LONG-TERM CARE NURSE laurie siravo , rn
Wellness Director , St . Germain Assisted Living
Tell us what drew you to the nursing field . My passion for helping others . I enjoy making people feel better . I have always been a caretaker and known that this was the career I was chosen for .
Why long-term care versus traditional settings ? I have worked with infants and volunteered for hospice , but I have always been drawn to the elders , people with disabilities and those who are less fortunate and need an advocate and guidance through the difficult health care system .
Who has impacted you the most in your career ? There hasn ’ t been one single person , but there have been many different people who have impacted me . I ’ ve been impacted by residents who are more like family to me , and their loss really has impacted my life . I had a resident who used to call me her big sister . She would come in my office and sit every day and she would call me her queen . She passed suddenly , and losing her crushed me — it left a big hole in my life . I had another resident who also didn ’ t have much family . He would call me his “ wife ” and would come to my office every day asking , “ Where is my wife ?” He passed away in his sleep and I feel his loss every day . He had no one to claim his body and ended up in a common grave . He was a veteran and deserved so much more . I try to make every day a special one for all my residents . I feel I am fortunate to have known professors , administrators , | | CONTINUED ON PAGE 84
74 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2023