Our Caregiver of the Month: Renalla Rucker

It is such a pleasure to announce our February Caregiver of the Month for 2017, Renalla Rucker of Adoration Home Health & Hospice. She was recognized by her coworkers and the families she helps as you will see in her story. I would like to nominate Renalla Rucker for employee of the month. Renalla is not only thorough with her job as a hospice aide (bathing, showering, dressing patients), but she is also known by patients and family members as a gentle and loving caregiver. Renalla goes beyond this care, though. She is observant, reporting changes to the CM/SN whenever necessary. She has reported rashes that needed immediate care. She is the one who, while showering her and dressing her, found and reported a bedsore on a patient's buttocks (until this time, the patient was normally OOB in her chair when SN made visits). Renalla is the one who called the SN when a patient was found, with little warning, to be transitioning. Because of her call, the SN was able to make an immediate SOAP visit to evaluate that patient, contact family of the sudden change and decline, and prepare them for the patient's death that occurred later than night. I have worked and observed Renalla as she provided care for our patients. I have heard compliments from family members, patients, and facility staff regarding her. And I have been able to make quick decisions based on her observations. Renalla is truly a valuable part of the hospice team, and I am privileged to work with her. Submitted by Vivian Cate CM/RN   At the end of twelve months the review committee will select the Caregiver of the Year to be revealed at the Annual Luncheon. The Caregiver of the Year will win a 3-night trip to Florida, $200 spending money and an engraved gift and plaque. Do you know a Caregiver? Nominate them today!