A native of Columbus, Alecia Seymer, 40, graduated from Mississippi University for Women with a degree in microbiology, before graduating as a licensed practical nurse from East Mississippi Community College.
Back in school to further her career, she also continues her work as a home health nurse with Mississippi Home Care in Columbus, with whom she has been employed for the last four years, ensuring good care for patients in their own homes.
Tell me about your job.
I travel from home to home, overseeing patient care that the doctor has ordered. I see people from all ages. I do a lot of education on many different things, such as disease processes, medication compliance, wound care and many other (topics). Our purpose is to teach the family and patients how to care for their needs, so their visits to the doctors” offices and hospital visits are limited.
Why did you become a home health nurse?
Well, I needed a job that would work best with my schedule. My husband had passed away and I had a teenage daughter at home. I needed a job that would keep me home at nights and holidays. I enjoy going out to meet people and helping people in a community. So this was the best position for me. You have to be a nurse for over a year, with hospital training, (to be a home health nurse). I received mine from North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo and worked at several of the nursing homes in the Columbus area.
What do you find most rewarding about your job?
Well, there are many different things. One is having a patient who has complete understanding of their care and knows what to do if a problem occurs, without a doubt, when they are discharged. The most rewarding thing is putting a smile on their faces. Sometimes, you are the only person they have and trust. There are a lot of people who don”t have anyone to see them and when I go to their homes and check on them, it gives them a sense of pleasure that there is someone out there, who cares for them. Sometimes, knowing someone cares is the best medicine there is.
What do you find most challenging about your job?
Having a patient who has given up on their health and doesn”t care. It is heart breaking to have these types of patients who have just given up. We have a lot of people in Columbus who don”t have families or any other support. Some are unable to care for themselves, due to finances, transportation (issues) and family support. These patients lose faith and trust in people. Sometimes, it can be very challenging to earn that with them.
How has your work changed you or impacted your life?
In this line of work, it has opened my eyes in many different situations, (like) the different ways people live due to finances, education, and religion. You learn to see people for who they are, what they stand for in their beliefs, and the different life styles they live. I have learned that we all are different in so many ways, but we care for one another in the same way.
Is your work what you expected when you began?
No, I had this impression that everyone had good health care and lived in good situations. With my job, I have seen people who live in homes that are about to fall down. Some do not have electricity and proper food that they need. Even down to transportation, there are so many people out there who can not go to their doctors” appointments or even to the grocery store, due to the lack of transportation. Yes, there are a lot of programs out there that help and we also try to help those patients, but there just aren”t enough programs out there and this is hard.
What advice do you have for those entering your profession?
To have a good caring heart. If you don”t have compassion to help people in many different ways, then the health care profession is not for you. Yes, it”s a job and some people look at it that way. But in the medical field, in order to make a difference in someone”s life, you must be a caring individual and take that extra step to make change in someone else”s life, even down to teaching someone how to smile again. It”s not just the science or medical training; it”s how you can make a difference in someone”s life.
What advice do you have for those who need or are considering the services of someone in your field?
Talk to your doctor. Ask them if home health can benefit you. We offer many different services for our community, such as home health aides, skilled nursing, physical, speech and occupational therapy.
Are there any misconceptions about your work you”d like to address or inaccurate perceptions about the profession?
Home health is a way to help people to stay healthy and live a normal life in their homes. A lot of people are afraid that they will lose their independence, if they have someone like me come to their home, but that”s not true. We are here to help and teach patients how they can stay at home, in a safe and healthy environment. What a lot of people don”t realize is most insurance will pay for this service. So, talk to your doctor and see if we can help you.
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