"Beyond being a nurse, I know that I've touched their lives. It makes me feel good.
I listen to what they want to talk about. I interact with them
and make them feel special for that little bit of time."
Name: Michele Bassett
Role: Community RN, Mentor Community Services (a part of Sevita)
Tenure: ~4 Years
I wasn’t sure I wanted to be caring for the individuals because my oldest daughter has behaviors and it was rough during her growing up years.
But this is an amazing job for anybody who just wants to be a nurse, and help care for individuals, and educate staff, but doesn’t want to worry about the physical part of it—lifting and transferring people.
My caseload may be a little different than some of the other nurses because a lot of the people in the homes I’m responsible for either work or go to school or day program. So I have early morning visits or late day visits. Some of our nurses can start at nine o'clock and end at 3:30. It just depends on our individuals and that's where the flexibility has to come into play.
Fortunately, with our group of nurses, we all work together and it just works itself out. If for some odd reason, one of our nurses just can't make it, someone else steps in.We all try to be there for each other, we do whatever we need to do to help each other.
Role: Community RN, Mentor Community Services (a part of Sevita)
Tenure: ~4 Years
Tell us about working as a nurse at Sevita.
When you’re working in a nursing home you never know when you’ll be home because if the next shift doesn’t show up, you're stuck. I was ready for a change, butI wasn’t sure I wanted to be caring for the individuals because my oldest daughter has behaviors and it was rough during her growing up years.
But this is an amazing job for anybody who just wants to be a nurse, and help care for individuals, and educate staff, but doesn’t want to worry about the physical part of it—lifting and transferring people.
My caseload may be a little different than some of the other nurses because a lot of the people in the homes I’m responsible for either work or go to school or day program. So I have early morning visits or late day visits. Some of our nurses can start at nine o'clock and end at 3:30. It just depends on our individuals and that's where the flexibility has to come into play.
Fortunately, with our group of nurses, we all work together and it just works itself out. If for some odd reason, one of our nurses just can't make it, someone else steps in.We all try to be there for each other, we do whatever we need to do to help each other.
What's it like caring for individuals with intellectual and develomental disabilities?
We nurses are also advocates for our individuals. It may be with the doctors, hospitals, or even with other staff. If we see that they need more help, or something different, we step in and advocate to get them the help that they need. We also teach our caregivers about the specific care needed for each of our individuals. So nurses work closely with other team members in taking care of the individuals in our homes.
I go into the homes each month, and make sure that they have their appointments scheduled, that they have their immunizations, their labs, and follow up on any doctors appointments they’ve been to. Sometimes they just want to talk, and I listen. Sometimes that's all it takes.
Our individuals range from 17 to 70 years old. So a wide range of ages and behaviors and needs. We care for some individuals that aren’t verbal. We have some that are high functioning, and you wouldn’t know that they have any concerns. You also have some that have behaviors that are subsided and you never know when they may come out.
What inspires you to stay at Sevita as an RN?
The individuals. It's all about the individuals we serve.
What are the qualities of an RN who would do well in that role in this organization?
Someone who's caring, non-judgmental, and doesn’t take things too personally. You might remind an individual of somebody that hurt them for example---they all have their own story. I can't take offense to that, I just have to keep on going and do the best I can for that person. You can't take things to heart.
What is your own thumbprint that you bring to the role?
I listen to each individual and spend time with them one-on-one, and hear what their concerns are, then I try to make them part of the solution. I try and be sure that they have a say in things. Even the nonverbal people, I interact with them so they can feel like they're a person too.
Some of the individuals that I've taken care of in other houses that another nurse has now, they'll come up and hug me and say, “Oh, I miss you”. So I know that I've touched their lives. It makes me feel good. I listened to what they want to talk about. I interacted with them and made them feel special for that little bit of time we're visiting together.