story and photo by James Coburn, Staff Writer
Not every family has the resources to care for loved ones at home. So, they need a comforting place like Bellevue Health & Rehabilitation Center in Oklahoma City. They need the kindness of nurses like Lakisha (Keke) White, LPN.
“You come in and smile and give your report and you take care of people — whatever they need,” White said. “Some days can be stressful, but we make it. All of us do what we have to do when taking care of people.”
She entered healthcare 15 years ago as a CNA/CMA with her heart set for nursing. White graduated from LPN school at Metro Technology Center, located in Oklahoma City and has been with Bellevue Health & Rehab Center for two years. Bellevue Health & Rehabilitation Center is a 150-bed facility that is often at capacity. Seven charge nurses work on day shift, evening shift, and night shift. That doesn’t include the supporting staff.
“The long-term coworkers that I have and the unit manager — we’re a family — they have my back and I have their back. It’s a great work dynamic working here in long-term care,” White said. “They’re very understanding because I’m taking care of my mom, too. Most places don’t get that in the corporate world, but this is family owned.”
She felt a calling from God to become a nurse. She began listening to the stories of young and older adult patients with diverse backgrounds. (story continues below)
“It helped me grow, learning their stories and their wisdom,” White said. “It’s just answering the call. When God calls you, when you answer it, it’s going to be challenging but it’s beautiful.”
White said that being a nurse has helped her to grow more patience and understanding. She views life with possibilities instead of being boxed in with tunnel vision. Nursing helps you not to be self-centered, she said. And many times, a nursing career will touch your life, she added.
“I had a patient when I was a CNA. He was a male patient — very young at 46 or so — he was a farmer,” White said. “Unfortunately, a tractor had fell on him and paralyzed him from waist down. He always encouraged me.”
White would buy him ice cream after her CMA classes, and they would sit and talk about life. He has since passed away. But White cherishes the bonding moments they had when nobody ever came to visit him.
“That was just our time together and I’ll never forget that,” she said. “He was so encouraging, and he told me stories and things that he wished he could have done, just how his life was taken away just like that.”
She has witnessed many nurses and nurse aides at Bellevue Health & Rehab Center take time to talk and listen to their residents even when the staff is busy. It’s a transition time for new residents leaving their homes to live with fewer personal items and meet new people. Nurses will introduce themselves upon the arrival of a new patient to make a good first impression. They explain menu items to choose from, call lights, and showers. Residents are introduced to how the nurses and nurse aides can help them in daily life.
White said it’s important to be present in their lives and give that extra time to learn their likes and dislikes.
“Listening to them is very important because they are going through a grieving process. Sometimes, that’s all you can do. Just listen. They need to let it out because they’re scared,” White explained. “So, you just listen to them, comfort them, and just love them.”
She remembers her motto whenever a patient lives with memory loss.
“As long as they’re safe you play along because you don’t want to take that moment away from them,” White explained. “Whatever’s going on in their mind, you don’t want to take that from them as long as they don’t pose any harm to themselves or other residents. They need you to listen.”
Nurses will succeed if they’re compassionate, empathetic, and realistic, she said. She recalls crying all the time during her first year when she was a hospice nurse.
“Even here I cry because they’re my family, they become part of me. You grieve and it’s okay to grieve.”
White said nursing has taught her that, “The time that you have, you can’t get back. So, use it well.”
She also makes the most of her life by spending time with her family. She lives with her mom and dad, sister, niece, and nephew. When she’s alone, White finds comfort and strength by praying to God and reading her Bible.
For more information about Bellevue Health & Rehabilitation Center visit https://bellevueokc.com/.
