Dan Easton

Kristen Mauk has never been one to stop learning. The clinical nurse specialist has nearly 30 years of experience in rehabilitation and gerontology, a handful of degrees, and has authored or edited seven books. She now helps train the future generation as a professor of nursing at Colorado Christian University in Colorado. She also recently launched her own business, Senior Care Central/International Rehabilitation Consultants, which provides nursing and rehabilitation education throughout the world.

Question: What drew you to nursing? What do you enjoy about it?

Mauk: “I grew up in a medical family. My father was a pediatric surgeon and my mom was a nurse, so I was always around the healthcare professions. However, nursing offered so many opportunities for growth and change while doing what I loved — helping others. There are many aspects of nursing that I enjoy, but feeling like I help make peoples’ lives better has to be the best perk of the job. Nursing is a versatile profession. I started off my career as an operating room nurse, worked for a decade in med-surg, geriatrics, and rehabilitation, then eventually went back to school for additional education so that I could make a greater impact on healthcare through teaching nursing students.”

Question: You have an impressive education. Why did you continue to pursue advanced degrees in the field? How has that benefited you?

Mauk: “First, I am a life-long learner, something that was instilled by my father who was always encouraging his children to explore the world and have an inquiring mind. Dinners at my house were filled with learning activities such as, ‘How does a flashlight work?,’ ‘What is a group of lions called?,’ or ‘For $20, who can spell hors d’oeuvres?’ (By the way, I got that $20!) So, continuing my education through studying for advanced degrees seemed a natural progression when you love to learn and love your work. I felt a need to know as much as possible about my areas of interest, gerontology and rehabilitation, so that I could provide better care to patients and be a better teacher for my students. My advanced education has?opened many doors in the professional nursing world, such as the opportunity to write books, conduct research to improve the quality of life for stroke survivors, or hold national positions in professional organizations.”

Question: What’s one of the most memorable experiences you’ve had, either as a student, educator or in your practice?

Mauk: “There are many memorable experiences I’ve had both as an educator and in practice. One of the most memorable from practice was early in my career working on a skilled/rehab unit in a little country hospital in Iowa. There was an older man who couldn’t find a radio station that played his favorite hymns and one of my co-workers knew that I had a musical background and asked me to sing to him at the bedside. I timidly held his hand as he lay in his hospital bed, and with the door closed because it was late at night, I softly sang all the old hymns I could remember. He closed his eyes and smiled, clasping my hand for nearly an hour of singing. The next evening, I heard him excitedly tell his family members that ‘an angel visited me last night. She had the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard. She held my hand and sang all of my favorite hymns!’ Hearing that outside the door, I smiled, but was later surprised when I stopped in to see him that he truly didn’t seem to remember me. One day later, he died unexpectedly. I often look back and wonder on that experience. In the many years of nursing experience that followed, I have learned that there are sometimes angels where we least expect them.”

Question: What advice do you have for people just starting their education or their professional career?

Mauk: “Nursing is a great profession! Learn all that you can while you are in school and continue to be a lifelong learner. The need for nurses who specialize in care of older adults and rehabilitation is only going to continue to grow because of the booming aging population. There is currently, and will continue to be, a shortage of skilled professionals to meet the demand that is looming with the graying of America. Gain skills that will make you a specialist and afford you additional opportunities. Always give the best care to those you serve. Set yourself apart by building a professional reputation for excellence through advanced education, publication, scholarship, clinical practice, and community service. Then, go and change the world!”

CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST PROFILE FOR KRISTEN MAUK

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Many people become caregivers with little or no warning. Unless this happens to be your field of expertise then you will not be ready for the challenges which will lie ahead and how best to deal with them. Even if this is something that you have trained to do and are happy to dedicate your life to caring for others there are some basic things which should always be avoided:

1.      Stealing

This is probably the most obvious statement to make but it is essential to remember that this is one of the biggest fears of many older people. You not only need to not steal, you should also be aware of any situations that might leave you either open to temptation or open to an accusation of stealing.

2.      Texting and web posting

Mobile phones are everywhere and you will probably have one with you whilst you are performing your caring duties. However, when you are providing care your focus should be on your patient and not on the latest web posting. The phone should only be used in times of emergency; otherwise leave it alone and focus on your patient.

3.      Services outside the contract

The more you care for a client the more you will become attached to them and this can then lead to ethical problems.  You may wish to help them and are happy to provide additional services for free. It is vital for your professional career to ensure that anything over the original contract is agreed in writing and signed off.

4.      Making decisions for the client

Your client is still a person and should be involved in any decision concerning his or her well-being or healthcare requirements. You should never leave them out of the loop when faced with a decision. It may be preferable to limit their choices in order to make it easier for them to make a choice, but you should never rush them to make a decision. You are on their time and they will probably not be worrying about time. It is also essential to accept their decision if your client says no to something you know they should have, such as medication. You will simply need to try a different approach later or speak to your manager concerning it.

5.      Shaming

It is quite possible that as your client ages they will ask you to help them with something more personal. This request may shock you or make you feel uncomfortable. It will probably have been very hard for them to ask you to assist with something that they used to do independently. Always keep a neutral, professional approach.

6.      Stubbornness

It can be tempting to refuse to do something that you do not consider to be your job or that you are not comfortable with. A good caregiver will not be stubborn, but will demonstrate to the client that she is flexible in her approach. This will help you to build a good level of communication, which is essential to providing good care and to learning from any mistakes. Additionally, you will build a relationship with your client which will make your life and theirs easier.

7.      Not respecting boundaries

Your client will have expectations of what service you are offering and what they expect you to do. You should also have an idea of your role and what behavior and tasks are appropriate and what is not. It is important to define these boundaries and to maintain your boundary even if your client wants more. You need to know what you can do and what you cannot do; this will ensure you provide the best care possible.

By Edward Francis and Foresthc.com!