I posted the below article: "My New Years Dream: Becoming a Reality" on December 27, 2013.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a dream is: 4:a: a strongly desired goal or
purpose. One of my assisted living
residents recently reawakened my dream of earning my Nursing Home
Administrator’s license through a simple conversation in my office and by
facilitating my residents’ monthly book group.
I originally wrote the beginning of the story on my blog, Look Through My Eyes Ministries, titled My New Year's Dream:
Living the Two M's, Ministry & Management on Wednesday, December 4,
2013, and my dream is gradually becoming a reality since this date. The
original story is interspersed with the recent progression, and how the brick
wall mortar is slowly dissolving.
My office was originally a small sitting room off the lobby area
in our continuing care retirement community (CCRC) so imagine two chairs for
residents their loved ones or team members to sit, and desk is in an L-shape
with a bookshelf against the wall, forming a short, narrow isle.
One of my assisted living residents, named Jackie pushed her
four-wheeled into my office, where I sat in my chair behind my desk. She faced
the walker seat towards the bookshelf. As she reviewed the books, Jackie
mentioned that the assisted living residents have a monthly book group as she
removed a book with a DVD from its place.
“Julie, have you read The Last Lecture by Dr.
Randy Pausch and watched the movie?” Before I could answer, Jackie continued,
“You can show the movie on a Monday afternoon and then lead the book group on
Tuesday morning.”
I learn from my residents by looking through their eyes and
listening to their words. Their stories allow a time of reflection, provide a
parable, and sometimes offer pause where a new chapter for my life begins
through the conversations. After my residents discussed three themes from the
book and DVD: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, Brick
Walls, and Enabling the Dreams of Others, I was taken back when
another resident named Jackie asked, “Well, Julie, have you lived your dreams?”
I recognized at that moment the necessity to look through my eyes
and contemplate my dreams. So, I did not answer the question. I deflected by
questioning the group, “How can you still enable or have you enabled the dreams
of others?”
As I mapped out where I have been and where my dreams
are leading me, the overall focus has been serving and advocating for the
senior population and others in need of health care and rehabilitation
services.
A dream was in the making when a nursing home administrator, who
believed in my abilities, hired me for my first position in a skilled nursing
facility (SNF) as a Director of Marketing and Admissions. I then
joined a CCRC as their health center’s Activities Director, and I was one of
the two staff that opened our organization’s newest CCRC’s licensed areas. The
above-mentioned were small steps in realization of my dream.
I was offered three administrator-in-training (AIT) positions as
the doors opened for the licensed care, and this had been a dream of mine since
my first SNF position. I turned down all three AIT positions without
hesitation because I made a commitment to open the health center, assisted
living, and memory care, and to serve our residents by providing quality care
through activities of daily living. It has been a little more than 4-years
since the opening of the Terraces, and there is organizational stability. So it
is time for me to move forward with my dream.
I am presently seeking an AIT position; however, I have not
located one. As Dr. Randy Pausch wrote, “…The Brick walls are there to stop the
people who do not want it bad enough. They’re there to stop the other people…Brick
walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want
something.”
How do I remove the brick wall and move forward? I have received
acceptance into a National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards
(NAB) approved online master’s degree in health care administration. I would
prefer an AIT due to the cost and securing a funding source, and the training
within a SNF setting would be invaluable because I would work within a team and
serve residents and their families as I learn and live my dream.
I have taken the first step
towards living my dream due to an unexpected gift that was presented to all
team members, where I work as the Pastoral Care Director. I opened the
envelope. A letter with a check was enclosed. The letter read:
December 12, 2013
Greetings!
The enclosed check is a
gift from residents of both the Towers and the Terraces at Skyline at First
Hill.
The gift is in appreciation
for all you have done this year to make living at Skyline an extraordinary
experience. Residents are grateful for your hard work, caring attitude and
dedication to your job each day. We value and recognize your contribution to
the quality of our lives here at Skyline.
The amount of your gift is
based on the regular hours worked during the past year.
On behalf of ALL the residents
of Skyline at First Hill, thank you for giving so generously of your time and
talent. You are very important to our lives.
The Skyline Resident Association Executive Committee
and
The 2013 Skyline Appreciation Fund Committee
This gift has allowed me to
register for my first class, beginning January 2, 2014. My textbooks are scheduled to arrive on Saturday, December
28, 2013.
The second step in living
my dream is to share my cover letter with you.
December 27, 2013
To whom
it may concern:
I am seeking an Administrator
in Training (AIT) position, and I
have enclosed my resume for your review and assistance.
My work
in marketing, community relations, and admissions for a skilled nursing
facility, sales and consumer education for durable medical equipment and
providing services to seniors and those in need within hospitals and continuing
care retirement community (CCRC) has provided a strong foundation. I am
recognized for my enthusiasm, patience, motivation and compassion as well as
leadership and team building abilities.
I believe in serving and advocating for the senior population
and others in need of health care and rehabilitation services. Many times,
caregivers and family members do not understand the services available to them
to enhance the quality of life and provide activities of daily living for their
loved ones. I have worked with others in different socioeconomic status and
health conditions in meeting their physical, emotional, spiritual,
intellectual, and social needs that is value added in the skilled nursing
facilities. I understand the business aspect of creating community by providing
outstanding customer service through serving others, which in turn builds
census and generates financial stability for an organization.
My strong interest in an AIT position is based on my
abilities and performance of working in various positions for the Presbyterian
Retirement Communities Northwest, which have not been included on my resume:
Interim Social Worker, Interim Admissions, Interim Activities Coordinator,
Interim Move-In Coordinator, Marketing Tours, and Event Management to name more
than a handful so we could successfully open our most recent CCRC, Skyline At
First Hill and The Terraces At Skyline, which includes the licensed areas: Memory
Care Unit, Assisted Living, and Health Center (SNF).
Please feel free to contact me at XXX-XXX-XXXX if you have
questions or require additional information after reviewing my resume. I am
open to relocation.
I would
like to thank-you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to
talking with you soon.
Sincerely,
Julie
L. Shaffer
Enabling the dreams of
others is a gift, and I encourage you to forward my dream to others. Perhaps
they can help me remove the remaining brick wall. Or they will be inspired to
enable a dream of a loved one or even a stranger. Or you will realize your
dream for the New Year, and live it!
https://www.facebook.com/livingstonesministriesrockon
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