Yolanda R. – "Compassionate"

Some people have the ability to step into another’s shoes, understand the challenges they’re facing and compassionately help them through. This is Yolanda’s story.

Caregiving was instilled in Yolanda at a young age. Her great grandmother was a midwife during the 1940s and 50s, and Yolanda and her mother would attend her when she delivered babies. That’s when she knew, caring for others was a calling she was meant to pursue. At age 14, Yolanda began working as a private-duty caregiver, alongside her mother, caring for an elderly lady with Parkinson’s Disease and she really enjoyed it. After high school, Yolanda worked in a doctor’s office as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and shortly thereafter, a Medication Aide. In 2001, she went back to school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

After graduation, Yolanda worked in a variety of healthcare sectors, from nursing homes and hospice to prisons, schools and pediatrics. In 2014, Yolanda joined Interim HealthCare in Oklahoma City as an LPN Field Nurse doing home health visits. Her broad-based experience gave her a well-rounded knowledge of nursing and prepared her well for the role she is in today, LPN Preceptor. Yolanda considers it a privilege to train new nurses coming into home health and teach them the Interim way.

The most rewarding part of Yolanda’s job is the people she works with every day. As a team of nurses, they are always in communication, spurring each other on amid the challenges of life and supporting one another in every way. A caregiver at heart, working in home health is very fulfilling to Yolanda. Whatever the task, she is dedicated to helping patients have their best day, every day.

Yolanda is an old soul. She enjoys being there for her clients, holding their hand and talking to them as though they were her mother, father, sister or brother. Whatever they are dealing with, she is there to support them and help them through.

More than a job, Yolanda is invested in the lives of the patients she serves. To her, they are more like family. Such was the case with one client she cared for in 2018, a little lady battling cancer. Yolanda cared for her medically, physically, emotionally and spiritually, which is all part of Interim’s HomeLife Enrichment standard of care. The two were like sisters. Yolanda would talk with her about everything and it always helped her feel better. When her condition worsened, she was moved to a local hospital. Yolanda wanted to come visit, but her client passed before she could get there. This was very difficult for Yolanda. One evening, while driving home, she was praying that after all of her suffering, that she was finally in a better place. Just then, Yolanda saw shining lights coming from the cross on top of the hospital where she passed. At that moment, she knew, everything was okay.

This is just a glimpse into the heartfelt compassion that makes Yolanda perfect for home healthcare. From the beginning of her career until now, it’s clear, she is made for this!