Personal Narrative: Working At The Nursing Home

Looking into her eyes, I realized that she was not as happy or as content with life as she showed herself to be. Beneath her sprightly demeanor, she hid her disappointment and loneliness.

In the Fall of 2014 I became an RA, Resident Assistant, a position longed for since I entered as a student at Landmark College, a college for students with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. I went into the job aspiring to help other students and build upon the close knit and friendly community that was already in place. My job was to ensure the safety and security of all residents, refer students to appropriate services on campus, and run and plan programs alongside two other RA’s and a Resident Dean.

During my freshman year, my Residential Assistant pulled me aside and expressed to me that I have the potential to be a great RA. Before I was told that, I did not really pay much attention to the position and what RAs actually do. The dedication and hard work these individuals put forward to make the college life of many students much simpler and inspire them. Once I was told that I had the potential to help others and meet so many other people, it ignited a change within me. I now wanted to do the same things and simply help others while making relationships along the way. I had a strong relationship with my RA and he was always there to assist me in any situation. He mentored me through difficult situations and helped me grow as an individual.

My current resident assistant was unavailable to interview because he is usually a very busy and had a deadline coming up tomorrow, so instead I interviewed an RA that was working at the Willkie. His name was Vasu and he was super open with me about being an RA. He was really honest too, he said that the process of becoming an RA was and is hard and that it is a very competitive process.

On the contrary, I understand those who can't afford to take care of their parents or kin because they don't have the means or the space to incorporate caring for another person, but all the same, if the table was turned, they would want someone to care for them personally and not a stranger. Looking around the assisted living home, I noticed everyone smoked, wore socks and went to sleep less than five minutes of sitting down. As I waved goodbye and took some photos, I felt sorry for all the people I left behind, who yearned for loved ones to come visit them and take them away, back to their “rightful” homes. But being that I was just a young, intern-news-writer, who hasn't made it to National Geographic yet, it wasn't much I could do except

Christina G. Rossetti states, "For there is no friend like a sister, in calm or stormy weather, to cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands." My name is Alyssa Snedden. I am nineteen years old and work as a Nurse Aide for the Inn at Chapel Grove. As Hailey's youngest sister, I have always looked up to her. Hailey has always provided me with love and understanding; therefore, I shall do the same in return during this bump in the road. She has never been the type of person to do anything that would cause our parents disappointment or heartbreak. These past couple months have been hard on our family but at the end of

Even though it may not sound like it, my most memorable experience is working for a home care company. The company I work for is called Residential Physicians Association. I have been working with this company for 2 years as a Medical Assistant. My role is assisting doctors in making home visits. These home visits are more relaxed than hospital visits because the patients are in the comfort of their own home. It is a rewarding feeling to see how grateful patients are to have a service come out to their house. Taking vitals and drawing blood is my most learned skill I have learned with this job. Doing these small procedures gives me hope that I can one day succeed in major medical surgeries. The opportunity of this job has shaped me to find my calling while enjoying every day of it. Memorable experiences are created every day without realizing, while creating memories is important, it is also important that you are

When working as a health unit coordinator some of my my duties is to transcribe doctor orders, process doctor orders, make appointments for clients, order supplies as needed. When I am working as a nursing assistant my job requires me to bathe and dress patients, take vital signs, serve meals, set up medical equipment, answer call lights as needed, observe changes in clients

I was recently fortunate enough to speak with Carri Montgomery, who lists her title as the Director of the Women’s and Newborn Center for Platte Valley SCL Health. Platte valley use to be community owed and they recently joined Sister’s of Charity which includes; Good Samaritan, Lutheran, and Saint Joseph Hospital. The purpose of this interview was to interview someone where I could see myself working in what they are doing later in my career. With this interview I hoped to learn what it took for Ms. Montgomery to be in the position she is today. Also, get advice from her to see what where the things she recommended I could do when I graduate from Metropolitan State University (MSU) in 2019. It was beneficial to interview her

I interviewed Beverly Stark. She works for Health Partners Hospice and Palliative Care as a hospice registered nurse (RN). The setting of her work varies. It is wherever her patient lives, which can range from a hospital, long term care, or in the patient’s home. She emphasized the importance of her team. She works with nurses, social workers, home health aids, chaplains, doctors, and hospice volunteers on a daily basis. She is part of what they call a core group. Each core group is made up of two RNs, one social worker, and a home health aid (HHA). The core group meets once a week to talk and update each other on their caseload. Additionally, they meet with the chaplain and a doctor weekly (B. Stark, personal communication, Sept 9, 2016).

When it came time to consider reapplying for the Resident Assistant position, there wasn’t a question in my mind. My experience as a first year RA has been phenomenal, albeit challenging. The aspects of this job that I initially thought would be my weaknesses are some of my strongest assets. I recognize that there are many opportunities for improvement in the way that I approach this position, but with the foundation I have built as a first year RA, I believe I can become the model returner. My first semester has been a whirlwind with balancing 17 credit hours, leadership positions on campus, and the RA role all the while having my best academic semester so far. But also, developing stronger relationships with both my residents and team mates

The sharp arctic like breeze propels itself onto my young and fair skin as my mother forces the old, frail white birch door open, exposing both myself and my younger sister to the harsh and unforgiving climate that awaits us beyond the both feeble and aged shack that I have called home for the past nine and a half years. My father sits in the frost bitten and beaten three seater Chevrolet truck. Crammed in the tray covered in tarp, I struggle to make out the shape of what seems to be my previously owned duffel bag, bestowed upon me by my next door neighbours following the death of their son, my mother describes his death to me as being “a tragic accident” down in the Cape Breton mines. Before my eyes could properly focus on the contents inside the tray of the truck, my Mother had already

A Resident Assistant demonstrates peer leadership in a scholastic, social, and residential environment. I am interested in the Resident Assistant position because of my desire to help others and influence students to make proper choices. In high school, I was involved in various leadership positions such as being the president of Student Government and Varsity Softball Team Captain. Through these positons, I encountered experiences which aided in my development as a leader. In Student Government, I was required to create, organize, and lead various programs throughout the schoolyear. As Captain of the softball team, my responsibility was to be an example of good and moral conduct; and to be a guide towards fair resolution when disagreements occurred. In conclusion, I am a viable candidate because I’ve experienced and demonstrated my problem

The blood pooled around and decorated the pavement. My left leg pinned in the kneeling position, as my right leg laid twisted and mangled. I yelled once, and then regained my composure. The sounds of the woman that hit me echoed through the country landscape that surrounded us, and I gazed off into the field in front of me. I remember thinking “This is how I die”. With seconds feeling like minutes, I quickly decided, “My story is not over”. I immediately fell into meditation, practicing deep breath. I followed through a list of coping skills I frequently taught at my job in a mental health hospital. I reflected on lessons of crisis intervention and therapy techniques searching for a way to fight through this tragic event. I tried not to talk to anyone, wanting to conserve my energy, but I could not help but fight the pain with sarcasm and humor. As the EMT arrived I kindly asked for morphine and surprised everyone that I was joking and smiling, despite the

When I walked into the bowling alley to conduct interview and explain to Walt my purpose of this assignment, I had no doubt in my mind things would be smooth. I had done several interview before and never had doubts, barriers or skepticism before, during or after. I assumed that getting personal with someone this age would be simple thinking they would be happy to tell what that have done for over seven decades. Upon meeting Walt, I shook his hand and knew he would be somewhat of a challenge per his body language a greeting comment. His greeting to me was, “Evening, life interview huh, I’ll see what all I can tell you. (Gladden. personal communication. November 21, 2017.).” My initial assumption was wrong and I went in thinking this man was going divulge me his personal experience no hesitation because of my professionalism, slight personal connections of interest and military connection.