Employee Spotlight
Q. How long have you been working for SSCHS?
A. I've been an employee for going on two years. I work in the community as well, and I've been there about the same amount of time.
Q. Can you describe what a typical work day is like for you?
A. All my days are very different. It's kind of like heling people with their daily activities like bathing, getting dressed, sometimes just sitting and being a listener, being a good companion. It definitely has its challenges, but there's nothing more rewarding thank knowing you've provided assistance, a smile, and an ear to someone.
Q. Who do you interact with the most at work?
A. The residents and the nurses.
Q. How would your co-workers describe you?
A. think they'd say I'm a good part of the team, compassionate, caring, hard-working, and dedicated.
Q. What's the best part about your job and working for SSCHS?
A. Working in the community, it's knowing that I'm helping them stay at home for as long as possible. In long-term care, it's seeing them happy to be there.
I moved to Chapleau from Burlington so it was a big adjustment. It's different being up here. I miss my Tim Hortons and stuff, but Chapleau really feels like a home. Everybody knows each other. When we go down south to visit family, by day number three I'm over all the cars and the stress of the city. I'm ready to go back home to my safe place.
Q. What is one part of your job that might surprise people?
A. We work in a lab but because we're such a small hospital, we're actually able to go in and help nurses. I've responded and helped with CPR, for example. In a big hospital you'd probably never get that opportunity. Even the amount of blood that I run, most lab technicians in hospitals do phlebotomy and don't' even run machines. We have a smaller facility so you have to step up and help where you're needed and I love that.
Q. What made you decide to get into this field of work?
A. I was in high school and my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and she didn't want to go into a hospice so my mom decided to hospice my grandma at home. I helped with my grandma. It drew me to wanting to be a nurse, a PSW, or something in the health care field. I was lucky enough that my high school offered the PSW program. I became a PSW and got my grade 12 diploma at the same time. I've been in the field since 2008.
Q. What are some of your interests outside of work?
A. I'm a mom so my two kids pretty well occupy all of my time. I went ice fishing for the first time this winter. We chose the coldest day to go too. It was bearable *laughs. I will definitely go again though. I liked it. I'm really a homebody. I enjoy spending time with my kids, baking with my daughter, playing cards with my son.
