AT Home Care & Hospice is celebrating nurses during the month of May! Meet Stephany and learn about her passion for nursing as she describes her path to hospice nursing.
“It started when I was young; my father was the Chief Orthopedic Technician at Richmond Memorial Hospital (the old one on Westwood Ave). I would go to the hospital with him when he was called in and sit with the nurses at the nurse’s station or go with him to see a couple patients (he of course asked them first). I watched him put casts and halos on patients and adjust traction on some, so I always knew I wanted to do something to help people.
At first, my circumstances didn’t allow me to pursue a nursing career. Then, I began working my way towards my Associates Degree for my RN. At first, I worked in a hospital, and loved the people I worked with on nights. Eventually, the night shift interfered with other parts of my life, so I became a RN/CM at a home health company, shortly after I transferred to their Richmond location, and eventually made my way to ATHC. I finally made the decision that I needed a change and have loved the people I work at ATHC ever since. They have been so supportive and mentoring on how to do things that I had not done before; it has been amazing!
Although I am sitting in a home office right now, I know that my job is essential in order to make sure each patient under my team is taken care of to the best of our ability. I miss seeing patients at times; seeing how they look at you when they are feeling sick or when you are there to brighten their day by being someone to talk to.
Teaching patients how they can better take care of themselves and make themselves feel better is what it’s all about! It’s all worth it when one patient tells you that you’re a life saver, or just thanks you and smiles at you. Now, I love receiving those same phone calls and letters from patients about my team members!”
