I recently attended the 36th annual National Association of Directors of Nurses Administration in Long Term care (NADONA/LTC) conference. I love this conference and look forward to going every year.
This year’s was typical in all the good ways — but also extra special in an important way.
I got to reconnect with colleagues, network, go to the vendor show and see what is new and innovative, and enjoy the surrounding venue. I usually get to present a topic and anyone who knows me knows I love to teach and, hopefully, inspire.
After attending so many wonderful presentations, I always start feeling amazingly great about my career choice and what we do in senior care.
Then we went to the awards banquet. Wow! Who couldn’t be inspired and get recharged by all the incredible award winners?
But then, they showed this video of this incredible young lady from Harrison, AR, named Ruby Chitsey. At 11 years old, Ruby started a project at one of the nursing homes her mother, a nurse, worked in. She asked residents, “If you had three wishes, what would they be?”
She discovered these wishes were for small practical things or treats: pants or shoes that fit, fast food or fresh fruit, Vienna sausages, and so on. She created a notebook and began filling the wishes. Then she learned that the average nursing home resident has only a $40 month as a personal stipend. In Arkansas it is $30 a month.
She and her mom started a GoFundMe and that was successful. That got her activated. And now at 15 years old, she is the CEO of her nonprofit “Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents” and is an activist for all elders.
This, of course, got me thinking. First, at 11 years old I think my biggest concern was not getting annihilated in dodgeball (a cruel inhumane person invented that game, by the way). I wasn’t thinking of what I may have had and what others did not. In 2022, Ruby was honored as a CNN hero. At 14 years old!
Now, a 15-year-old CEO who makes people’s wishes come true. Man, am I humbled. (See also: Ruby featured in The McKnight’s Brighter Side feature.)
So, I actually have three wishes for Ruby.
One, that she has the resources to continue to grant wishes. If you are inspired like I’ve been, please help.
Two, that Ruby’s wishes expand nationwide, inspiring volunteers (maybe ourselves and our young ones?) in every state to grant wishes. (You can see how to volunteer on the how-to-help page at the link above.)
And three, that you watch and share this inspiring video link.
And may more of our 11-year-old-selves aspire to do more than survive dodge ball!
Just keeping it real,
Nurse Jackie
The Real Nurse Jackie is written by Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC, Senior Director of Clinical Innovation and Education for Mission Health Communities, LLC and an APEX Award of Excellence winner for Blog Writing. Vance is a real-life long-term care nurse. A nationally respected nurse educator and past national LTC Nurse Administrator of the Year, she also is an accomplished stand-up comedienne. The opinions supplied here are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of her employer or her professional affiliates.
The opinions expressed in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News guest submissions are the author’s and are not necessarily those of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News or its editors.
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