Life, Health and Strength

I haven’t made an announcement yet, but I guess my blog readers will be the first to know!  I’ve just completed the 112-hour course required by the state of South Carolina, to become a Certified Nurse Aide.  I haven’t taken the state exam yet, but my coursework and clinical experience are complete! 

I was in a class of eight students and six of us made it through the entire course.  We had a wonderful instructor who had never taught before, but had many years of nursing experience to draw from as she taught and illustrated the concepts.  

The final 40-hours of the course were off-campus at a local in-patient rehabilitation center.  It was there that I realized, once again, that life, health, and strength are not to be taken for granted.  In a rehab center, from one room to the next, there are patients who have recently suffered a fall or an accident that resulted in surgery and the need for physical and/or occupational therapy.  There were patients who suffered a stroke and lost the use of one side of their body.  We cared for patients who were recent amputees.  Some of my classmates cared for a man who was a quadruplegic.  As we did our “rounds” checking for vital signs, it gave me the opportunity to chat and smile and be friendly.  I didn’t encounter anyone who was grumpy or down about their condition.  Everyone’s primary goal was written on the board in their room, and that’s what they worked towards each day with the various therapies offered by the facility.   

One evening during clinicals, my instructor assigned me to feed an elderly woman on the hall.  A rule we learned is that when feeding a patient, the nurse aide must be seated so as not appear to be in a hurry.  After about 30min of feeding, and she was eating well, a nurse from the facility stopped in and told me I shouldn’t feed her, that therapy was teaching her to feed herself again. Yikes!  I tried putting the spoon in the woman’s hand, putting food on it, and guiding it to her mouth, but that absolutely was not going to work.  I was seated so I didn’t appear to be in a hurry, but I did want to practice some other skills that evening!  I resumed feeding her and she ate all of her food - it took an hour and fifteen minutes!  As much muscle memory as I’ve developed putting my own hand to my own mouth, I realize that I may not always be able to do that!

I expected that a great deal of the CNA curriculum would be about Biology, a subject I taught for many years!  There were aspects of Biology, but applications thereof.  Biology students learn the organs and enzymes involved in digestion; CNA’s are taught to read each patient’s chart to know if they have any dietary restrictions such as NPO (nothing by mouth), or if they may only have thickened fluids.  While I expected Biology parallels, I didn’t expect Scriptural parallels! Our 3rd chapter was titled, Understanding Residents.  We had a refresher on the basic human needs, both physiological and psychological.  Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”  We learned the importance of showing respect to residents of all cultures, and how to treat residents with dignity.  Romans 15:1-2 tells us, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”  In a rehab center, patients are there to regain strength, and learn skills to be independent.  There was great emphasis on confidentiality of patient information and providing privacy to patients during care.  Philippians 2:3-4 tells us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  Amen!

This week, as you enjoy Thanksgiving, remember to thank God for your life, health, and strength.  Pray for those who are sick or recovering from injury or illness.  As well, pray for the medical personnel who often work long hours and understaffed. CNA’s are in high demand, and the rehabilitation center where we completed our clinicals would be happy to hire all six of us!  I took the course to gain knowledge of this new program that I lead.  I am still praying about whether the Lord is actually calling me to work as a CNA, even part-time.  Please join me in praying that the Lord reveal to me what I should do with the knowledge and skills I have gained through the course.  Amen!


Thank you for reading! 
If you feel so inclined, please share!
In Jesus' Holy and Precious Name!  Amen!

Kimberly G. Massey
[email protected]