When Patty Bullock started at WCNH in September 1992, she started working in Food Service – “very hard work!”  Gradually, she began working with diets, and on the computer. “I liked to figure out diets,” she says. “I was interested in why you needed to have certain diets for health issues.”

As a result, Patty became interested in medicine. She decided to go to through the nursing program at Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES – a 20-month evening program for her degree as a licensed practical nurse. It wasn’t an easy road -- all the while she was going through school, she worked part-time at WalMart and at WCNH! She graduated with her LPN in 1999.

As an LPN, she came to WCNH full time and started on the evening shift.

Her duties as an LPN are a combination she describes as “a little of CNA and a little of RN work” – helping residents with bathing, dressing, and their medical needs. Patty feels strongly about being hands-on with her patients. “You don’t really know your resident until you take such personal care of them,” she believes.

This is especially true in working in the Rehab unit where “people change all the time, so you have to know their individual needs well, and quickly,” Patty says.

“The Rehab Unit is very fast paced and busy,’ she explains. “You deal with a lot more doctor contact, more medications, more pain control, treatments, dressings, chartings, paperwork… The days go by fast, and it’s very good experience.”

Patty was part of the staff that made the transition from the old home to the new one, in June of 2005. She loves the home’s new design and leading edge practices. “It’s so nice

to look at! It’s comfortable and homey… and that affects the residents in such a positive way.”

Patty has three children – 7, 4, and 2 – as well as their Bichon Friese dog (which sort of counts as a half-child), and she often brings them to staff activities.

In the past, Patty has worked at other nursing homes. So she’s able to make a comparison, and says WCNH has “a much better staff” than any she’s seen.

This young nurse with the dimpled smile has a very personal approach to her care: “I like to laugh and make work fun and enjoyable for the residents and staff. After all – laughter is the best medicine!”

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