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Perspective
- By Denise Kennard
- Published 08/15/2008
- Real Life Success
- Unrated
Denise Kennard
Denise is the co-owner and administrator of Competent Care Home Health Nursing in Costa Mesa, California. She has over twenty years of experience in home health nursing, in both bedside care and managerial roles. Denise is a member of California Association for Health Services at Home and serve in two committees. She is also a member of National Association of Women Business Owners and the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.
Every person has their own perspective on life and its events. This perspective, or point of view, is shaped by a myriad of things as individuals grow and develop. While many attitudes and perspectives are nurtured while we are young, there are still life-changing influences that can shape and transform us as adults.
In my life, the values of my parents made a strong impact. Having grown up the daughter of a physician's assistant and a registered nurse, I was influenced, to say the least, by the art of care-giving. My parents' primary job was to serve those who needed help. It was a wonderful occupation, I always thought. Even though my mother usually had to work on holidays, I remember her cheerful reply to any dismay, “People are sick on holidays too!”
I followed my parents' path in the field of care-giving and became a nurse. Immediately after graduation, I began my career in Home Health Care. This work allows me to come into a family's home and care for a loved one. My favorite type of home was and still is one with a needy child. These children usually require complex medical care just to stay alive. I began to specialize in ventilator-dependent pediatric patients who required 24-hour nursing supervision. Going to someone's house and playing with a child all day ... what could be better than that!
As I mingled with other people in the "healthy" world, I found this was NOT the “normal” perspective. People always said, “How sad to see kids like that everyday, struggling just to stay alive." "Doesn’t that bother you?” I was frequently asked. To which I would adamantly reply, “NO!”
It never occurred to me to see things from that perspective. My day started with the freedom to dress in cute scrubs with cartoon characters plastered all over them. I always packed fun food to share with “MY kids” (those who were still able to eat) and game were always in my bag. Bubbles, balls, even ribbons for a new hair style, or nail polish to make a young girl's hair pretty for daddy. How could any of this be sad!? I had the privilege of making a little person's day better, getting them to smile even if their facial muscles struggled with paralysis.
I have been in the health care industry for over 20 years now and have been afforded the opportunity to assist many families as the owner of my own nursing agency. My vision and passion to make a difference in the smallest of lives is shared by my entire staff. Arriving at this point had its ups and downs, as life does, but I never wavered in my perspective. This driving force behind what we do came from that beautiful, positive, caring attitude that my parents lived before me. It’s contagious, from parents to children, employers to employees, friends to friends ... we never know the depth and impact our attitudes may have on the lives of others.
What's your perspective?
In my life, the values of my parents made a strong impact. Having grown up the daughter of a physician's assistant and a registered nurse, I was influenced, to say the least, by the art of care-giving. My parents' primary job was to serve those who needed help. It was a wonderful occupation, I always thought. Even though my mother usually had to work on holidays, I remember her cheerful reply to any dismay, “People are sick on holidays too!”
I followed my parents' path in the field of care-giving and became a nurse. Immediately after graduation, I began my career in Home Health Care. This work allows me to come into a family's home and care for a loved one. My favorite type of home was and still is one with a needy child. These children usually require complex medical care just to stay alive. I began to specialize in ventilator-dependent pediatric patients who required 24-hour nursing supervision. Going to someone's house and playing with a child all day ... what could be better than that!
As I mingled with other people in the "healthy" world, I found this was NOT the “normal” perspective. People always said, “How sad to see kids like that everyday, struggling just to stay alive." "Doesn’t that bother you?” I was frequently asked. To which I would adamantly reply, “NO!”
It never occurred to me to see things from that perspective. My day started with the freedom to dress in cute scrubs with cartoon characters plastered all over them. I always packed fun food to share with “MY kids” (those who were still able to eat) and game were always in my bag. Bubbles, balls, even ribbons for a new hair style, or nail polish to make a young girl's hair pretty for daddy. How could any of this be sad!? I had the privilege of making a little person's day better, getting them to smile even if their facial muscles struggled with paralysis.
I have been in the health care industry for over 20 years now and have been afforded the opportunity to assist many families as the owner of my own nursing agency. My vision and passion to make a difference in the smallest of lives is shared by my entire staff. Arriving at this point had its ups and downs, as life does, but I never wavered in my perspective. This driving force behind what we do came from that beautiful, positive, caring attitude that my parents lived before me. It’s contagious, from parents to children, employers to employees, friends to friends ... we never know the depth and impact our attitudes may have on the lives of others.
What's your perspective?
