Raylene Eisele poses at her desk on March 5, 2024, at the Eastern Oregon University Health and Counseling Center. In addition to her new role as clinical director, she is also teaching at the OHSU School of Nursing on the EOU campus.

LA GRANDE — Raylene Eisele has two professional passions — nursing and education — and her new job is the perfect marriage of both.

Eisele is the new clinical director for the Eastern Oregon University Health Center, starting the position in January. Eisele, whose focus is encouraging students to use the services available at the EOU Student Health and Counseling Center, said her first couple of months have been busy.

“It’s definitely a different clientele and a different role and I’m still learning,” she said. “In addition to that I am teaching over at the (OHSU School of Nursing) here on campus. Combining both of those are new roles to me. There’s been a pretty big learning curve. But I do know how to take care of patients, so that’s a positive thing.”

The Health Center helps with common ailments such as colds, flu, COVID testing, STD testing, wellness exams, birth control, treatment for certain chronic conditions, and immunizations.

“I’m the only nurse practitioner here,” Eisele said. “In a lot of clinics, you have the (medical assistant) or the (licensed practical nurse) who does all the initial stuff, and we don’t have that here. I’m the one-stop shop.”

In addition to physical health services, the Health Center offers mental health counseling. Student Health and Counseling Center appointments are available for both telehealth and in-person sessions.

The Counseling Center assists students for a variety of reasons. Some seek help in managing the pressures of academic life or adjusting to college. Others aim to enhance their relationship-building skills or address feelings of depression and anxiety.

“They have a psychologist and a licensed clinical social worker who does the counseling,” Eisele said. “They see students for their counseling needs. Then here in the clinic, we have a front desk person who assists with both (clinics). Then Cathy Patterson, as the manager, also assists with both (clinics).”

Settling in

Eisele has been busy acclimating to her new duties, meeting with the university’s leaders to get a feel for issues on campus.

“I’ve met with Jeremy David Jones, the housing director, and I have met with the residence advisers,” she said. “We’ve been working with student affairs and we’re currently working on a health fair through the Center for Human Development.”

Another reason Eisele is becoming a familiar face on the Eastern campus is to spread the word about the Health Center.

“I think a lot of students don’t realize what we can do here on campus,” she said. “Some of them don’t even realize, I think, that we are here, and don’t realize the vast amount of things that we can do, or we can help facilitate if it’s something that we can’t do for them.”

Eisele has a simple goal.

“We’re trying to increase the awareness (about the Health Center) because my goal is that all the students will be taken care of,” she said. “That doesn’t mean that it has to always be by me, but that they have their health care needs met and wellness needs met.”

Always wanted to be a nurse

Eisele grew up wanting to be a nurse. She can’t name a role model in the profession who sparked the interest, but it was there.

“My mom was a teacher and my dad was a carpenter,” she said. “I don’t recall being particularly close to the school nurse when I was in high school or school. I just remember always wanting to be a nurse.”

After graduating from high school, Eisele went to nursing school and graduated from Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, as a registered nurse.

She enjoyed a long career in nursing and then decided to return to school to get her nurse practitioner certification. She completed the education in 2014 at Walden University.

Having relocated to Oregon in 2017 from Missouri, Eisele previously worked at Grande Ronde Hospital and later for the Veterans Administration. Seeking a better work-life balance while serving as her parent’s primary caregiver, she found her calling at the Eastern Oregon University Health Center.

“I have a deep appreciation for the student population,” she said. “Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with students and I’m excited to once again support young people in their health journeys.”

The EOU Student Health and Counseling Center is located on the corner of Sixth Street and L Avenue and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday.

To make an appointment, students should call 541-962-3524. Walk-in service is not available.