Donna Frost

The critical creative collaborative inquiries in action 131 5 Well, I am a quiet person, so participating in a group like this is not something I would usually do. But the idea of looking at ‘the x-factor’, I think it is very good. I think it is a great idea. People have such negative ideas about working in elderly care. And no one wants to come and live here either! But once people are here they sometimes really cheer up. Life doesn’t have to be a struggle, or not such a struggle. There is still room to enjoy some things in life. But beforehand, before people experience it, no one really believes you, it sounds like the end of the road. […] Also, our work is sometimes more difficult than people think, it can be very challenging. I get a lot out of this work and it is good that this project is focused on what we do. We do important work. (Mara-RNI-Mtg 2 -Rec 1 of 5 ) Rosemarie Rosemarie worked in the South Side community nursing team during this inquiry. She was 25 years old at the time the CCCI began and had been qualified as a bachelor level registered nurse for two years. Having worked in South Side team as a health care assistant during her nurse training and making a good impression, she was asked to apply for a position as care-coordinator on qualifying. As care- coordinator Rosemarie was responsible for the coordination of nursing care for about 25 clients at any one time as well as providing nursing care for between six and ten clients, in their own homes, each shift. I am very proud of being a nurse and proud of my work. Also, I am very careful and like to do things the right way. I suppose that might be a reason I was nominated? […] I would like to join [the CCCI] for myself, not just because I was nominated. It is easy to forget the impact we have on clients, in the lives of the clients. A lot of my work is paperwork and has to do with rules and regulations and making sure everybody knows what has been agreed to etc. It is necessary of course but that is not really the part of my job I enjoy. I enjoyworkingwith the people, the clients, also their family. I would like to keep improving at that part of my job. (Rosemarie-RNI-Mtg 2 -Rec 1 of 5 )