Every month we invite one of our team members to sit down with us and tell us more about their journey to Elder Care Alliance, their role now, and their insights into older adult care. We are excited to share the expertise and knowledge of our many team members who come to work and help our residents live their best lives with us every day.
Today we welcome Olivia Ballesteros, Registered Nurse at Mercy Care Center.
Us: Hi, Olivia! Tell us a little about your background and role at Elder Care Alliance.
Olivia: I am an RN working at Mercy Care Center. I am relatively new to Mercy but have had my RN license for nine months. I’m a charge nurse, which in this case means I do both desk and floor nursing, and wound care.
Us: How does your work benefit residents at Elder Care Alliance communities?
Olivia: Working with our licensed nurses, registered nurses provide combined critical thinking skills and thorough assessments of residents’ health care needs.
Us: Tell us more about a specific feature of your job or duties and what residents can expect to gain from it.
Olivia: Wound care helps us prevent and track pressure ulcer development and healing for the population we work with. Prevention is key.
Us: What is one of your favorite memories or experiences working at Elder Care Alliance?
Olivia: So far, my favorite experiences have been getting to know the residents and, of course, the other team members, too! I like working in a skilled nursing facility environment more than in a hospital.
Us: What is the greatest reward that your role at Elder Care Alliance brings?
Olivia: The opportunity to work with long-term, complex patient care.
Us: Can you share any insights into new menus, programs, etc., that you plan for the future?
Olivia: As part of the team here, I plan to help Mercy Care Center consistently provide excellent healthcare for people who come here, for however long they need our services.
*Editorial Notes:
Skilled Nursing Facility Overview
A skilled nursing facility, such as Mercy Care Center, is a center staffed with trained medical professionals who provide medical treatment and in-patient rehabilitation. Skilled nursing facilities assist patients with healthcare and activities of daily living round-the-clock.
Skilled nursing offers the most complete and comprehensive care older adults can receive outside of a hospital. In addition, skilled nursing can provide long-term and short-term care for persistent health issues or rehabilitation from an injury.
National Nurses Week
The American Nursing Association designates National Nurses Week May 6-12, 2022. Each year, National Nurses Week ends on May 12th to commemorate Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The purpose of National Nurses Week is to honor nurses and celebrate them for the vital role they play in supporting the health of our communities.
Within Nurses Week, there are specially designated times to honor the field of school nursing and student nurses. National Student Nurses Day is celebrated on Sunday, May 8th. National School Nurse Day is celebrated on Wednesday, May 11th. We ask you to join us as we celebrate and thank all the amazing nurses we have on the Mercy Retirement & Care Center team. If you know any nurses, take a moment to tell them, “thank you.” It will mean the world to them!
