Nurses Week: Mosaic Nurses Have Grit!
It is National Nurses Week, an annual event that begins on May 6 and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered the founder of modern nursing. This year, Mosaic is celebrating National Nurses Week with the theme, “Mosaic Nurses Have Grit!”
That theme is expressed well in the life of Nightingale herself. Here’s a quote from her: “I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.”
“Actions which bring results.” Grit in action–despite the challenges, despite the circumstances. Here’s what a couple of Mosaic nurses have to say about their roles.
Addison Huss, a Mosaic nurse in Beatrice, Nebraska:
“I started as a direct support professional (DSP) five years ago. I applied, not really knowing what Mosaic was. But I found my passion. I loved it, and I never wanted to leave.
“I went from DSP to med aide and found my love for healthcare. I went into nursing school and became an LPN, and I worked here on-call while training to become an RN. I now supervise the health team here of nine nurses–many of them started here as DSPs, too.
“The thing I love about my job most is just having the relationships with individuals. I don’t see them every day, but some people just like to come in and ‘steal’ candy. Once in a while someone just wants to talk.
“I never know what to expect every day. I love that. My work here is meaningful. We’re dealing with lives and being able to touch other people’s lives. We’re helping people be as independent as possible. Since I was a DSP here, I know people’s backgrounds. I love being able to watch them and being able to see improvement.”
Gail Phelps, a Mosaic nurse in Liberal, Kansas:
“I don’t remember wanting to be anything but a nurse. My baby dolls had to be fixed quite frequently–I had two older brothers. When I was 15, the local hospital offered free training to become a certified nursing assistant, but you had to work 80 hours after it. I continued working there as a CNA until I left for college.
“I graduated from nursing school in 1991. I’m oncology certified and have work in hospice, labor and delivery, acute and long-term care. Coming to Mosaic in May 2022 was a whole new ballgame for me.
“Working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, you have to put more effort and thought into redirecting them at times because when they get focused on something, they’re focused. And my biggest challenge as a nurse is that I want to fix things–right now. Yet we have to respect people’s rights to make their own decisions, even about their healthcare. You have to let people progress at their own pace.
“My reward here is the hugs. I love having an open door policy, and people are coming and going. A lot of people come in and sit and talk. It is a safe and quiet place, and I like that.
“I would absolutely recommend this job to others. It is so rewarding to know that you’re making a difference. If you’re willing to give, you get so much in return. You can give without loving but you can’t love without giving.”
Mosaic is grateful for the grit Addison, Gail and the nearly 100 other nurses across Mosaic provide to the people we support.