As a child, choosing what you want to be when you grow up is simple. You decide you want to be an astronaut or a rock star because when you are young, nothing seemed impossible. But then as you grew up and your opinions were formed and changed by the world around you, the idea of picking one occupation for the rest of your life seemed daunting. For Carol Manley, our Regional Director of Clinical Services at Consulate Health Care of Windsor in Windsor, VA, her journey to choosing a career was not always easy.
As a teenager, Carol left high school without her diploma and began her career as a security guard, first at a retail store and then at a senior living community in Williamsburg, Virginia. At age 23, she received her GED, but still hadn’t identified her passion. It was during her time at the senior living community that Carol began to discover what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. As a security guard, Carol responded to emergencies alongside the nursing staff and made rounds throughout the community to ensure the safety of residents and staff. One day, after an emergency situation, a senior administrator who noticed Carol’s potential encouraged her to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA), and even offered to pay for her education. Carol leapt at the opportunity and, after studying and working as a CNA in practicum, decided she wanted to continue her career in the healthcare industry and enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program at East Coast Polytechnic Institute’s (ECPI) Newport News Campus.
It was Carol’s passion and determination that fueled her to complete her LPN and RN programs, as well as her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, but it didn’t come without a cost. In addition to studying all day and working at night, Carol was a new mom and found herself sleeping in her truck between school and work. “I had determination,” said Carol. “I never quit or said I couldn’t finish. I worked and went back to school because I knew it was something I had to do to make a difference in the lives of residents and staff.”
For the past eight years, Carol has worked at Consulate Health Care, first as a director of nursing and now as the regional director of clinical services. During her time with us, Carol’s passion has been apparent to everyone who has worked with her because of the attention she affords even the most routine tasks. These days, Carol uses her story as a way to encourage and inspire colleagues to follow their dreams and never give up on their goals. “I always tell my staff they need to just go for it!” said Carol. “No matter what their passion is, whether they want to become an LPN or an RN, that they do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.”
But Carol’s journey isn’t over yet! In just a few months Carol will return to ECPI University to earn her Master’s degree in nursing. “I truly feel like continuing my education will help me learn how to see the bigger picture and analyze situations to better help residents and staff at Consulate Health Care,” said Carol. “My heart is truly with my residents and staff. I love the interaction that I have every day with them. I couldn’t do what I do without my team at Consulate, and I am so grateful to work alongside them.”
Carol inspires us all to reach our goals and to go above and beyond to help residents and staff each and every day. Thank you Carol for your continued leadership and dedication, we are so proud and honored that you are part of our team.
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