Staff Stories: Misty Riggs Shares Highlights About Working at the Middletown Home
12 Oct 2016
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a Certified Nursing Assistant in a skilled nursing center? The simple answer is – a lot of heart!
But we wanted to go one step further to give you insight into just how passionate our staff is about serving the members of our retirement community. We talked with Misty Riggs, a Certified Nursing Assistant who will celebrate her ninth year working for the Middletown Home this January! Here’s what Misty had to say.
Question: What do you like most about working at the Middletown Home?
Misty: I love being around people and getting to interact with so many different personalities. And we have a lot of personalities here! I have a special relationship with each resident, plus I’ve really bonded with the other CNA’s and staff.
Q: How many residents do you oversee?
M: I oversee about 8-10 residents at any given time, so a really manageable number. This allows me to give customized and quality care to each person and to spend extra time with them, beyond just meeting their physical needs.
Q: Can you tell us about a current resident you really enjoy?
M: All of them! But there is one, James, who I like to call “Pooh Bear.” Just hearing his voice makes me smile.
Q: What’s something you recently did to make a resident feel special?
M: We have one resident who doesn’t get hardly any visitors. So one day, I asked him to go on an ice cream date with me. We got him out of his room and just spent time talking and laughing over ice cream. It was a really special memory.
Q: What are the holidays like at the Middletown home?
M: The holidays are a really special time! These residents are my family; I could be the daughter to any one of them. So for the holidays we celebrate just like any family would with decorations, music, time spent together and good food. I love being at the Middletown Home for the holidays.
Q: What’s the hardest part of your job?
M: The hardest part is forming such a close bond with residents and having them pass. It’s like losing a member of your family – your own parents – again and again. I miss them terribly, but I cherish the memories I had the chance to make with them!
Q: Is there anything else you want to say about your career field?
M: Sure, being a CNA is not an easy job. Studying and becoming certified is only the beginning. Every day it takes patience, dedication and a deep call to service to care for those who cannot care for themselves and to go a step beyond. I can say everyone at the Middletown Home is dedicated to giving our residents the highest quality of life!
What do you think about Misty’s story and the highlights she has shared about her work with the Middletown Home? Leave us a comment below!