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Not until witnessing many of the people surrounding me experience deaths in their family and recently experiencing a patient death of my own, did I understand how powerful grief can be. It also brings to my attention various stressors that are affiliated with the passing of a patient or loved one.
Those of us in home healthcare in Illinois already know Sandy Scannell. She first worked as a med-surg nurse and then a pediatric nurse. Later she joined the University of Illinois’ Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) as a case manager. For a dozen years, we at Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) knew her as the nurse who meticulously audited our patient records—and she was particularly exacting! Eventually in 2012, she retired from the State, took the summer off, and then “jumped the fence” and joined IPI’s staff as Director of Quality Improvement. It was great to finally have her sit on “our” side of the table! We sat down with Sandy earlier this week to find out a little more about her career before IPI, as well as what she plans to do next.
Caring for medically complex patients at home is extremely challenging—but we at Independence Plus love the opportunities to deliver complex clinical care while our patient is in their own home. We train RN’s and LPN’s to become specialists in directly caring for ventilator-dependent patients, many with rare diagnoses.
Home care nurses play a multifaceted role in their patients’ lives. When people are asked about their definition of home healthcare, the answers vary greatly. So what exactly is it?
Rowan, RN, has always known she wanted to become a nurse. After graduating from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she saw another learning opportunity in IPI’s year-long Home Nursing Residency Program. Now, just two months shy of completing the program, Rowan says she has learned a great deal from caring for medically complex, ventilator-dependent patients at home, and looks forward to a long career in nursing. We recently sat down with Rowan to find out about her time in the program, what she plans to do next, and what she has learned from her patients.
One thing that makes Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) unique is our unwavering commitment to education. Nurses hired at IPI are immersed in a hands-on training and education program designed to prepare them to provide the best possible care for patients with complex medical and respiratory needs living at home. At the forefront of our training process is our Clinical Educator, Christa, RN.
We knew there was something special about Karen H., RN, when we interviewed her for a position in our Home Nursing Residency program. Two years later, she is still getting our attention—and bringing her best self to work caring for our medically complex, ventilator-dependent patients at home.
“In some ways it’s a death sentence,” Dick begins. “But there are many ways to fight ALS. Look around me, there’s my g-tube, ventilator, diaphragmatic pacer… the list goes on.” Dick knows these interventions aren’t for everyone, but it’s his mission to make sure that everyone who is living with ALS knows what’s available to them.
“We traveled this journey together,” Zandra, RN, begins. When Zandra was 17 years old, she gave birth to her son, Alexander. Since his very first breath, Alexander has given his mom, Zandra, the resolve to follow her heart and tackle her biggest dreams. Zandra wanted the absolute best for her son, so she made the courageous decision to go to college.
Now, we are celebrating hiring two of our early graduates into full-time management positions: Ela W., BSN, RN, as a Clinical Manager, and Brittany R., RN, as our new Home Nursing Residency Manager.
Lisa, RN, can be found working with many of our most complex, ventilator-dependent patients at home. We recently sat down with Lisa to find out what makes her tick, and why our patients and nurses can’t seem to get enough!
We’re expanding our services and offerings. We want you to be a part of the team that is delivering personalized, individual, people-focused skilled home healthcare to those in need. Come join us.