Facts not Fear

No one is pressed to their limits like the frontline caregivers during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Stephanie Hatfield, assistant director of nursing at Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, in Pikeville, Kentucky is familiar with taking on challenges and pressing through to successful completion, and that experience is paying off today.

Her 11 years of experience at a local hospital working on a medical/surgical floor laid a solid foundation for Stephanie’s career in long-term care. She started at Parkview six years ago and worked full-time while also going to school full-time to become a registered nurse. Stephanie gives a lot of credit to her co-worker, Dusty Charles, for enabling her to finish school. She said that Dusty was always willing to pick up an extra day of work, so Stephanie could attend school. Stephanie managed to work her way from a floor nurse, to weekend supervisor, to unit manager, to her current position as the assistant director of nursing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she is actually doing two jobs, ADON, and filling in for the director of nursing, who is currently out.

When we asked Stephanie what motivates her to work, she mentioned the residents. She pointed out a dramatic difference between working with patients for the short-term (like she did in the hospital) versus long-term patients. “You make more of a difference in people’s lives,” she said of long-term care. That makes sense, because you spend so much time with the residents. She really enjoys working with the residents on the third floor. She said the residents expect her to be in a good mood, and her positive vibes are contagious. Residents have commented on how much they enjoy Stephanie’s sweet laugh, and they tell her that they miss hearing the laugh when she isn’t at the care center.

The coronavirus has been a huge challenge for Stephanie and the care center. Stephanie said “The staff is more anxious than the residents.” To help everyone deal with the extra stress, Stephanie conducts an optional prayer meeting each morning. Before COVID-19, staff often joined hands for the prayer, but now they keep a safe social distance between each other.  Stephanie also believes that knowledge is the best cure for fear. This is true for both the staff and the patients. Stephanie encourages any staff or resident who has questions about the pandemic to come directly to her, and she makes sure to keep everyone updated on any new information. The residents have also responded well to weekly continuing education about the coronavirus. One resident jokes, “I want to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.”

“To be a good nurse, you must have heart before anything,” was Stephanie’s first comment about Consulate’s core values. When she sees young nurse assistants who possess passion, she frequently encourages them to go back to school and further their degree. She also believes in being fair with her staff, and knows that they appreciate her impartiality. As for herself, Stephanie’s passion is driving her to go back to school to earn her bachelor’s degree. Some time in the future, Stephanie aspires to be the director of nursing at a care center.

In all about stress-relief in Stephanie’s free time. She is an avid runner, and her favorite distance is the half-marathon. Stephanie added, “I love my job. It’s really stressful now, especially with the director of nursing out, but I just take one day at a time, and everything is going to be okay.” Stephanie, we couldn’t agree more, and we thank you for your dedication to your residents, staff, and job!