“For we who nurse, our nursing is something which, unless we are making progress every year, every month, every week, we are going back. No system shall endure which does not march.”
― Florence Nightingale
The above quote, attributed to the woman considered the founder of modern nursing, holds true for the dedicated nursing staff of OrrVilla’s Maple Terrace assisted living facility. The twelve nurses and 16 resident assistants not only display a deep dedication to their jobs each day, they are also constantly on the lookout for ways to improve their service to deliver the best care possible.
Glenda Stroud RN, BSN, Resident Services Manager at Maple Terrace, explains that while each member of the nursing staff holds either LPN or RN licensure, each nurse must also obtain a certain number of CEUs or Continuing Education Units over the course of a two year period to maintain that licensure. In-house training is virtually continuous and takes place on a frequent a regular basis throughout the year. That regular training also helps to develop a strong team ethic across the entire resident services staff for both nurses and RA’s alike.
“We take a ‘person-centered approach’ in caring for our residents,” explains Stroud. “When a resident arrives we first assess their basic needs; then, once they’ve moved in, we are able to tailor our care very specifically based upon the resident’s daily interactions with the RA staff. All of this translates to a service plan custom designed for each resident.”
Membership in the Ohio Assisted Living Association provides the OrrVilla staff with access to countless educational resources that can help them add or reinforce skills. The OALA also works to inform the public on the importance of assisted living as part of the long-term care continuum.
Summing up the philosophy of care at Maple Terrace, Stroud concludes, “We see our job as coming alongside the resident and his or her family to help coordinate and manage their healthcare." That’s a mission embraced by the entire OrrVilla staff.