Behind The Scenes With R.N. Debbie Philips

The nurses at Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES) visit with seniors every day and ask plenty of questions to determine the needs of MVES clients. This month, we scheduled our own visit with Debbie Philips and asked her the questions when we sat down to discuss her role as a Registered Nurse at MVES.

Debbie Phliips, Registered Nurse, has been with MVES since November 2004.

Editor: What is a typical day at MVES like for you?

D. Philips: A typical day usually includes at least two or three visits with clients. I may visit a nursing home to screen a client for Medicaid eligibility or screen a client in their home for possible placement in a nursing home. I often visit with clients who are waiting to receive assistance with bathing, dressing, or other activities of daily living. It’s important that I see these clients right away, so that they can start receiving the services they need as quickly as possible.

Editor: When you go on a home visit, what are your primary responsibilities?

D. Philips: I help to determine that it is safe for clients to receive assistance while remaining in their own home. If it is safe for them to live independently at home, I consider what type of care would be best and what level of assistance is appropriate for each individual. For example, one client may only need to be gently guided to keep up with day-to-day living activities on their own, while another client may require physical assistance from someone else, like being lifted from a chair to their bed. I make sure that the clients are eating nutritiously and if they’re on medication, that they are taking the correct doses on an appropriate schedule. If I feel that someone isn’t receiving adequate medical attention or care, I also serve as an advocate by contacting their doctors.

Editor: Have you ever practiced as a nurse in a different setting?

D. Philips: Yes, I’ve been a nurse forever! I’ve worked in acute hospital settings, Certified Home Health Agencies, and in an operating room.

Editor: How are these roles different than your current one at MVES?

D. Philips: In the operating room, for example, a nurse relies on technical skills. You are there to ensure that the doctor has everything he or she needs to perform a successful surgery. In a fast-paced setting like the OR, a nurse doesn’t get much personal time with patients. I find my current position more satisfying because I can have meaningful interactions and personal contact with my clients and their families.

Editor: What is most rewarding about your job?

D. Philips: The contact that I have with my clients and their families is most rewarding. I like to know that I’m part of a team that helps a vulnerable group in our society and that I may be able to assist in giving elders a better quality of life. In this role, I often have the chance to serve as an educator for clients and families. For example, in the case of a client with memory loss, I would work with the family to teach them the importance of maintaining a regular schedule for administering medication to their family member. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to work with elders and their caregivers and serve as an advocate for them.

Editor: What challenges do you face in this role?

D. Philips: I want to change the misconception held by some people that just because a person is elderly, it is normal or acceptable that they may be in pain or depressed. I want to ensure seniors have the best quality of life as possible and that they are receiving the assistance that they need to function as best as they can.

Editor: How do you stay on top of the most recent medical information, procedures, practices, and certifications?

D. Philips: The nurses and case managers at MVES participate in regular team meetings and all eight nurses also meet with the MVES nurse manager. The nurse manager maintains a list of health issues that are relevant to elders and the nurses take turns choosing a health topic, researching it, and presenting it at team meetings. In order to renew my nursing license every two years, I attend seminars and workshops to earn 15 continuing education credits.

Editor: What is on your “To-Do” list today?

D. Philips: Today I am going on a home visit to see a new client and to determine what type of assistance he should receive. I’ll also visit one of my regular clients from the Group Adult Foster Care Program, a program for people who need very high levels of assistance in order to remain at home. Clients in this program are assigned a case manager and a nurse who work as a team to make sure that the client’s medical, psychological, and social needs are being met. The nurse and case manager alternate regular monthly visits with these clients. The woman I’m seeing today just completed physical rehabilitation in a facility, so I’ll visit with her to determine whether or not adjustments to her care plan need to be made. I will make some phone calls to schedule more visits with different clients, and of course I have a ton of paperwork to do!