  Jennifer Parkhurst Springboard 1 Julie Lundblad July 28,  2004 “ His pain is over.  I read One Hour by Kim Dennig.  It was a touching story of losing a family member.  I like the emotion and the love he had for his grandfather.  Ever since I was very young I’ ve had an interest in nursing. nbsp;  I remember when my grandpa passed away when I was eight years old. nbsp;
 I thought to myself that if I was a nurse maybe I could have helped him.
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 At the young age of eight,  I realized death is forever.  &
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 When I was twenty I began working as a nurse’ s aid.
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 I worked at Havenwood Care Center in Bemidji.
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 I worked at the nursing home for two and half years.
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 As a nurses aid I helped the elderly residents with their activities of daily living.
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 Many of the residents come to the nursing home.
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 They come to live out the rest of their lives in nursing homes.
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 It was difficult because they could no longer take care of themselves at home.
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 Their skin was fragile,  and sensitive.  Some residents had dementia and Alzheimer patients.
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 I enjoyed visiting them at supper time and I would talk to the residents that could not speak although the other staff would not.
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 I just hope someone would talk to me if I could not speak.
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 I was frequently asked to stay over.
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 Although,  exhausted from working the evening shift,  I would stay and help.  First,  rounds at one a.
m.
 involved a lot of lifting and turning patients.
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 We would answer lights and take turns taking residents to the restroom.
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 Rounds went by fast and it kept me from being sleepy.
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 At three a.
m.
 it was time to round again.  Half way though rounds I checked the lady in the second bed,  and I found something shocking.
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 I turned on the light and noticed the woman’ s skin was yellow and cold.
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 Her eyes were open,  and her leg was hanging over the bed as if she was trying to get up.  I said her name but she did not answer me.
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 Just two hours ago I had spoken to this lady and she said,
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So is it time to get up.
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 Wow,  this was the first person I had actually found dead.
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 I felt very confused and I felt like this wasn’ t real.
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 I had no idea this would have such an emotional impact on me.
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 I found it was hard to deal with at first,  I couldn’ t forget how scary she looked lying in bed starring.
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 I didn’ t know if I would be able to continue to work in this field but as they say time heals all.
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 Today I am working at Cass lake Public Health Services hospital.  Although people die there too,  I am gaining experience in a variety of areas.
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 Now I have three children and I cherish each day that I am able to play with,  feed,  and provide for,  there for them because someday I too will be old.
