“[Nursing is] definitely what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Lauren knew in eighth grade that she wanted to pursue nursing. This choice came as no surprise to her family, which has many members dedicated to serving the community through the church, law enforcement, and medical services. In high school, Lauren joined a club called the Future Medical Leaders of America, where she was exposed to various career pathways in healthcare. In her senior year, she served as president of the club, solidifying her plans for a future in nursing.
After graduating high school in 2021, Lauren decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing through the PA College of Health Sciences, now Saint Joseph’s University. In her second semester, she joined our Columbia community’s team as a Medication Technician, an experience she has found invaluable. “I’ve been able to get a lot of hands-on training that goes beyond my classes.” Lauren said.
As a Med Tech, Lauren acts as the eyes on the floor, noticing how residents are doing while providing essential hands-on care to our 35 Personal Care residents. Each day she enhances residents’ well-being by handling medication orders, providing treatments, performing basic procedures, and assisting with tasks like dressing or grooming. Along the way, she has developed personal connections with the residents and values the time spent learning from them. “Sitting down and hearing their stories has grown my love for them a lot,” Lauren said.
In addition to being emotionally fulfilling, her work in Personal Care has equipped her with a wide range of skills to meet the varied needs of residents. “This job has helped me grow a lot as a professional,” she noted, adding, “I’ve definitely seen a big growth in my personality. I feel like my communication skills are a lot better. I’m able to handle stress better and think on my feet.”
Lauren’s work is driven by her own family experiences with memory loss. Many of her family members have cared for or been affected by Alzheimer’s disease, including her father’s aunt, who lived at St. John’s Herr Estate. These experiences, along with the training she’s received at our community, have helped her be more conscious of the ways that memory loss can impact people. “With my exposure here, it’s helped me recognize the different aspects of it,” she said, “It’s made me a lot more understanding and patient.”
With plans to graduate in the spring, Lauren is eager to broaden her experience and continue growing. She is considering options like travel nursing and furthering her education with a master’s degree or a nurse practitioner licensure. Whatever path she chooses, Luthercare is grateful to have her compassion and skill on our team. Thank you, Lauren, for supporting our residents every day!
If you have a desire to improve the lives of others through meaningful work like Lauren does, check out our open positions here.