Sabrina Turner’s career has been all but typical. For years, she had been a manager across three locations of a well-known fast-food chain. When her mother suddenly became ill, she felt ill-equipped to help care for her. Then when she passed away, Sabrina realized her calling.
“I didn’t have the knowledge and skills to take care of my mom,” she said, “but now I can help someone else.”
After completing the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at Tidewater Community College, Sabrina served at another hospital for 12 years. She was then a hospice aide for five years, which took a toll on her. She remembers feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. Then one day, she saw that Riverside was hiring at various locations, one of which was close to where she lived. She decided to attend an open house, where she interviewed with her eventual supervisor. She was hired that day.
Today, Sabrina is a CNA in the rehab unit at Riverside Healthy Living Smithfield, where she has been since November 2019. On the clock anywhere from 12 to 16 hours a day, Sabrina admits that sometimes “it gets crazy.” But coming from hospice where she treated patients at the end of life, she is driven by the opportunity to have more of an impact. She now works in long-term care and rehab, and loves interacting with patients.
“Our main goal is to help patients get stronger so they can return home or to whatever facility they came from,” she said. “We make their lives a little bit easier.”
When COVID struck, Sabrina and her team had much to implement, including N95 masks and face shields, “gowning up and down” each day, and moreover being prepared for anything. In addition, they are tested twice a week to ensure everyone’s safety. While it can all be stressful at times, Sabrina recognizes it’s for their good. She is grateful for her supervisor, who ensures they are all up-to-date on state mandates.
“I have to shout out Ms. Judy Sims, my director of nursing,” Sabrina said. “I can't express how good it is to have a supervisor like her. She will go to bat for you. You want her on your side.”
Sabrina is also grateful for the ways the Riverside team shows up for one another. Most notable was when there was a positive COVID case in their unit. Everyone stepped up and made sure shifts were covered. And when she took time off recently to grieve the passing of her brother, she appreciated that it was more than a simple bereavement policy, but a genuine concern for her. Team members called her to check on her and ask if she needed anything.
“I consider Riverside as a family and that’s why I do my best,” she said. “It’s teamwork. When you’ve got teamwork at a job, you don't just have a job, you have a family.”
And Sabrina knows about family. The youngest of 11, she grew up in a close knit home. From a young age, she and her siblings were taught to rely on and support one another. They have since raised their own children to do the same, and their grandchildren, too. What she misses most about this new normal is not being able to gather for Sunday dinners, birthdays and holidays. While 2020 was tough for everyone, she has hope for 2021, including good health for all.
As she continues to do her part, Sabrina is often encouraged to go back to school. Those who know her suggest she become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN), but she believes she is where she is meant to be.
“I know that I can advance,” she said. “But I love being there with them as a CNA. I love what I do. Riverside gives me the opportunity to do what I love to do and I'm happy with it. This is where my calling is.”
