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Tuesday, May 13
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 Renee English LPN
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She’s Continuous Care, Continuous Mom, Continuous Student
Originally published in Atlanta Hospital News, June 2006
Renee English, LPN, is squeezing a lot into life. She waited until her four children were in school before getting her LPN, then immediately started work on her RN. Seventeen months ago she had her fifth child (she also has three adult stepchildren and five step-grandchildren!).
A year ago she decided working in adolescent behavioral health wasn’t satisfying enough, and applied to VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® of Atlanta. Today she is a part-time Continuous Care nurse, working 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. twice a week in the homes of terminally ill patients who are in crisis. She’s also carrying a full schedule of nursing classes.
“Sometimes I’ll go 36 hours without sleep, because there’s no sleep ’til the little one sleeps,” admits Renee. “But I have ten more months until I’m an RN; the rewards are definitely worth the stress.”
VITAS was new in Atlanta when Renee researched the company and decided there were “unending opportunities for advancement.” But she insists she is not looking for supervisory duties. “I went into nursing to be a nurse,” she says. “I want to spend my day with people, not papers.”
Continuous Care is the most intense kind of hospice nursing, and Renee finds satisfaction in her interaction with family members at the end of life. She likes making a difference in the lives of others, but adds, “Not all my families are happy. This can be a very stressful time, and they need to vent. You may get the brunt of their stress, but this is hospice. You take it and go on.”
Renee relies on her strong faith to guide her, but admits it took her a few months to figure out how she would “deal with death on a weekly basis.”
“I’m emotional,” she says. “I cry when my families cry.” She wasn’t sure that was appropriate, but discovered that her tears confirm others’ grief and reassure them that she truly cares about their loved one and themselves. Nine months after she began with VITAS, we get calls specifically requesting Renee as their Continuous Care nurse.
“You know you’ve made a difference,” says Renee, “when people dealing with their own loss and pain take the time to write a note or say, ‘I appreciate what you did.’
“I’m open to new opportunities at VITAS,” says this Continuous-Care, continuous-mom, continuous-student nurse, “as long as it always includes one-on-one patient care.”
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33131 (305) 374-4143 |
