Making People Feel Better

I had a good day at work today and so I thought I'd share what has been happening in the world of the skilled nursing facility (SNF).

Today I changed out two wheelchairs that were not right for the people that occupied them. One of my patients was so happy that he said that he wanted to do what we (OT & PT) do. He is about 75+ years old and has had a stroke among other health complications. He says to the PT and I, "I want to be a nurse, how do I become a nurse?" The PT tells him, "Well you have to go to school for a while, but if you're referring to what we do we are rehab therapists." Our patient says, "I want to be a rehab therapist then, you make people feel better. How do I become a therapist?" This was all a big surprise to me and the PT I was working with. This coming from a soft-spoken man who only really talks when we ask him a question. For him to be asking us questions and carrying on a conversation was surprising.

One aspect of working in a SNF that like is the comradery of the people that work there. Everyday I see about the same people so I get to develop working relationships with the CNAs, nurses, students, aids, and the rehab team (OT, PT, ST). I will get a patient up and dressed (or am teaching them how to do it for themselves) and the certified nursing assistant (CNA) will thank me and do other tasks for me when I need them too. I like the scratch my back and I'll scratch yours type of relationship.

I like how there are people there that are looking out for you. I like that some of my patients really like me and will request working with me. I like hearing about their life stories. I like working for someone's trust and receiving it. I love doing community mobility (grocery shopping at the dollar store) and home evaluations. These are all aspects of working in the school that I don't get to do.