Cindy Donahue, RN
Director of Nursing at the Village at Waterman Lake
HOW DID YOU GET INTO NURSING?
After high school, I initially went into computer programming,
which is now ironic, seeing as how I am still what
you might call ‘old school’ when it comes to technology.
(My colleagues laugh when I write myself reminders on
the back of my hand.) What really drove me away from
computers and into nursing was how much I disliked that
the former allowed me such little contact with people.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB?
I love being the residents’ advocate. There is a tremendous
responsibility in being that for a person, never mind for
so many people. But being in a position to vie for someone’s
physical and emotional well-being and have a potentially
meaningful effect on the quality of their life — well, it is
an awesome responsibility. And, yes, it is extremely special
and deeply rewarding.
DO YOU HAVE ANY STANDOUT PATIENT MEMORIES?
Once I was taking care of an older gentleman and after I had shaved
him and put him into bed, he pulled the covers up and said, “I just don’t
know what to do with this feeling, this feeling of you taking care of
me.” I cannot explain the surge of warmth that went through my body
in that moment, as this kind man was so moved by my caring for him.
It just resonated with me. It still does. I promised to myself that day
that I would always give the very best of myself to the people in my
care. I believe I have stayed true to that promise.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN ASPIRING
LONG-TERM CARE NURSE?
The residents have wonderful stories. Listen carefully. Learn about the
person they were before they knew you as well as the life they lived that
helped shape the individual they’ve become: a parent, a teacher, a laborer,
someone who loved to travel, a homebody with lots of pets. Take the time
to know them, to value their thoughts and their humanity. The residents
teach me so much about the world, about life and about myself.
What COVID-19 has proved to me is that
when you take an already passionate
and dedicated team of people and put
them in a situation like that,
AMAZING AND INSPIRING
THINGS HAPPEN.
WHAT EFFECT HAS COVID-19 HAD
ON YOU AS A NURSE?
It was an incredibly difficult adjustment for all of us who
work in the senior living industry. Yet, what will remain
with me when this is all over is the remarkable spirit that
shone so brightly from the people around me. I witnessed
true examples of courage, leadership and teamwork on
a daily basis. The entire experience, especially during
the early stages of the outbreak, had moments of sheer
heartbreak, including residents who lost loved ones and
were unable to attend the funerals or even wave
goodbye. However, despite these and the many other
uncharted challenges, the Village team pulled together
and said to each other — in spirit and in actions — “We
can do this!” Our day-to-day duties required our
continually shifting gears, thinking outside the box and
being flexible as we fought to keep residents safe and,
in many ways, became their families when they could
no longer see their own loved ones. Looking back, we
may someday wonder how we did it — the long hours,
the weeks without a day off, the constant concern over
residents’ emotional and physical needs, the non-stop
determination to keep the virus at bay — but we will
always know why. Because we love our residents and
they needed us. What COVID-19 has proved to me is that
when you take an already passionate and dedicated
team of people and put them in a situation like that,
amazing and inspiring things happen.
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l OCTOBER 2020 65