Catching Up with Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice Nurse Jackie Davis

 

Asked what a typical day is like at RNCH, Jackie smiles and points to her running shoes. “Busy! From the time a shift starts until it is time to go home. Our team is here to provide respite care, emergency respite care, symptom management and end-of-life care. When you take care of a child you are providing total care. This includes giving baths, changes, playing, and feeding the children.

Health care staff in the adult world are often there to treat a patient but staff working in pediatric care are caring for the whole patient. For us that means trips to the park, engagement and really wanting to make the most of each child’s day. The care we provide includes meeting a patient’s physical needs but also extends to ensuring that their emotional and social needs are tended to as well. You can really see the difference and how happy a child can be when focus is given to all three areas.”

Explaining that staff of RNCH are provided with the unique opportunity to care for a child from the time of a life-limiting diagnosis forward, Jackie says it is a privilege to support a family through their entire health care experience. “The term palliative care often makes us think of end-of-life care. However, palliative care for children is about supporting a family for sometimes just a few days but also sometimes for 12 years. RNCH is here so that children with a life-limiting diagnosis get to live the best life they can live and that includes supporting their family in providing the best care possible. We address changing needs, treat symptoms and prioritize emergency respite care for whatever reason provided. Walking in for each shift I look forward to seeing which children are staying with us and what fun activities are underway for the kids.”

When describing the staff at RNCH, Jackie cannot say enough. “I love the people I work with. Because this is such a small facility, staff can read and understand each other. This is not always an easy place to work but having someone who knows and has been through those bad times with you means everything. We have an amazing team who are all here to give our patients a better day. Part of this team is a new crew of young staff who give me so much hope for the future. They are full of contagious enthusiasm and fresh knowledge. Our volunteers are also a big part of this place. They bring a wonderful vibe, energy and the fun!”

Jackie says that people might be surprised to learn that RNCH is far from being a sad place to work.

“I couldn’t work in a sad place for 15 years! We have sad times but these are balanced with incredible moments. And there are things that happen here that I don’t think you could experience at any other job site. The goal is to improve and offer the best quality of life possible to each child, for however long that life lasts, and we take our cues from them. Plus, there is always something fun happening here! Most days include costumes, parties, activities and celebration.

Continuously inspired by the kids in her care, Jackie credits them for shaping her perspective of what truly matters in life.

“I have learned from working here to enjoy each day because you have no idea what tomorrow will bring. And that right now, this moment is all you have. None of these children want to be dealing with what they have every day. But they do. These incredible kids want so much to just live today and get as much joy out of it as possible. And even when they are in pain, or haven’t slept well, they still want to engage. They still want to go down to bake, play that game or go out for that walk.”

She also marvels at the strength and dedication of RNCH’s incredible families. “Every day the families we care for are trying to do the very best for their child while still managing life outside of these walls. These parents have mortgages, jobs, other children and marriages that they are trying to keep together. They may have up to five teams of specialists following their child, constant communications with school, evolving symptom management, endless paperwork and systems to navigate. And yet they come in here smiling again and again.”

To anybody considering work at RNCH, Jackie asks only that they come for the right reasons.

“Come here ready to care for someone else. It is about putting the families and children first. If you can do that, you like being around kids, and you have a sense of adventure, and a sense of play, then you should come here.”