More Than Just Book Learning

A young Certified Nursing Assistant has her FirstLight experience to thank for steering her toward a career in nursing.

D- had learned a lot about various disorders and conditions in her four years studying neuroscience at the University of Delaware. But the Kinnelon native knew she wanted more hands-on experience actually caring for people with various health problems, so she earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification one summer during her time off, and after graduating in May 2016, landed a job with FirstLight of Glen Rock.

“Boyd and the staff were so friendly right from the start, and they are really involved with their clients, which I think is great,” says D-, who has been with the company for about six months and has earned the Caregiver of the Month award for her exemplary service.

Each day, D- helps two clients, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In the morning, she assists an elderly man with Crohn’s Disease with personal care tasks like getting dressed and general upkeep of the home. “In the beginning, he was apprehensive about me being his caregiver because of my age, and he wouldn’t let me touch him,” remembers D-. “I felt pretty discouraged. But I knew making him feel comfortable was my number-one priority, and I worked hard to gain his trust. Now, he trusts me, and he’s much more open with me, which is nice.”

In the afternoons, D- assists an 89-year-old woman who has suffered a spinal cord injury, preparing meals, helping with personal care, and running errands like grocery shopping. “The best part is getting to know her on a more personal level,” says D-. “She loves to share about her past, and it’s enjoyable hearing her perspective on so many different subjects.”

Now that D- has discovered how much she enjoys caring for patients, she has decided to apply to graduate school to get her Master of Science in nursing. “I think being a CNA has helped mold me into a better healthcare professional because it has showed me the different levels of care that people receive and the importance of building intimate relationships with clients,” says D-. “I believe in holistic care and that it’s important to know the patient on all different levels and have a personal relationship.”

D- plans to keep working as a CNA once she goes back to school, hopefully with FirstLight. “I’ve really enjoyed the one-on-one interaction I’ve gotten to have with clients,” she says. “Whether it’s helping with large or small tasks, just being able to make their day that much better is so rewarding.”