Meet Susan, a Private Duty Nursing RN from our Joplin, MO region!
We asked her, “What gives you the passion to do what you do?” she said, “I grew up with a an aunt and uncle (two of my mother’s three siblings) who both had Down’s Syndrome. Both of them were very close to me and were more MY siblings than aunt and uncle. They both carved a deep imprint in my heart.
I am also the mother of a special needs, autistic child and while mine does not have any nursing needs, I find myself drawn to those that do and it is truly rewarding to see a happy smile on a client’s face.”
When we asked, “Why Home Care & Why Phoenix?” she told us, “Prior to 2012, I was your typical nursing home nurse with severe stress and burn out. I decided that it was time to do something new and applied to be a home health nurse. It was during my first interview that I was asked why I hadn’t chosen PDN. I honestly had no idea that PDN nurses were a thing, but once I knew, it called to me and I have have been happy ever since that path was opened to me.
I was actually still working for the other company (both companies were in the client home, each with hours for both clients) when I met some Phoenix staff as they came in to do recerts. As I had been the primary nurse for both clients, I knew quite a bit about both of them, so I often spoke with or helped to answer questions with the Phoenix team.
We joked often that I should come to work with them at Phoenix. It took about a year, but I eventually took them up on their offer, and here I am, almost seven years later, and still happy with the decision.”
We asked Susan what she would tell others contemplating working at Phoenix Home Care and Hospice and she said, “I would tell others that there must be a reason why I am still working for Phoenix after almost seven years, still happy, virtually stress free (there’s always a teensy weensy bit in every job), with no intention of leaving. The office team is great and the homes I currently work in are wonderful, especially my primary home.
If I have any issues at all, I know I have an awesome support team to help me obtain resolution, and I greatly value that.”
Of our X Factor (an important element of our unique Phoenix values), Susan says, “The X-factor to me means that we all bring different levels of experience, knowledge, skills, and passion to the Phoenix table, so that every nurse has the ability to go above and beyond.
As we interact with each other in client homes, this then allows all of us to grow, learn, problem-solve, and master different aspects in our nursing.
I myself have both learned new things from other nurses and shown others how to do things. This, I feel, is such a necessity for all nurses. Sharing our knowledge amongst us is important so that our clients and their families always have the best care possible.”
Outside of work, Susan goes on to tell us a little more about herself. “I am the mother of three natural children and three step children and am now Mimi to ten grandchildren, ranging from 16 years to 7 months old. I am perpetually busy (haha) with the ones that live close by.
I am an avid reader and am constantly adding more titles to my TBR list (it has to be in the thousands now, haha), sometimes even before I am done reading my current book. I enjoy crafting (mesh wreaths, rag wreaths and garlands to name a few) and teaching others how to make them too.
I love to travel and recently visited London and Paris last May and just returned (a little over a week ago) from a trip to Egypt. It took us about 36 hours d/t delays and flight times and we crossed 4 time zones- a 7 hour leap- to get back home. We were extremely jet-lagged and exhausted, but it was SO worth it.”
Thank you for all that you do, Susan!
