Name: Jackie Ingvaldson
Role: Health Services Manager
Tenure: 12 years
Inspiring co-workers and a passion for those you serve. That's what we call a 'career well lived.'
As a Direct Support Professional (DSP), becoming a nurse wasn’t top of mind for Jackie. But a few years into her tenure with REM Community Services (a part of Sevita) she was inspired by an LPN in her area.
“I saw how she worked with the individuals here and the staff, and I thought “I want to be like her! The way she provided care, the compassion and caring she showed while making sure the individuals were cared for appropriately. She was just great.”
So Jackie set out to become a nurse and follow in the path of the woman who inspired her. From DSP to Program Supervisor, then LPN to Health Service Manager, she's always believed “The individuals we serve deserve the best care, they deserve the whole world, and we should provide that to them!”
“I saw how she worked with the individuals here and the staff, and I thought “I want to be like her! The way she provided care, the compassion and caring she showed while making sure the individuals were cared for appropriately. She was just great.”
So Jackie set out to become a nurse and follow in the path of the woman who inspired her. From DSP to Program Supervisor, then LPN to Health Service Manager, she's always believed “The individuals we serve deserve the best care, they deserve the whole world, and we should provide that to them!”
"All the individuals have made such a huge impact on my life.
They’ve all shown me what genuine friendships, good relationships are supposed to be like."
They’ve all shown me what genuine friendships, good relationships are supposed to be like."
Sevita: What does an LPN do at REM Community Services?
It varies day to day. They need to be fairly independent, and they manage a larger case load than what they’d have in a nursing home or hospital. They have 8 to 10 houses they’re responsible for, and they manage the medical care for the individuals in those homes—3 to 4 people per home. But they’re not always providing direct care because we use our DSPs as our eyes and ears, and anything they report back to us about we act on. The LPNs are independent and make their own schedule for the day…and then something may come up and change that plan, so they need to be flexible.
Sevita: What are the qualities of an LPN who would be a great fit for your team?
The best qualities for an LPN is someone who is motivated, a great self-starter, caring and compassionate, and someone who will speak up for the individuals’ best interest.
Now as the Health Services Manager for my area, that’s the type of person I’m looking for. Someone who’s going to be consistent and put their all into these individuals because they deserve the best care and continuity, they deserve the whole world, and we should be able to provide that to them!