Nursing Scholarship had an Impact on LPN, Residents and Staff at Senior Community

PITTSBURGH - May 27, 2014 - PRLog -- Years ago, Dawn Kaminski made an impression on the Sisters of the Holy Spirit of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The Sisters saw potential in a caring and compassionate person.

         In Kaminski, they saw the makings of a good nurse.

      The Sisters of the Holy Spirit provided Kaminski with a scholarship to the UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing. Kaminski capitalized on the opportunity and set upon a career path that led her to The Residence at Willow Lane, where she is Assistant Director of Resident Care. Willow Lane is a senior living community operated by Wexford-based IntegraCare.

     “Being a nurse at the Willows is very rewarding because the staff as well as the residents count on me and know that I will take care of any issue or problem they have in a timely manner,” said Kaminski, an LPN. “The residents and their family members are comfortable with coming to me with any issues. I really enjoy assisting the residents and helping them to live a more rewarding lifestyle.”

     The Residence at Willow Lane provides personal care for each resident depending on his or her needs and requirements. The senior living and memory care communities provide 24-hour staffing. Dedicated nurses such as Kaminski are an important part of the IntegraCare team.

       “I got into nursing from being a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) before becoming a nurse, and The Sisters of the Holy Spirit saw how passionate I was in this field,” Kaminski said. “The Sisters honored me with a nursing scholarship to St. Margaret School of Nursing. I appreciate the faith and confidence they had in me and the opportunity I was given.”

     Kaminski, 40, embraces the challenges and responsibilities that comprise her daily routine.

       “The most important part of my job at the Willows is being counted on by families and residents and staff,” she said. “Having so many people count on me and believe in me is very important to me. That shows me that everyone trusts me and my judgment.”

     Kaminski began her career as a personal care assistant, and she worked in a mental health center. Her 10 years at Marian Manor Nursing Home, which was established by The Sisters of the Holy Spirit, provided valuable experience and led to the nursing scholarship.

     “She didn’t ‘always know’ that she wanted to be a nurse, but she did know that she always had the affinity to want to help people in any way she could,” said Phyllis Stern, Director of Sales and Move-ins at The Residence at Willow Lane. “She still cares for her mother and her grandmother as well as working at The Willows. Anything she can do to make people’s lives more comfortable and happier, she does. She knows how important it is to make a difference in the lives of people.”

     Kaminski and other nurses throughout IntegraCare’s 11 senior living communities in Pennsylvania and Maryland make the lives of residents better on a daily basis.

     “Nurses need to be ready to handle everything that comes their way -- the good and the bad,” Stern said. “Nurses have to multi-task and give 110 percent. Dawn is a firm believer in always keeping your promises. She believes teaching and respecting staff go hand-in-hand.”

     Kaminski always is willing to assist and advise aspiring nurses.

      “Dawn encourages up-and-coming nurses to do their due diligence when researching what nursing school they should attend,” Stern said. “Some students learn better in a hands-on environment. Some students learn better via lectures. Some students need to see what’s going on in order to absorb the knowledge they need.  Dawn tells them to pick the school that best fits your learning style.”

     Kaminski and her husband Charles have three children, Charles, 22; Tiara, 20; and Tionna, 18. The residents and staff at Willow Lane form her extended family.

     “Being accessible is the midst of chaotic days is the norm in nursing,” Kaminski said. “Rarely is there a quiet day. Activity, interaction, talking to families, residents, doctors, handling medications, charting and being in compliance are all part of the daily nursing norm. The joy is in seeing a smile, hearing a thank you and knowing that you are touching the lives of so many and hopefully making a difference.”