, RN, during
the capping ceremony for her nursing class.
June 2020 In Touch with Southern Kentucky • 15