Q: What type of work did you do before you came to Northwood?
A: I worked as a dietitian for almost 20 years and did consulting work in Texas and Arizona. I was assigned anywhere from eight to 15 nursing homes and traveled to many states. When a building was in trouble, inspectors would call me to go in and make assessments and changes in their nutritional plan. My job was to clean up any problems such as patient weight loss or anything that needed to be fixed right away.
Q: What type of educational background did you need for this type of work?
A: I am a registered and licensed dietitian and got my bachelor of science degree from Louisiana Tech University. To become a nursing-home administrator, I went back to school at Texas State University in San Marcos and earned my certification as a licensed nursing home facilities administrator.
Q: Why did this type of work appeal to you?
A: I knew it was time for a change and I wanted to grow. I prayed to be placed in a facility where I could be true to myself and make great changes.
Q: Have you had any mentors along the way?
A: My mother was my first mentor. She was a dietitian for more than 30 years in Louisiana where I’m from. I also had a boss who was a great mentor, and he encouraged me to take on more challenges and become a nursing home administrator.
Q: How did you find Northwood?
A: I was actually hired before I took my final exam. The company that owns Northwood, Fundamental L.T.C., has been so supportive and provided me with a wealth of knowledge. We are all treated with respect and not all large companies do that.
Q: What is it you like most about working here?
A: I just love this community. I grew up in a small town and I live in Austin now, so I drive 55 miles each way to work here. I like it (the drive), though, as it is my downtime and my planning time. I have also been blessed with a great team, and I am amazed by how well we have all clicked. The staff has really jumped on board.
Q: Your path to this job takes real commitment. But just how deep?
A: To be a nursing home administrator, you need your certification, but there is also (an unpaid) 1,000-hour internship. I decided if I’m going to do it, I should give it my all, so I left my last job and drained my savings account to complete my internship full-time. That’s how important this is to me. It takes most people one and a half years, but I finished in six months.
Q: What does your family think of your new job?
A: I just love my work, and they have seen a noticeable change. I am a single mother with three children. They are Hayden, 12, Haylie, 9, and Johnny is 7. I also receive a lot of support from my high school and college sweetheart, Tony Reeves. I just couldn’t do it without them. I feel honored to be here and wanted a place where God could use me and I could work toward making the environment of others more comfortable and fulfilling. This is just fuel for me, and I haven’t been this excited in a long time.
Q: Not everyone is cut out for this line of work; why do you enjoy it so much?
A: Some people don’t like coming into a nursing home, but I do. I enjoy the love, hugs and kisses I get from the residents and I love to listen to their stories. As older people, they are valuable and are a part of our history, and that needs to be shared with others.
Q: Do you have a particular philosophy you apply to your work?
A: I believe I am only as strong as my weakest link. I have an open-door policy and invite people to share their thoughts with me whether it is good or bad. I will never be able to fix what I need to fix if I don’t know if something is wrong.
Q: How did the staff receive you when you started at Northwood?
A: I began by telling them we are a family. The company believes this is “where family matters,” and I told them we need to be kind, loving and respectful to one another.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: I love shopping! I enjoy swimming and going to the beach with my kids. The summer is my favorite time of year, which stems from my days in Arizona.
