Ilene free essay sample

â€Å"Good Luck.† They giggled. I stared back, trying to grasp what the two CNAs I was working with meant. One shower. How hard can it be? I knew I was to help one of my residents. But I never expected her to show me what life is all about. Ilene. One of our more â€Å"interesting† residents, who’s known for her swearing, head shakes, and spitting. I confidently strolled up to her as she relaxed in her chair. â€Å"Ilene, would you like to take a shower?† â€Å"No!† she shrieked. â€Å"Why not? It would feel good to have a nice shower before bed.† â€Å"Go away.† That was the only response I was going to get. I tried three more times. I offered to give her a back massage, to paint her nails and even to make a hot fudge sundae (I usually get them on the sundae every time). Nothing. Discouraged, I went back to the other CNA’s for insight. We will write a custom essay sample on Ilene or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"You’re on your own for this one Lex, we have been working for years and still can’t get her to want to take a shower.† Great. I winced at asking her again. But it had to be done. I sat down next to her and held her hand. I began asking her questions – questions I had never had time to ask her before. We talked about her daughter, her past careers, and her favorite memories (mainly about her daughter – a dean!). I told her about my sister and showed her some pictures. I even told her the story of how I had a large bruise on my leg from when I slipped on the ice. It was the first time I heard her laugh. I got her to take the shower. But I don’t consider that my reward. I discovered moments worth my time don’t come easy; they take effort, patience, and dedication. I could have given up and reported her refusal. But I would have missed getting to know her. She showed me life isn’t about having the answers, it’s about finding them.