Cambria lives with her grandmother LaMay and requires extensive care due to a condition called acute flaccid myelitis. Over the four and a half years that Cami has had nursing care, LaMay has learned a lot about working as a team with her homecare nurses and has some great advice to share.
Be upfront with expectations
“It’s important to be clear with your expectations for new nurses,” LaMay advises. “I have detailed, step-by-step instructions written out that explain Cami’s schedule and protocol. It’s also good to think about whether you have any house rules that you’d like your nurses to follow. Let them know so you can start out on the same page and build a good foundation for working together.”
Maintain open communication
“After that initial training, it’s important to keep your communication strong,” LaMay notes. “I try to communicate both openly and kindly. Parents and nurses need to feel comfortable to respectfully discuss things. We also make sure that Cami has a voice in her care. It’s her body and her life, so she has a say.”
Collaborate with your nurses
“Cami currently has three nurses on her case,” LaMay explains. “We all work collaboratively to make sure she’s at her best at all times. It can be exhausting to understand everything about your child’s care. That’s why it’s so important to collaborate with your nurses. I do my best to learn everything about Cami’s condition, but her nurses are there to explain or support whenever I need them. We do this together, and we do it for Cami.”
Cami is progressing, growing, and beating the odds every day, thanks to the effort her entire care team puts into working together. At Aveanna, we are honored to join the lives of families like Cami’s to walk alongside them on their journey. We’re ready to become part of your family’s team and help you on your path to home.