Stella Berry’s Pride Story
Stella Berry’s Pride Story
My name is Stella Berry. I currently am employed at Baldwin Area Medical Center as a CNA/School Nurse Aide. In the past I have worked as a Patient Care Assistant in the float pool department at Region’s Hospital and as an O.B. Tech/CNA at Hudson Memorial Hospital. I bring to my position over 20 years of work experience as a certified nursing assistant. My job duties include ADLs, assist nurses with patient care and, of course, brightening the day of our patients, as well as making them feel as comfortable as possible. At the end of the day, I have a great sense of accomplishment knowing that I helped someone.
Being a CNA is very special to me. I like to help the patients whenever I can. For example, when I bathe a patient, they like it when I help them wash their backs and lotion their arms and legs afterwards. As I pass by their rooms, I offer them a drink or ask them if they want to be repositioned. After surgery, patients struggle with their first few steps, but it brings joy to my heart that within two days, they are walking up and down the hallways. I cheer them on or put my thumbs up as if to say, “All right, you’re doing great!”
I love to make the patients smile and laugh. Once while taking care of a patient, she surprised me by calling my Rosie. She knew my name, but she wasn’t feeling so good. The next day when I saw her again, she giggled and said, “Stella, I called you Rosie.” I said to her, “That’s okay, you weren’t feeling the best.” After leaving her room, I went to the nurses’ station and wrote Rosie on a piece of tape and placed it over my name on my nametag, just to see what her response would be. I went back into her room to pick up her meal tray, and when I leaned forward to get the tray, she noticed my nametag and began laughing. As much as I like to make the patients comfortable, it is also very important to me to work hard, be detailed and efficient. I have earned the trust of my co-workers and am very confident in the work I do. When I worked as an O.B. tech, it was touching to see the reactions of the parents when they first saw their son or daughter. The best part was rocking and holding the babies in the nursery. As a school aide, I enjoy getting to know each of the students and attending to their individual needs.
Stella Berry
Certified Nursing Assistant/School Nurse Aide