LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE OF THE YEAR
Charlotte Cosgrove, LPN
Staff Nurse at Saint Elizabeth Home
HOW DID YOU GET INTO NURSING?
I was always someone who wanted to help others. I was first a
CNA in a long-term care facility for many years and I always wanted
to be able to do more for my residents. I worked hard to earn my
LPN license and I love my work. You have to have a lot of patience
when working with residents with dementia. Also, you can’t be
too serious — you have to be able to see humor in situations. To
make a resident smile and laugh gives me a great deal of satisfaction.
I like being around people who need help, knowing that I can
make them feel loved, safe and happy. Some residents don’t have
families, so we are their families. It is a great privilege.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB?
I work on a dementia unit, and I know that I am someone who
can help residents feel cared for and safe. I also understand what
it is like to have a loved one who has Alzheimer’s. My mom was
a resident on the unit that I work on. I am so happy to help families
know that that they are doing the right thing since I have
also been through this difficult situation and know what it is like.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN ASPIRING
LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE?
The key to it all is to take care of your patients the way you would
want your loved ones to be taken care of.
WHAT EFFECT HAS COVID-19 HAD
ON YOU AS A NURSE?
The COVID-19 pandemic creates many more daily challenges
for staff because family members are not able to be there in
person to help with many of our residents who require a great
deal of care and attention. The pandemic has taken a toll on
residents — who are confused about what is happening — and
frequently causes them to act out because of the change in
our routine and environment. Another issue is that having
staff wear masks can be frightening to confused residents,
which only creates more stress for everyone involved.
NOMINATOR
BUZZ
“Charlotte advocates for residents every day, consistently going above and beyond to create a positive environment
that optimizes wellness. She has a natural positivity and enthusiasm that is contagious and this extends to advocacy
on behalf of residents whether advocating to CNAs, to the nurse manager or to families on behalf of residents.”
— Joanne Fawcett Costello, Rhode Island College School of Nursing
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l OCTOBER 2020 63