Latest / Hearts of Excellence / What a VP of Long-Term Care Wants Every CNA to Hear
Transcript
- [00:00:00] Jordan Vinson: Whenever I was overwhelmed and thought, "I'm never gonna make it through this shift," I think back to going back to the floor during COVID and all the things that we had to do, but then those little moments of being able to provide the comfort or just being there and being present and not rushing through, like that'll get you through it. [00:00:20] and I think sometimes CNAs, they have the toughest job. [00:00:23] Chelsey Gheyara: [00:00:27] Amanda: You are listening to Hearts of Excellence, brought to you by Majestic Care, where real stories from long-term care come to life. [00:00:34] Chelsey Gheyara: Today, we're joined by Jordan Vinson, Vice President of Operations for Majestic Care. [00:00:39] Jordan started her healthcare career as a CNA, and in one of those twists that feels like it was written only for her, years later, she walked back into that very same facility as its executive director. What happened in between is a story about staying when it gets hard, choosing people over prestige, and what happens when you fall in love [00:01:00] with work you never expected to love. [00:01:01] Jordan, welcome to the "Hearts of Excellence" podcast. [00:01:04] Jordan Vinson: Thank you. Glad to be here. [00:01:06] Chelsey Gheyara: We are so excited for today's conversation. [00:01:09] we were chatting a little bit about where you're from, so Kentucky, and talking about the differences and, you know, all of the fun Kentucky stuff. So you'll probably hear that a little bit in this conversation, but let's go ahead and dive into why we're here today. [00:01:24] Jordan, you described your move into skilled nursing work as something you unexpectedly fell in love with. Take me back to that first PRN shift around 2010. what did you notice about that environment that caught you off guard? [00:01:41] Jordan Vinson: I noticed first and foremost just [00:01:43] the relationships with the residents, from the start. I had been in hospital work, um, so it had been, for [00:01:50] lack of a better word, kind of like a hospit- you know, just hospital-like, um, factory work, I guess you could say. it was focused on the acute problem, focused on what was going on at that [00:02:00] time. [00:02:00] and then went to the, um, nursing home, and I can still remember the gentleman. Um, fell in love with his story and interacting with him and just kind of a mind, I guess, a mindset change. I looked at more of kinda just we were treating the whole person. You know, it wasn't just that acute condition or that acute illness. [00:02:21] You know, that had been stabilized at that point. Of course, we were still focused on, you know, their wellbeing, but it was looking at them as a whole, listening to their stories. this particular gentleman didn't have family, so it was kind of, you know, filling that void for him and, you know, what could we do to lift his spirit and, had a great connection with him and of course, there were others, you know, too. [00:02:42] But, left that day thinking that there's something different here. I feel differently, feel more, I guess, fulfilled, you could say. Um, and you know, there's just, there's a difference here, you know. So that kinda just got me sucked in and never went back. [00:02:57] Paul Pruitt: Well, it's interesting that you bring up ' cause [00:03:00] I did as a ther- I did acute care for a little bit. Mm-hmm. And that is what it is. You just go into acute care and you just literally have three days, you're just focused on X. There's not really a story. You don't really know what happens. You're hoping that things have played out well for them, but you just don't know. [00:03:16] Jordan Vinson: And, you know. so task-oriented. Um, you know, you gotta hang this blood, you've gotta give this, um, you know, give this IV, give this med, you know. the hall that I started at in a nursing home was a s- was a rehab to home type hall. so we were doing some of those. You know, we were doing wound vacs, we were doing IVs, we were doing all that. [00:03:35] But it was just a different, a different pace and, you know, getting to really learn their stories and just make that connection. So, a- and at that point I I had been in ICU, I had done all that stuff, you know. So I was looking for more like, where do I land? Where do I, you know? And it was, just making those connections that made it fulfilling, you know, to me. [00:03:57] Chelsey Gheyara: really special. I love hearing that. You'd [00:04:00] spent years, as you mentioned, in ICU and in med-surg before making that pivot to skilled nursing. What did you have to let go of or what did people around you say when you chose to stay in long- [00:04:14] Jordan Vinson: I think there's a stigma, maybe not as much now, but you know, this was many years ago. Um, there was a stigma of that long-term care was for, you know, older nurses or nurses that didn't have the skills, you know. But it, it wasn't that way. Once I got in it, I realized, you know, this is a specialty as well. [00:04:34] This is just like, ICU. This is like, you know, the endo units. This is just like that. Um, there's a whole different skill set, you know, that you have to look for with the elderly and, you know, signs and symptoms of changes and, you know, and then just being able to treat them, to look at them as a whole and, and, you know, the flip side of things, looking at, the regulations that we have to follow. [00:04:58] You know, I don't think anybody [00:05:00] realizes how regulated that, you know, we are. AndI always say, you know, with, with, in med-surg and in ICU it was so, you know, just focused on, you know, what's going on. But like I didn't learn to do probably a thorough skin assessment until I worked in long-term care. [00:05:15] I can remember my first admission skin assessment. I thought, "I have to write up every single area on the skin?" You know, you didn't have to do that in the hospital. You know, generalized bruising got you through it, you know, but it's not that way in long-term care. So I learned, you know, more about, you know, wound care for sure in long-term care than I did in the hospital. [00:05:34] Chelsey Gheyara: that's really good insight, and I, I definitely think it makes you more well-rounded as an individual because you have to think on your toes all the time. Like, you have to constantly have your eyes down every single hall with maybe, like, three other, you know, maybe three CNAs, and the doctors aren't even there. [00:05:54] Like, in the hospital, like, you have someone you can say, you know, "Room 205 needs someone [00:06:00] stat," but they're not there. So I, you know, I do think it makes you able to think critically and be like, here's my list of things I have to prioritize today. H-how do I prioritize them in the order that they need to?" [00:06:12] And- Yeah ... I remember doing admissions, doing admissions on paper, and, like, you had to write out all the meds, like acetaminophen. Like- Oh my gosh, yeah ... that is a very long word to write out by hand. And then you got to write it out twice if one's PRN and one's scheduled. And I mean, you talking about it brings me, me joy too- Oh, yeah [00:06:30] because it, it is a special thingAnd there is a stigma. Like, I remember, like, a lot of my, folks that I went to college with or maybe I graduated high school with, you know, they'd go on to work in acute care, be nurse practitioners or whatever. Mm-hmm. And, um, you're like, "Yeah, I, I work in long-term care." [00:06:46] You know? Yeah. And it, it eventually you're proud of it. Yes. Because of it's, it's not for everyone. Just like I remember when I did my clinical in, OB. I love babies, and that was so beautiful seeing. And [00:07:00] I wouldn't enjoy doing that because it's very- Yeah. [00:07:02] Jordan Vinson: could work that. [00:07:03] Chelsey Gheyara: you just, wait. [00:07:04] Yeah. I mean, we love our OB nurses out there- Mm-hmm ... but you just wait. It's like you're just waiting, and They're doing a lot of things the doctors are doing. Yeah. but I just don't, that would not be for me. So everyone has their space. [00:07:16] Paul Pruitt: I think it's amazing. I wish we could just... Again, I, I agree stigma's, it is shifting, but it hasn't fully shifted. I wish people would fully understand when you look at clinicians in a skilled nursing facility, long-term care, it is a whole different skill set. You know, you talk about someone, and again, I'll use the rehab side. [00:07:36] Someone comes in, now hips and knees are of the past. [00:07:39] Jordan Vinson: Mm-hmm. [00:07:40] Paul Pruitt: They're now no longer. But take our dementia patients, and I always would say, when you have a patient with dementia and you're trying to understand what's going on, their pain or is it a pain issue? Because they can't verbalize it as much as someone that like myself, "Hey, Jordan, I'm in pain. [00:07:56] Can I get a pain med?" But you have to figure out all those [00:08:00] idiosyncrasies. You have to understand who they are as a person to really understand how to deliver care to them as a nurse or a therapist or a dietician or whoever. And that to me is the whole skill set. And again, how do we get our nurses out there passionate to want to work in long-term care- Yeah [00:08:18] versus this image of, "Well, I just pass pills." No [00:08:21] Jordan Vinson: That is not what it is. Yeah [00:08:23] Paul Pruitt: all. The psychosocial, there's the medical piece that does, does go along with it. Filling in the voids that, that may not be there, whether it's a family disconnect or it's just somebody's lonely or someone's taking their final breath [00:08:40] Jordan Vinson: And you know, everybody has a story and, you know, and, and you have to be, you know, sympathetic with that. But as far as, you know, with this particular gentleman that I was, you know, referring to, the-- it was, you know, well, well, he had, you know, a bad past with his family. Well, I was fortunate. I didn't care. [00:08:55] That didn't matter. You know, I wasn't involved in that. I came in, you know, at the [00:09:00] end. So it was kinda like, you know, we had that opportunity to bridge that gap and to be the staff, to be the family that he didn't really have and, you know, didn't really matter what he had done in his past. That's not why we were there. [00:09:11] So I think that it's, just, you know, just so fulfilling, I guess you could say, to everyone involved, you know, to be able to be that piece and to be there with them when they do take their final breath. You know, what an honor- Right ... you know, to be able to be the one that's there- Right ... comforting them through that and to witness that and, you know. [00:09:28] So it's just, I think it-- Like I said, it's a specialty unit that I-- specialty that I think that we don't, doesn't get the attention that's-- and the recognition, you know, that's deserved. [00:09:38] Paul Pruitt: So I know like with nurses, you can get a certification for like ortho and for different... Is there one for, is it like [00:09:45] Jordan Vinson: Sure there probably-- I would say there's probably a geriatric maybe. But I, I'd s- I bet [00:09:50] Chelsey Gheyara: there is. [00:09:51] Jordan Vinson: Look into it for us and let us know. [00:09:53] Paul Pruitt: Just out of curiosity, 'cause again, promoting again that it is... You're c- Being a therapist, [00:10:00] we were always looked at as therapists, like you were the ones that couldn't make it in the real world. [00:10:04] Yeah. You know, you're the one that couldn't do outpatient. You're the one that [00:10:07] Jordan Vinson: That's just not True. [00:10:09] Paul Pruitt: No, it's more of I value all my colleagues in the industry, but again, to me, I did outpatient. It wasn't for me. Mm-hmm. You would not want me to be your outpatient therapist. I stunk at it. So again, but it's that passion where you find your niche and you find your love and your heart, and that again... [00:10:27] But again, how do we keep reaching, especially the younger generations that are coming through nursing school? [00:10:35] Chelsey Gheyara: And you mentioned that gentleman that had such an impact on you. so this question is gonna be a little bit similar, but I'm trying to see if there's any more we wanna get out of it. Um, it says: Was there a resident or someone early in your long-term care career who showed you what this work could really mean? [00:10:52] Jordan Vinson: There, you know, him, and then there was also, um, a lady that was going through breast cancer that was on the-- She was on the [00:11:00] unit that I was, um, working. Um, we knew her prognosis wasn't well, but she required a lot of skilled wound care, um, so that's why she was on the skilled unit. And the time that I spent with her during her dressing changes, um, that really made a huge impact because of course she was in pain, so it was, you know, treating the pain. [00:11:19] But then, um, also a lot of, I got to, I guess, learn more about like, non-pharmacological interventions, I guess, for pain because the pain medications were not, you know, really doing it for her. So it was, you know, kind of the guided imagery and talking through things with her and, um, you know, just sitting and crying with her too because she knew what was coming. [00:11:39] And, you know, it was, um, just seeing that side, the psychosocial side, and being able to support, um, kinda like, you know, I was saying earlier, the whole person. Um, and then, you know, kind of a mind shift too of, you know, in the hospital when someone passes, you know, a lot of ti- it's, it's the code situations. [00:11:57] It's just those adrenaline, you know, crazy [00:12:00] situations. But these situations were more providing comfort in the end and, you know, being there with them and letting them, you know, transition with dignity and comfort. And so she really made a huge impact on me too. So I think probably more just going into the nursing home, um, environment just showed me there's so much more than just medical with a person. [00:12:22] You know, it's, there's so much more there that we have to support, especially in, in the end, you know, in that, that transition process, you know, spiritual needs, um, you know, chaplains involving them. It was, um, just treating the whole person I realized was more kind of my, my niche just from those two, you know, that impacted me so much. [00:12:43] Chelsey Gheyara: I always love seeing the relationships they build with one another. Yes. You know, in our, um, communities, they all have their own friend groups and, you know, they truly are. They watch over each other as family. Mm-hmm. You know, and that's really special that even though [00:13:00] they're, they're not confined, we have beautiful outdoor spaces for them. [00:13:04] However, their-- this, the next chapter of their life just looks different for whatever reason that is, but they have that community to rally around them, which is really special to watch how they care for each other. It's like your neighbors, [00:13:17] Jordan Vinson: Yeah. [00:13:17] Chelsey Gheyara: Totally. It's their own little neighborhood. [00:13:18] Jordan Vinson: have people that tell me that, you know, will see the things that we do for our residents on social media. And like some people that I talk to that are getting, you know, older, they'll say, You know, "I wanna go to one of your nursing homes." Like, it looks fun, you know? And, and that's, that's awesome to hear that, you know, people see. what we're doing. [00:13:35] You know, we take them on outings. We do all that. You know, I think it's, the stigma's getting better as far as what we do in the nursing home. You know, it's not just a place that you go for your last days. It's, it's now, there, you know, people do go home from the nursing homes, and you know, sometimes it's just a short stay. [00:13:50] But then also seeing the relationships that they build with each other and, you know, I'll go to, um, facilities and they'll have somebody discharging and, and the resident's sad. [00:14:00] Because they wanna go home, but they're gonna miss their friends. And then that to me is like, we've done what we're supposed to do. [00:14:06] You know, that's awesome to see. [00:14:08] Chelsey Gheyara: Or their family comes to visit and they're like, "Well, I have, I have, [00:14:11] Jordan Vinson: I have been here." I have been here. Oh, yeah. [00:14:13] Chelsey Gheyara: we're, we have an activity [00:14:15] Jordan Vinson: here. [00:14:15] Chelsey Gheyara: do at this time." And, um, that's always special to see. [00:14:19] Paul Pruitt: You've seen the video, um, Carter. Mm-hmm. so- The Walk to Dine. Yes. Th- that is ab-- And that's what I thought about when you were talking about the community is, so we have a facility in Kentucky, Carter, and it's just amazing. They did a video. They do a program called Walk to Dine, so it's encouraging all of our residents to go down to the dining room, just like you would do in a restaurant. [00:14:44] Jordan Vinson: You know, and that story, how that came about is, um, awesome to me because Warren and I were just there for a visit. Yeah, And we came in and we were like, "You can't even walk in this dining room, it's so packed. Like, what is going on?" Right. And Ralph was like, "This [00:15:00] is just what we decided to do. Like, we got them out of the beds and this is what we did." [00:15:04] And it was just amazing to see. But that's how... You know, we were just shocked at there's nowhere to even sit. Right. Right. And- It was lively. Yes. [00:15:13] Paul Pruitt: It felt like-- It literally reminded me of what going to a restaurant. It's just lively, people sitting at tables, conversations happening, just like if you walked into a major restaurant- [00:15:24] Jordan Vinson: Mm-hmm ... [00:15:24] Paul Pruitt: and looked around. That's what it looks like. And again, it's their room, their... As I always say, their room is really their bedroom. [00:15:31] Jordan Vinson: Mm-hmm. [00:15:31] Paul Pruitt: And the, the four walls of their community is becoming their home. [00:15:34] Jordan Vinson: Yeah. It, it's amazing to see [00:15:38] Chelsey Gheyara: Very touching. Okay, um, next question. You were a CNA at Greenville in the early 2000s, and then you came back as its executive director in 2017. What was it like to walk back through those doors in a completely different role? [00:15:56] Jordan Vinson: humbling. Um, and [00:16:00] very much, um, I guess kind of one of those, uh, how did I get here? How did this happen? You know, um, the, the crazy thing about that is there was some of the same staff still there. Um, because, you know, Greenville has a lot of tenured, you know, care team members that have been there. So um, it was good to see them and, you know, and some of them were, "I can't believe you're back as my boss," you know, because they had been peers. [00:16:22] Um, but it was kind of a, um, of course I was proud, you know, a proud moment. You know, Greenville's always been very highly regarded in the community. Um, so I w- proud to do it, but it was also, um, just the ownership piece that was there just from the start because I had been there, um, as a CNA, um, knew a lot of the staff, knew, knew a lot of the families. [00:16:44] I actually had family members that were residents, um, and then people that I had gone to church with my whole life, you know, that were residents. So that added a- another layer, I guess, of, um, just ownership for me of, you know, this, I've got to make this great. I mean, it was [00:17:00] already great, but I've got to continue this. [00:17:01] I've got to, you know, um, just a, another level of, uh, I guess you could say responsibility. Um, but also just very, like I said, very humbling. You know, I knew the ins and outs of the facility already. I knew, I knew the shower rooms needed work, which we, we did. We redid all the shower rooms. So, you know, it was like things like that I already knew. [00:17:20] You know, I knew, I knew a lot of the processes. I knew how the rooms looked. I knew all that. Um, but it was, um, it was great, you know, and, and it, it really truly from the start just kind of felt like being back home [00:17:34] Paul Pruitt: Were you in the community and then they tapped you on the shoulder and said, "Hey, will you become the executive director?" Or were you licensed at that point? [00:17:40] Jordan Vinson: I was, or I was a, an, an administrator at a facility that was an hour from home. Okay Um, and so it was the drive, you know. And, but I loved that community. We had just had a deficiency free annual. You know, it was a great little building. Um, and then someone reached out to me and said, "Hey, this is open." [00:17:58] And, and I thought, [00:18:00] man, that would be amazing. It's literally seven minutes from home, you know? Wow [00:18:03] So I applied and, um, ended up getting that role. But it wasn't really like I was looking for anything because to me, an hour drive's not terrible, you know? So a- and that community, like I said, had been... I mean, it was a great little building, deficiency free, you know. [00:18:17] So I, I had, had things going pretty well. Um, and then Greenville came open. Um, so it was different to operate in my hometown. You know, I would see families at Walmart, um, you know, uh, get Facebook messages from people that were, you know, that, that I knew. Um, but ob- obviously, uh, loved it there, you know, very beneficial to be there, so. Talk about [00:18:41] Chelsey Gheyara: Full circle [00:18:41] Jordan Vinson: moment. Yes. And then, you know, ended up [00:18:44] eventually my DNS, who is now the ED, um, she was also a C... We were CNAs there together. when Shannon was the DNS and I was the, um, executive director, it, it was funny 'cause we would be like, "Do you remember back in the days when we would be here as CNAs, you know, together? [00:18:59] [00:19:00] Who would've ever thought that this is how it would end up. [00:19:03] Chelsey Gheyara: I could just picture you and her, like, partnering up together- Yes ... and she's very much, yeah, has that similar, like- Mm-hmm ... let's get it done, um, type of [00:19:12] Jordan Vinson: Absolutely. [00:19:13] Chelsey Gheyara: She's a great person. [00:19:14] Jordan, you earned three degrees while you were working, raising a family, an associate's, a bachelor's, and then a dual master's in nursing and business the same year you became executive director. [00:19:28] Tell me about a time during that, um, journey that you almost didn't keep going. [00:19:35] Jordan Vinson: There were plenty. [00:19:36] Paul Pruitt: As I say, [00:19:37] Chelsey Gheyara: Yeah [00:19:39] Jordan Vinson: I would say the bachelor's, wasn't, and I hate to say not cha- I mean, it was challenging, but I was a DNS when I was doing that role. and any nurse that has earned their bachelor's will tell you that it's more paper compliance type thing. You know, they'll, they'll tell you it didn't really make me a more rounded nurse, I guess, clinically. [00:19:56] But, the master's was more challenging for me. the nursing part wasn't [00:20:00] as challenging. It was the business. But at that point, I had already, I had transitioned into an administrator role, and it was, I needed to learn it. You know, there was verbiage being used, and I think, Paul, you've, you've been there, done that. [00:20:14] There was, um, verbiage being used that I didn't really understand, and I'm like, "I've got to, I've got to learn this." So the, the MBA was definitely more challenging. Um, but I guess I, I think just the determination of, you know, if, if I'm doing it, I'm gonna do it. Like, I'm not gonna quit. I'm going to keep going. [00:20:33] So there was, um, a lot [00:20:34] of 2:00 a.m. assignments submitted and, you know, um, because of course, first and foremost, I'm, I'm a mom, you know, and Maddie, my oldest, she did every sport there was, and I didn't wanna miss any of that. So, you know, um, I'm going to the vehicle dur- you know, in between softball games and, you know, submitting assignments and, you know, of course, Jeremy, my husband's always been extremely, you know, supportive of things. [00:20:58] So, um, he [00:21:00] would have to entertain kids while I was working. But, um, I guess you just put your mind to it and do it, you know. And like I said, with the, with the business, there was So much [00:21:11] there were so many accounting courses that I think I can remember the, uh, managerial accounting that I thought was going to possibly do me in, but got through it, you know. [00:21:20] Um, and but it was stuff that I knew I needed to learn in order to be successful on the other side because the, the nursing stuff I felt like came a lot more natural. Um, but the business I had to work at more, um, and, uh, eventually got there, but it was, it was challenging to say the least. [00:21:37] Paul Pruitt: So [00:21:37] Chelsey Gheyara: It's incredible [00:21:38] Paul Pruitt: do a lot of, um... So I have my master's in business, my MBA too, and there was a point where I'm like, "Oh my God, if I have to hear another widget story or automobile." Because again, they don't have people come and teach MBA, at least that I've seen, about healthcare. [00:21:53] Jordan Vinson: No. [00:21:53] Paul Pruitt: I had one, one professor, he worked in a healthcare system, and he came in and he did the statistics class. [00:21:59] But again, I [00:22:00] could relate 'cause he's like, "We're looking at average wait times in the emergency room. We're looking at..." And I'm like, "Okay, I can wrap my head around this." But that's what was probably my biggest challenge is trying to understand, again, not that you need to know all the business lines, but again, there was not a lot of emphasis in healthcare on the MBA side. [00:22:18] It was all manufacturing widgets, and I don't know if that's was yours too. [00:22:23] Jordan Vinson: Yeah, mine was like that too. And I would try to sometimes in order to make it more relatable, like I would try to kind of spin it in my head a little bit. And I found when I did that, I could connect to it and, and get more into it. But on the surface sometimes it was like you said, you know, an automobile or plastics factory or something. [00:22:43] And you know, can't really relate to that, but I would spin it for myself and, you know, and could do it more that way. Or at that point I was getting, you know, uh, P&Ls and, you know, financials and stuff. So I would kind of think through, you know, okay, this is what I'm looking at. This is the general ledger. [00:22:59] This is the [00:23:00] trial balance. This, you know, kind of going through when I, when I was starting to get tools, um, for the financials, I could kind of spin it that way too. But definitely challenging, but I [00:23:11] Chelsey Gheyara: We're so proud of you. That's incredible. You've held nearly every role in long-term care. Um, CNA, charge nurse, unit manager, director of nursing, administrator, and now you're the vice president of operations for Majestic Care. Is there a role that surprised you the most or one that changed how you see this work in a way you didn't expect? [00:23:35] Jordan Vinson: I would say, um, one of ki- I guess kind of like my first promotion, um, was becoming a staff development coordinator. which- [00:23:43] Chelsey Gheyara: was also a [00:23:44] Jordan Vinson: yes. Which, you know, I guess now is kind of the IPSD role, You know. But 20 years ago, it was staff development [00:23:51] coordinator. And that role really, um, opened my eyes to, I guess, people, because you did, you were responsible for the [00:24:00] orientation of everybody, you know, in the facility. [00:24:01] And that opened my eyes to, you know, people not necessarily feeling like they're as important as other roles, you know. And, um, of course, nursing is the largest department, I get that, but, you know, housekeeping plays a role in the residents', um, wellbeing, you know. Um, so does, um, dietary, so does maintenance, you know. [00:24:24] So in that role, I think I really saw that some of these other roles don't feel as important. So that really did shape, like, once I became, you know, a director of nursing or an administrator, involving everybody and trying to empower them. You know, I can remember, you know, fall huddles and talking with staff, you know, talking to the housekeeper, "What did you see? [00:24:44] What did..." You know, and then, like at Greenville, when we were trying to get to the five-star, you know, involving, okay, telling, you know, how, um, dietary even knew, like, "Okay, this is how close we are. This is what we've got to do," you know, or, "This is how many falls we've had this month. [00:25:00] This is the goal." And Shannon, of course, you know, helped me a ton with that, working with her and, you know, communicating it across the board to everyone, "This is our goal. [00:25:08] This is where we need to get to," you know. But it was in, I think that that was, that role made it, um, just really opened my eyes to not everybody always feels included, and you're gonna have the best outcomes when everybody does have that ownership. So Just involving everyone. [00:25:23] Chelsey Gheyara: Yeah. And it's so helpful for everyone to know what our, what your goals are. Yes. 'Cause if they don't, you know- [00:25:29] Jordan Vinson: Mm-hmm ... [00:25:29] Chelsey Gheyara: that's, that's not good. That's really cool. [00:25:33] Paul Pruitt: just again, I guess I'm curious to know, 'cause being a therapist, that's how we always felt. Like- Yeah ... you know, kind of go to your office until we need you. Mm-hmm. So how did you cross that bridge? Because again, it's one thing to pull everybody in that's your own staff- Mm-hmm ... and make sure they feel connected. [00:25:50] But usually most skilled nursing now has changed. Mm-hmm. But back in the day when I treated, I would say most nursing homes used contract therapy. Yeah. So how [00:26:00] did you pull them in? [00:26:01] Jordan Vinson: therapist, um, directors that we always had at, and I don't know if it's 'cause it was a small facility, but it just seemed really easy to pull them in? [00:26:10] and they would engage with us, and we included them, like in morning meeting, I always just had them stay when we reviewed falls. I would have them attend all of our meetings. So I think that [00:26:19] that just kind of made them feel part of it. Um, they done care plans with us. just, I guess just including them, you know, and involving them in the actual, you know, the actual care and, you know, asked them about equipment, you know, what, what type of intervention would you recommend, you know? [00:26:35] And then at, um, Greenville also, we always utilized therapy to assist us with restorative. You know, So We always have had restorative there, you know, so that was kind of a bridge, too, in keeping them involved. They would help with you know, the maintenance plans. They would help write those plans. [00:26:50] Paul Pruitt: the culture. It was a culture. [00:26:51] Jordan Vinson: was a culture. thing. It was a culture thing. Yeah ... [00:26:53] Paul Pruitt: a wall, there wasn't a barrier. It didn't matter anybody who walked through the Greenville doors, the culture was you're part of the whole team. [00:26:59] Jordan Vinson: [00:27:00] Absolutely A- and that's something I think that I, I still take a lot of pride in, you know, just getting the feedback from, like, the mock surveys and stuff. You know, this is... A- and you know, Jackie reached out to me. My team loved being at Greenville, you know? So it's still, you know, just hearing that, it-- I think that it's... [00:27:14] You know, Shannon's done a great job of just continuing that. [00:27:17] Paul Pruitt: can tell you it was interesting 'cause I've been with the company three years, and the whole three years, you guys, when I first started, were the shining star of the company. I mean, truly, we had 39 buildings at the time. Greenville always had the five-star. Mm-hmm. You guys were hitting, always hitting your quality and stuff, but you also had phenomenal survey results and so on. So you obviously infested the building with a great culture. Yeah. And again, I remember going sitting through one of your, the first morning meeting, first time I met you. Mm-hmm. [00:27:48] Jordan Vinson: first time at a building. Yeah. [00:27:49] Paul Pruitt: And I remember sitting through your morning meeting, I'm like, "This is how a morning meeting should run." Very organized, very resident-focused, very much... And again, you're right, the whole team was [00:28:00] around the table talking. It wasn't just the end table. You could tell, like, the end is where everybody sat that [00:28:06] didn't get talked to, and then clinical always sat in the front. Yeah. Kind of like church, everybody sits in the front. [00:28:11] And so, but yeah, so it was a very, very good culture. [00:28:15] Jordan Vinson: I think that's been kind of my challenge in, where I, you know, elevating into roles. And, and I've been, I've been able to see it in some of the buildings, but is, you know, how do I get that across? Like, how do we create that? Right. You know, And that's been, one of the more rewarding things for me in this role is seeing the leaders in the buildings that I've been able to really latch onto and seeing them create that in their building, you know. [00:28:37] And hopefully we can get that across the board. [00:28:41] Paul Pruitt: It does change the trajectory of a company. Yeah. Because again, it, it really does then tie back to our mission. Mm-hmm. Because as we continue to strive for that level of excellence that we talk about, it's really that ownership at the facility level. Yeah. As an administrator, as a DNS, your leadership team really [00:29:00] taking and, and just cultivating that culture that, uh, we're all involved, we're all in this together. Yeah. The old from, what movie is [00:29:09] Chelsey Gheyara: High School Musical. [00:29:10] Jordan Vinson: Yeah, High School Musical [00:29:11] yes. [00:29:11] Paul Pruitt: this together. So again, it's, it goes back to that culture of how do we make sure everybody feels fully empowered to do the best that we can do for our residents, whether it's short rehab, dementia care, um, senior living, anything that we are offering, hospice care or any of it [00:29:31] Chelsey Gheyara: Also have, um, a plug here for one of our prior podcasts with Dr. Boise. Yeah. She talks a lot about inclusion and making people and residents and everyone, care team members alike, feeling safe and very much what your leadership is like, Jordan. Yeah. And we're all in this together and- Absolutely [00:29:50] Jordan Vinson: A- and I'm glad with you saying the resident, you know, there's been times when, um, I'll be in a building and, you know, they're trying to figure out, the whole team is sitting around the table trying to figure out the fall [00:30:00] intervention. And I'm like, "Have you talked to the resident?" " No." [00:30:05] Paul Pruitt: Yeah. Right. [00:30:06] Jordan Vinson: There you go. [00:30:07] Let's include them, you know. Yeah. Absolutely. [00:30:11] Paul Pruitt: I think, you know, again, um, what's interesting, Jordan, is-- Or what is your perspective? Because you go into buildings, and again, when you're a title-driven company, title-driven being the VP of ops just showed up, or the CEO just showed up, or the VP of growth and experience, it's a cul- it can become a culture of top-down. [00:30:33] Mm-hmm. But when you s- go out in the facilities, are you seeing our culture being more of a culture of we are in this together- [00:30:40] Jordan Vinson: I actually do ... Yeah [00:30:42] Paul Pruitt: Yeah ... oh my gosh, Jordan just showed up, now we have to put on this facade? [00:30:46] Jordan Vinson: I feel like that we have done a great job of we're all in it together. even on the clinical side of things, you know, I see the nurse consultants very just hands-on and involved. Um, the nurse consultant director is [00:31:00] very involved as well. Um, and I feel like the way they reach out to all of us shows that they, they feel that way. [00:31:06] You know, they feel like that we are involved and, um, that we're not there to just tell them what they did wrong, you know? I get voicemails and, um, text messages and, and calls sometimes and I'm thinking, you know, I would have never dreamed of asking someone, you know, above me that because I would've been scared to. [00:31:24] But I'm glad that they feel like they can ask. Like, I think that that shows the culture we've created. Because they're not scared to ask. You know, I would've been scared because, hey, I did something wrong. I can't admit, you know, I've just got to take care of it. I've got to figure it out. I've got to action plan it on my own. [00:31:40] Um, but these people are legitimately just asking, "Hey, what's your guidance on this?" And I think that that shows that we have a different-- that we're creating the culture that we want. [00:31:50] Paul Pruitt: That's very important because again, nobody should look at a title. [00:31:54] Jordan Vinson: No. ' [00:31:55] Paul Pruitt: Cause I always say at the end of the day, it's about our residents' care. And again, if [00:32:00] I'm too scared to call Jordan, the VP of ops, to ask this question, then I'm not doing justice for my [00:32:06] Jordan Vinson: Absolutely. Yeah. I agree. Mm-hmm [00:32:08] Paul Pruitt: confident to say, because again, there is no way... [00:32:11] You already said highly regulated, right? [00:32:13] Jordan Vinson: Yes. Very. Okay. Yeah. [00:32:16] Paul Pruitt: There's no way we can know it [00:32:17] Jordan Vinson: all. No. [00:32:18] Paul Pruitt: But there's also [00:32:19] Jordan Vinson: experience Yeah. and, you know, I'll, I'll get questions sometimes where I'm, I'm not real sure, but I know somebody who will know, so I'll call you back. You know? And, and we'll reach out and ask the question and- Yeah you know, get them an answer, so. [00:32:31] Paul Pruitt: There's a large company in, our industry. It's the Ensign Group. And I've never worked in the company, I just know people that have, and they talk about the culture. But they call their home office, the support center. And I always thought that resonated very well because again, it's not a home office, it's not corporate, it's a support center. [00:32:49] Mm-hmm. And support sounds very much more I'm here to support you. And again, what I've heard in the industry, and again, I've worked in different areas. Well, the last company I worked for, there was a short [00:33:00] time where the leaders in the region went out to the buildings, wrote on a piece of paper, and left it. Oh. Or they always looked for the things that they did wrong. Or if the survey went south, instead of owning it as a whole- Mm-hmm ... the region would just say, "Well, that's Chelsey's fault. She was the administrator and she didn't do her job as I told her to." Well, we're all in it together here. It can't be we're pointing fingers 'cause that then the culture and then that puts the fear factor, like, "Why would I call you? [00:33:28] You don't have my back." Yeah. So [00:33:33] Chelsey Gheyara: If a CNA working a double shift right now, I love this question, could hear one thing from you, not advice, just one true thing, what would it be? [00:33:45] Jordan Vinson: say take your time [00:33:47] talk to your peers, talk to your residents. Don't be? [00:33:52] so task-oriented. It's gonna get done. It will get done. Breathe, and just spend some [00:34:00] time getting to know those that you're caring for and those that you're working with. Because I can say some of my best moments in my career have been at the bedside. [00:34:09] And just whenever I was overwhelmed and thought, "I'm never gonna make it through this shift," you know, I Think about, I think back to, you know, going back to the floor, um, during COVID and all the things that we had to do, thinking about that But then those, those little moments of being able to provide the comfort or, you know, just being there and being present and not rushing through, like that'll get you through it, you know? [00:34:34] And, and I think sometimes CNAs, they have the, the toughest job, of course. They-- I mean, this call light's on, this... You know, and they know they have to get through. But just, if they would just stop and take time and realize how important they really are, I think that that would get them through, you know, a lot [00:34:53] Chelsey Gheyara: Think that that time spent with residents just being there for them or talking isn't [00:35:00] productive, right? It is. And it is. Yeah. [00:35:02] Paul Pruitt: It's interesting. We, um, this was way back in the therapy days, so we were trying to work on a patient's transferability. And I remember, the way we wanted to show the team, they were like, "This is gonna take way too much time," and so on and so forth. But it's amazing when you actually break it down and you do it. to your point, if you were just to look at your watch and take three minutes- Mm-hmm. Three ... three minutes isn't that long. No. In just that three minutes, you would be surprised of what the impact you could have on a resident's life or on your [00:35:34] Jordan Vinson: own- Mm-hmm ... [00:35:34] Paul Pruitt: where you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed. [00:35:36] And I think sometimes we make it into this big, grandiose thing. literally is just sitting there for three minutes and just saying, "How are you? How was your day?" Um, I think people would be completely shocked. There's been studies around physicians that you could have the same two physicians, you could do the same thing, but one sat down and did three minutes personal [00:36:00] conversation, and the other was more medical. [00:36:02] Same time, everything's the same- Mm-hmm ... except for that three minutes. You would walk out thinking, "I had the best experience with the one physician," just for three minutes. Right [00:36:14] Jordan Vinson: You know, and I think that that goes across the board no matter what role you're doing. You know, as an operator, as the clinician, you know, what it-- just that human contact and that time of, um, just making an impact and getting to know that person. And, you know, I, I've talked with administrators that'll tell me, you know, that they were-- that they just have to get out of their office. [00:36:35] I'm like, "Do it. Go on the floor." You know, and they're, they're overwhelmed with financials, or they're overwhelmed, and they'll say, "I've just got to step away. I'm going out on the floor for a while." And then I talk to them, you know, the next day or a little bit later, and they're like, "That's the best thing I could have done." [00:36:47] Right. You know, I needed to go. I had to go back to the, you know and, and get to the bedside. And I'm like, Well, that's why you do what you do." You know? That, that's your why. So, um, I think we get so just overwhelmed [00:37:00] with tasks sometimes. [00:37:01] Paul Pruitt: Well, it's interesting if we go back to Dr. Boese's podcast. So she was talking about w- she was early in her residency, I think it was, and she was saying, you know, she's, um... forget, she was sleeping or whatever, so the nurse came in, woke her up, and said this patient wanted to speak to her. So she went into this whole medical thing, like she went through the thing, and she was researching all the diagnosis, everything, she's like, "I don't know what this patient wants." [00:37:27] Yeah. So went in there, and literally she's like, "Oh," it was completely night and day. It was-- She didn't wanna know about the diagnosis. wanted to know, like, "Do you think I should marry my boyfriend?" And so it gave her that moment, but it-- to what you're saying, it's, they don't need another diagnosis. [00:37:43] They don't need another person telling them, you know, "Here's all your contraindications for this." Sometimes they just need someone just to be a person. Mm-hmm. And just meet them where they're at and just say, "You know what? They could have a terminal diagnosis. You know what? This sucks." Yeah. And that's okay- Mm-hmm [00:37:59] to say [00:38:00] it, and it's okay to sympathize, and it's-- My daughter is going to be a nurse, as you guys know, and when she was making that decision, my daughter has the biggest heart. She's gonna go through some trials - Absolutely ... with her big heart. But she said, "What if I fall down?" Or, "What if I start crying with a patient?" [00:38:18] 'Cause she wants to do OB. She's already kind of-- She loves the baby side of things. But I said, "Then you cry." Yeah. [00:38:25] Jordan Vinson: Okay. It's [00:38:26] Paul Pruitt: okay. It's okay. But in her mind, she has this image that she's supposed to be this, show up differently, and it's like, no, that's not what your patient wants. Mm-hmm. They want to know someone cares. [00:38:36] Yeah. And to what you're saying is take a deep breath, 'cause guess what? If that doesn't get done, another shift. Mm-hmm. It's 24/7, 365. Mm-hmm. And as long as we're all working through it together, "Hey, Jordan, I didn't get to this because I was sit with Chelsey and I was trying to help her through this situation, so I didn't get all my wastebasket emptied." [00:38:59] Chelsey Gheyara: What's the [00:39:00] one thing you wish more people understood about what it takes to lead people well in long-term care? [00:39:07] Jordan Vinson: I would say connections and relationships matter so much. take the time to get to know your coworkers. Take the time, like we were saying earlier, reach out if you don't know. but I think that we are a very, in our industry, you have to rely on each. It's very stressful, highly regulated, like we said. [00:39:27] Um, there are situations that we've all been in that we would have never gotten through them if we didn't have that person, You know, to reach out to. And, and I feel like Majestic is very, I mean, we are very blessed. We have some insanely smart folks that work with us, and that we get to work with every day. [00:39:47] You know, and, and those connections are just, they're invaluable. You know, just reach out to them, and, and ask for advice, and ask for direction, and be able to take, you know, constructive criticism from those folks. You know, [00:40:00] they're, they're where they're at for a reason, you know? So I think that in, in long-term care, just being able to... [00:40:08] And it seems like everything comes full circle. You see people again, like everybody ends up working together again in some, you know, capacity. so connect with people. Yeah [00:40:18] Chelsey Gheyara: much more done when you're locked in arms. Absolutely. [00:40:21] Jordan Vinson: Yes [00:40:22] Chelsey Gheyara: yeah, I feel that the same way. Like I was telling someone the other day, like I would put this team like anyone. [00:40:31] Jordan Vinson: It's phenomenal [00:40:32] when you look across from, you know, kind of where we've been with folks in certain roles and then look at where, who we have and the information they are able to provide you and the guidance they are able to provide you. It's unreal [00:40:46] Paul Pruitt: What's interesting is I always say you'll never meet truly, and it kind of echoes what you're saying, a more compassionate resident-centric group of leaders. Mm-hmm. And again, yes, there's [00:41:00] the financials, there's the regulatory, there's all that, That we're up against and that, but I have not yet seen where nobody has put the resident first. [00:41:08] Jordan Vinson: Absolutely. Yeah. [00:41:09] Paul Pruitt: they're, you know, trying to make the decisions or trying to do what's best for the organization because it's like, how is this gonna really impact the resident? And that speaks volumes to me 'cause it's a, it's a culture that it really is about the resident. [00:41:22] Jordan Vinson: You know, even on the, you know, the operation side with, you know, with, with Dave and, you know, his thing, we have to provide good care. You have to provide quality care. That's where it starts. You know, and, and I feel like that that is the consensus across the board. We have to do what's right and we have to provide great care. [00:41:38] Then everything else, we'll worry about it. But that is the, that's the basis of What we do. [00:41:42] Paul Pruitt: I would agree. [00:41:44] Chelsey Gheyara: Is there anything else you would like our listeners to know who are here today? [00:41:50] Paul Pruitt: the only thing I would say is to kind of sum up, again, kind of what Jordan started with at the beginning is, for the listeners listening, just know that [00:42:00] long-term care is a true career that it, again, I value All my colleagues throughout the industry, whether it's hospital, outpatient, everyone is faced with their own challenges and their passions. [00:42:14] But long-term care is more than just pushing pills down a hallway. It's more than just, the image that you say when people say nursing homes and they cringe. It is a industry that you get to meet a senior at a level of their lives that you can truly make such a profound impact, get to know their lives, get to know their journeys. [00:42:36] Think about your grandparents, being able to just sit with them and hear their stories. You get to Do that all day long with leader- with our seniors. You get to learn their stories. you get to understand about what their lives are. And my wife and I were talking, 'cause again, grew up with a big families, and my wife's parents are 79 and 82, I think. [00:42:58] But she's, my wife's just like, "I [00:43:00] wish there was a way I could record everything they're telling me Yeah. Because right now, like with her dad, there's just her dad and her, her aunt left. So again, when they pass away, like who knows those stories? You know what a witch's pot is? Mm-hmm. Those big brew... So my mother-in-law has one, and I use this to learn people's stories. [00:43:22] My wife just always thought it was something that they just got. She didn't... Well, it was actually her grandmother's. Oh, wow. That they used to put it on top of a tire and build a fire underneath it so that they could heat it up. Well, this isn't the w- this is kind of gross, so they could put the chickens in it so they could pluck the feathers. Oh, wow. But, but, but, you know, again, if she didn't take the time to sit, and, and again, that's the opportunity in long-term care. You get to sit and learn all these different things about our residents and what it was like in the Depression or what it was like growing up in those times. and- again, you'll never be able to experience that in a history [00:44:00] class. [00:44:01] Jordan Vinson: And I think too, like, like for me, you know, I was younger, didn't appreciate the stuff, hearing the stories from my grandparents like I should have. Like now, I would love to hear those stories again. Yeah. I would too. You know? So it's kind of an opportunity too to, um, you know, I guess kinda right your wrongs in a way a- and make those connections and hear those stories that you may have been too busy at one point to do. [00:44:24] You know, it, like I, like I was saying, it is a specialty, and I, I don't think people realize that. it molds you, it changes who you are. and I don't think I would ever wanna go back to working in a hospital setting where I was so focused on, you know, like I said, hanging blood or, you know, that. [00:44:41] It, it's just there's so much more to care than that- in my, you know, in my opinion. Um, a- and you see that in long-term care. [00:44:49] Paul Pruitt: Do you ever find, Like when you're out in the community- Mm-hmm ... and you're at an event or you're in a restaurant or something and you see somebody, an elderly person, but your l- m- your, [00:45:00] your sensors are more heightened, like, "Okay, are they gonna be okay? Are they safe? [00:45:04] Do [00:45:04] Chelsey Gheyara: All the time. Yeah. Do you [00:45:06] Paul Pruitt: I need to step in and [00:45:07] Chelsey Gheyara: Oh, there's a rug there. It's a fall rug [00:45:09] Paul Pruitt: g- going to get in [00:45:09] Jordan Vinson: they going to get in the car and "Do I need to help you?" Or [00:45:11] Paul Pruitt: you?" Or [00:45:12] Jordan Vinson: And I'm even like, like at church, you know, there, there's some elderly and I'm like, "Jeremy, do you need to help them?" You know, that's, Yeah. My mind goes there too. You know, it's like, it's like- that's our job. [00:45:22] We have to protect all the time, you know? [00:45:25] Paul Pruitt: Absolutely. So, so th- that's what I've noticed anymore is like we could be out and about and it's just like this instant protected mode like- Yeah ... okay, who do I need to help here and stuff, so. [00:45:37] Jordan Vinson: You know, and you think about it, they are in-- when they're in our care, um, a lot of times they're in a traumatic... They, you know, they, they had this home, they had... And now they're in this room and, you know. And sometimes, you know, well, so-and-so's not interacting. Well, maybe they're depressed. You know, let's see what we can do to make... [00:45:53] Their whole life has changed [00:45:55] Chelsey Gheyara: Exactly. [00:45:58] Paul Pruitt: took, you know, again, I'll use my [00:46:00] mom. You know, we didn't have a big house, um, at all growing up, but we definitely had bigger than up to 100 square foot room. [00:46:06] Jordan Vinson: she had her own space. She had her own space. Yeah. [00:46:09] Paul Pruitt: Yeah. She had her own [00:46:10] Jordan Vinson: nuances, [00:46:10] Paul Pruitt: her own little idiosyncrasy she would do. And then to say, "No, now you have to fall within these four walls," you know. [00:46:18] Now, the unfortunate part was my mom had dementia and stuff, so it was probably a little bit easier for her to adapt- Yeah ... into that. But again, to your point, the fear, giving up, uh, your life, what you had, what you owned [00:46:34] Jordan Vinson: I had a resident at a facility I was at that would sit in his room and he would cry, um, because they had this huge farm that he had to give up. it was a brand new facility, so he ha-- And then he would say, "This is beautiful, but this is not, this is not what I worked my whole life for." [00:46:50] Right. You know, so it was, it was that, you know, realization of, for him, of where he was at now. and his mind was completely there. He just physically couldn't care for himself [00:47:00] anymore. And it was just sad and the staff there was, was great about, you know, trying to get him out of his room and stuff, but it was, you know, trying to find what would be beneficial for him and what could, what would make him happy again. [00:47:12] It was, it was really sad, you know, to see that. [00:47:14] Paul Pruitt: And then on the other side is that's the blessing we have. [00:47:17] Jordan Vinson: Yeah. absolutely [00:47:19] Paul Pruitt: do we help them in that time of despair to where it's like, you know what? Your life isn't ending, it's just starting. Mm-hmm. Like you get a whole new chapter, and we'll help you write the chapter, and we'll try to do it as big as we can. [00:47:34] but again, that goes back to how do we bring in restorative? How do we bring in activities? How do we bring in-- How do we all show up differently- Right ... to bring in that environment to where I always say that y-your room becomes your bedroom, but the rest of these walls become your home. Nobody sits in their room- No ... 24/7 in the, in the room and that. So here's the dining room, here's the activity room, here's a multipurpose room. How do we start driving those to [00:48:00] be their home? Mm-hmm. I always say w- the greatest thing would be to walk in a building and be like, "Where's Mrs. So-and-so? Well, sh- let's see. [00:48:08] She has art therapy, then she's gonna go down to restorative." Yeah. "She'll be back at noon for lunch." Yeah. "And we have to pass her noon meds, and then she's back out 'cause her calendar is full." [00:48:17] Jordan Vinson: Yeah. That brings me to a story. My, um, I had an aunt that was in a facility, and she was at Greenville. And when my mother-in-law would go, she'd say, "She's never in her room. I don't know where she's at. She's al- you know, she's always busy." And That was the best compliment- to me. You know, that, that's what [00:48:36] we want. [00:48:36] Paul Pruitt: Right. Your life isn't ending. [00:48:39] Jordan Vinson: No, she loved it. She had friends. She had- her little group, you know? And, and when she got to go home, they were all sad. They missed her, you know? So that, That's what [00:48:47] we want. [00:48:48] Paul Pruitt: That's what we [00:48:48] Jordan Vinson: want. [00:48:49] Paul Pruitt: That, that is absolutely what we want to embrace that type of culture to where it's, again, it's a home, not just a place to go and have your last [00:49:00] days [00:49:04] Chelsey Gheyara: Thank you for tuning in to "Hearts of Excellence." Jordan's journey is a reminder that the people who care for our most vulnerable community members often started exactly where the work needed them most, and that staying open to where that work leads can take you further than you've ever imagined. If you're interested in learning more about the culture at Majestic Care or want to find out more about our career opportunities, visit majesticcare.com/contact-us. [00:49:31] If you or a loved one needs care, reach out to us. We're here to support your next chapter. Talk to you soon