Althea Fox

At Creekside Residential Care I work as a direct care worker. The most of the residents at this company have this unique and newly acknowledged disease named Prader Willi. This condition shows several symptoms but the main symptom is that they have an excessive urge to eat. While at work, it is very important we keep cabinets locked and food out of the resident’s reach. When preparing meals, I make sure that I check the calories. The residents are also limited to foods with things as high calorie count and high amounts of sugar. The residents also have behavioral problems. We help aide the residents in calming down and talking them through an outburst. I am trained on how to communicate with each resident based on their condition since the company is not limited to just individuals with Prader Willi. I have also taking seminars in how to handle and react to a resident who had become physically violent. I have learned how to protect myself without hurting my client. I also help aide the residents with everyday tasks.

At Jackson Friendly Home, I work as a PCA/RCS. Although it is assisted living where most residents don’t require too much help, I still do numerous tasks to ensure their safety and lively hood. I work on third shift here so every three hours I do sleep checks on the assigned residents. I also do bathroom prompts and assisting in changing out commodes or helping the resident into clean briefs all while making sure their clothes and bedding remain dry. In between the checks we are instructed to clean the bathrooms two times per shift, mop floors, clean up the dining room, and do the laundry. Towards the end of my shift, if I’m the RCS, I pass out both sets of morning meds. The medicine ranges from narcotics to breathing treatments to applying cream to relief pain. Every weekend we also do cycle fill and figure out what medicine is needed to be ordered. On the days I work 12 hr shifts, I help pass out snacks during snack time. I make sure I give out the right snack to certain patients since some are diabetic. I also aide the residents who need help taking out their dentures or brushing their teeth. While working 12s or 8s, I do oxygen tank checks and make sure all the residents have enough oxygen to get them by before the next shift.

At America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses, I started out as a receptionist. As a receptionist I was required to do numerous things. Everyday at the start of each shift I was in charge of printing out the next day’s appointment list. After doing so I would go on SDS, our computer system, and go through the list and see which patients have been with us before. For the returning patients I would go and pull their chart and put them in order by the time of their appointment. For both returning and new patients I would check and see if they had insurance we could use at our location. All the insurances that were eligible to be used at our office would be printed out. For the patients with ineligible insurance I would give them a call and make sure to let them know. During my time as a receptionist I was also required to answer phone calls and check patients in while answering customer questions. Due to my good work ethic and ability to multitask, I was promoted to work as an Optician. As an optician I am the person who the patients see after the doctor. I put in their information and update their prescription. I check and see what kind of eye conditions they may have like myopia or presbyopia and put it in the their record. I help them pick out their glasses and recommend what type of lens material or coatings they might want regarding their visual problems. I also make eye measurements to make sure the customer sees properly out of their new glasses.I write out prescriptions and fax copies of patient information to other offices as well. Wether I was a receptionist or an optician I’ve remained very professional even to disrespectful patients. Instead of returning the disrespect, I keep my composure and try my best to make sure the customers needs are met.

During my time at Chelsea Hospital, I worked as a PCA. There I worked in the short stay/head pain unit. Our patients ranged from post surgery patients, severe migraines, to older patients who’ve had a bad fall. Every night it was something new that kept me on my toes. I gained experience in working with patients who were alert and oriented x4 to patients who had no idea where they were or who they were. Those patients whom had no recollection of who they were I was tasked on redirecting them and making sure they don’t fall or try n slip out the building. I helped aided patients by emptying out their foleys/cbi bags, helping them on their feet after surgery, and as well as draining jp drains. I also took vitals regularly. Some patients’ vitals were needed to be taken every 4 to 8 hours and in some cases every 15 minutes. Since I worked on nightshift we often got admits from the E.R. Wether it were a post op patient or a patient from the E.R. I would gather up the right supplies, depending on the patients situation, and place them in their room as well as prepare their bedding and their bathrooms. For the patients who were unable to do so themselves, I would help change the patients briefs, wipe them down, help them eat, and reposition them.