I am now officially a member of the "Certified Nursing Assistants" at Sunshine Terrace. I was in their housekeeping department for over a year and decided I wanted to move on to a different department with more pay and more responsibility. I'm finishing my final testing this week, and do the state test at the end of the month. Then my pay goes up about $2 or so. That will be good. I'm excited to start this new job.
For those of you that want to know what it's like:
2pm I go to work, make rounds (visit each of the residents rooms and see if they need to use the restroom or have to have a diaper changed).
3pm Answer call lights and little favors needed done
4pm Get people up for dinner until 5:30
6pm Help feed dinner to those who can't feed themselves. make conversation with those that need a distraction from a boring life. :)
7pm dinner is still going... takes a while
8pm get everyone ready for bed, brush teeth and tuck them in.
9-11pm answer final call lights before going home and getting to sit down for a few minutes.
It's interesting being able to see so many that that can't do things for themselves. Those things we take for granted like brushing our teeth, getting out of bed, or going to the bathroom. it's surprising the smiles that you can put on someone's face when you encourage them to take 20 small steps through the hall before them have sit and rest. I think of getting old and what I can do to keep my mind in the present instead of the past. Often it's someone's birthday, and you ask, "How old are you Mildred?" and she says 10 years old, and you have to smile and say, "wow, your growing up." then you ask the other nurses how old she is and laugh when she's 105 years old. I hope that I can be a friendly person to be around, one who says thankyou and keeps a smile on even when life is going down hill. So many show me a good example and I want to learn from them that I serve. I really am glad to experience this kind of job. I enjoy it so far, Even those stinky diapers and giving showers is not so bad when you get to experience so many other good things. Lis
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Posted by LIS G at 3:33 PM
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3 comments:
I guess if I'd never had a job like this, I'd never understand how you can appreciate at it so much but Im so with you..I actually miss it sometimes. Its almost like you are a missionary when you are there because the pay (altho its really important to be paid well) can never compensate you like the joy you receive from serving people. Even the mean stinky people- you want so much to show them that you don't care, you'll love 'em anyway. I love what you said to the 10 year old, I could totally hear your voice. Im so glad you have this job, what a perfect place for you!
Yuck!! Congrats! I think that I would rather deal with the stress of my job than change dirty diapers. To each his own!
I think it is so wonderful that you are enjoying your job and gaining so much satisfaction from it. It would be a hard job for me to do. But I am so glad that there are good and kind people like you that love it, because there are wonderful spirits that need good care, and I am glad to know that you are there to help them!
And, congrats on getting certified and a raise!!
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