From Fast Food to Caregiver

From a fast food restaurant shift manager, to a CNA and medication aide, Pam of Emerald Ridge Rehabilitation and Care Center in Asheville, NC has been able to grow her career and use her experience and knowledge to succeed. Pam has been a CNA at Emerald Ridge for almost 10 years. In that time, she has not only learned a lot about health care, but she has taught others about teamwork. She has utilized her skills to better the lives of her residents, as well as her co-workers.

Pam began her career working as a shift manager at McDonald’s. During her time there, she learned a lot about what it means to be a member of a team and how teams reach goals together as one. The techniques and lessons that she picked up from that job have now completely transferred to her every day at Emerald Ridge. We asked Pam what she found to be the most important thing that she learned as a shift manager and she said, “It’s all about teamwork. A team works together to achieve a common goal, and we all need to pitch in and help each other out.” She emphasizes this with her co-workers often, and she finds herself frequently available to those that need her help.

What Pam enjoys most about her current role at Emerald Ridge is the atmosphere. As mentioned, Pam takes pride in her team and working together. Pam has worked at other care centers in the past, but found them to be a bit stuffy and cold. She is thrilled to be able to work with a team that feels more like a family. And her co-workers aren’t the only members in her work family. She says that her residents are equally as important to her.

Pam believes that the most important part of her job is the way that she treats the residents and her attitude as she interacts with them. She said, “I love my residents.”  In fact, as much as Pam enjoys the medication aide side of her job, she thoroughly appreciates the extended amounts of time she spends with the residents as a CNA. She gets more time to develop relationships and interact with them compared to when she goes from room to room to administer medicine.

Pam has been able to meet many people throughout her career at Emerald Ridge. Some residents have had a great impact on her. One in particular was a younger individual suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. They needed complete care to be able to move, to eat, or do anything. But, when Pam asked them one day “how are you?” they responded, “I’m good, I might as well be.” Their attitude about life really struck her. She said it made her realize she needs to “accept what is, and have a good attitude.” Pam is a very positive person, but thinking of this particular resident often gets her through her toughest days.

Pam’s upbeat personality and positive outlook on her work and her team, really creates a desirable work environment for her colleagues as well as the residents who live there. She embodies many of our Core Values, but her overall respect for people shines through. Although Pam has worked a long and prosperous career, we hope that she puts off retirement for at least a few more years! Thank you for spreading your knowledge, passion, and determination around Consulate Health Care, Pam!