The Heart of Long-Term Care
Ashley Eastman, RN, brings compassion, creativity and community to long-term care atGood Samaritan Society
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Ashley Eastman, RN, a long-term care nurse at Good Samaritan Society - Pine River, shows what it means to have the heart of a caregiver. Her love of service started at a young age, and from there it has blossomed into a career focused on compassion.
Planting the seeds of service
Ashley has always enjoyed being around seniors, and when she was growing up, her father worked hard to instill a love of service in her.
“My dad made my siblings and I go to the nursing home at least once a month just to visit residents,” said Ashley. “From a very young age, I enjoyed being around the elderly.”
So, naturally, when Ashley turned 15 years old, she started working at her local nursing home. She then became a certified nursing assistant at the age of 16. After spending some time as a travel nurse in her first years after college, she returned to long-term care and has been helping seniors ever since.
Bringing home to others
Providing long-term care to older generations can be difficult at times.
“They have to depend on us,” said Ashley. “It’s important to have a close bond with them so they can feel safe and comfortable around you.”
Many of the people who live in long-term care centers need around-the-clock support, which includes nutrition, personal care, therapy and social interaction. Ashley’s role is to care for all their needs, no matter what they may be.
“My basic duty is to make sure they love it here. The nursing home is their home,” said Ashley. “We always want to make sure they feel comfortable, whether that involves cleaning their rooms, giving them their medications, taking them to activities, or just sitting there and talking to them.”
Working in this role requires a lot of flexibility, but thankfully for Ashley, she has plenty of coworkers she can rely on for support.
“We live in a very small community, so being at work is like being with your second family, and we can depend on each other to do our jobs,” said Ashley. “When you have a good bond with your coworkers, it makes the day go smoother.”
Ashley and her coworkers often collaborate and come up with creative ways to host fun social gatherings for the long-term care residents.
“We’re pretty big Minnesota Vikings fans, so we started having parties every Sunday when they play. It’s a great time because a lot of the residents come, and a lot of their families have started to come, too.”
This is just one of the ways Ashley and her team care for the seniors in their community. Their careers are centered on the well-being of others, and for Ashley, her career is immensely rewarding.
“Getting old can be really tough. Sometimes people can't remember things, and they can have some really bad days. So, when they're smiling and they're happy, that really makes your job worthwhile.”
Careers at Good Samaritan have excellent pay and comprehensive benefits, and above all, they empower you to serve others. If you’re looking for a rewarding career with plenty of room to grow, start exploring our open positions today at https://sanfordcareers.com/good-samaritan.