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Francine Rivenburgh, Unit Manager
Francine Rivenburgh, LPN
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I came to
Northeast Center for Special Care because a friend of mine
worked here and told me about all the great things we were
going to be able to do for people with brain injury, and
that’s why I decided I wanted to come and help. Before
working here I was in charge of a medical department in an
adult care facility for five years. Most of what I did on
my previous job was administrative teaching, inservice
training – teaching people how to do the job I am doing
here: medications, treatments, and documentation. When I
came to Northeast Center for Special care I began to do basic nursing again
which I like very much.
The people I
took care of in my previous job were geriatric and the
adult home was kind of like the stop before a nursing home
– that was the last step they though they would have to
take. The difference being at Northeast Center is this is
their first step in getting back out into the community.
It’s not the last resort, it’s not the end. It’s
actually the beginning of a new life. I see myself as
helping our Resident-Neighbors to get there, encouraging them so that
they can do and be all that they can be. Emotionally they
may be going through hard times and I try to give them
encouragement and hope that they may lose when a day is
tough.
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"I see
myself as helping our Resident-Neighbors to get there, encouraging them
so they can do and be all that they can be," -
Francine Rivenburgh, RN. |
I’ve always wanted to be a nurse.
I became interested in
becoming one when I was young. My sister-contracted Spinal
Meningitis when she was only three years old and became
brain injured herself with seizure disorder and ended up
living in a long-term care facility. I started out
volunteering as a candy striper. Eventually I became a
nurse’s aide and then an LPN. I can’t imagine that I
would do anything else - that’s just who I am.
My proudest accomplishment professionally is my ability to
stick it out when things are tough, when things are
sad and not just
when they’re good. I try to be positive and encourage
people when they have difficult recoveries.
I am married to a registered nurse. I have four great
kids. My oldest daughter has been to South Africa on
a mission trip. My second daughter had been classified as
learning disabled due to birth trauma. She was able to
declassify herself and work up to being a very responsible
young adult. My son Jesse just loves me and my youngest
son is just a comedian. They are great kids and the best
part of my life.
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Francine
Rivenburgh meets with her Interdisciplinary Treatment Team. |
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I worked
with one neighbor who came to Northeast Center with horrible
bedsores from his previous hospitalization. Never in my wildest dreams did I think those
would be healed and that he would be back out. I’m still
amazed that I could help that happen. He came in with such
a negative attitude but he left here empowered to take on
the world. That was awesome to watch.
My passion is baking – I love to bake and I love to feed
people. I like music and I like to work – a lot.
I
attend church every week and I help out with the kids
ministry there, which is bible stories and crafts. I’m
known as "the cookie lady" there. I get to give
them juice and cookies every Friday night, which is fun.
From a professional standpoint I would say anybody coming
to Northeast Center for Special Care would find out quickly that this is a
very unique program. If you work here some days will be
the most difficult because of the nature of the
environment and what people some times go through, but
they will also be days you can’t top with any other
experience. In working with our Resident-Neighbors you will not
meet anyone who has been through so much trauma, but gains
so much strength and so much empowerment by the staff who
encourages them daily and help them get on with their
lives.
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Francine
Rivenburgh, LPN (L), with colleagues Val Zocchi, RN, Jane
Keating, RN, and Gigi Flinn, RN. |
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