CNA

On Friday I attended a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese, and let's just say I couldn't wait to play games, I guess it's the kids in me, but also after a long week I needed to relax. Fun, friends and family always bring joy to my life, and this was a week for it. I sat and spoke with a CNA, about life and our fathers, it was an emotional conversation with nuggets of wisdom from her. She spoke about the joy of being a CNA, from massaging residents when they are at the end of life, to not washing my father too much due to his skin and pneumonia, which I never thought of. In the middle of Chuckie Cheese, she gave me a sense of peace that I so needed. She lovingly spoke of death, and residents she cared for coming to terms with death and the peace they made with their loved ones. She also said something that was life changing for me, she loves to see when the resident is about to pass away because they no longer have "constraints", and she smiled. At first, I thought to myself, who loves death? I am so glad I did not judge her, or the words she spoke, but listened. The CNA meant, people are holding onto this life, holding on to their pain, and holding on for us. I thought to myself, am I also placing my dad in constraints? My dad asked me this week to pick up his suit and shoes just in case he has to attend someone's funeral or just in case it's his own. In that moment I was saddened, confused, and unknowingly I placed my dad in constraints, that I would never do as a Patient Experience professional. I am all about what the patient or family wants, but so close to home, it was about what I wanted. Whoever employees this young woman, I fully know she has far exceeded the Patient Experience and has transitioned to the Compassionate Care Experience. This is the type of person we need to hire in hospitals and nursing homes, a person who has joy about their called positions, it's not a job or a duty check off form. I mentioned casually, when my dad's transition time comes, you have to visit and she lovingly said, "of course I will, if I'm allowed to". The reality is, my father is in a nursing home with CNA's who have more patients than hands, losing the very people they care about on a daily basis, piled on stress and performing tasks the average person would not want to do. The lesson for me is this, continue to value employees, and hire people who have this same commitment. Every week there are moments and little nuggets of comfort, care and wisdom, and I am holding onto each one, on this journey with my dad.