 Bahn was previously the assistant director at Maple Ridge. She is a
Lincoln native and a mother of three. Her background includes 12
years as an emergency room nurse at Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital.Bahn's big job responsibilities include supervision of
nursing staff, budget management, staff education and scheduling.
However, Bahn believes that her most important job -- and this is
echoed by Eyrse -- is patient care.
Currently Maple Ridge has 113 residents who are being cared for
by 25 nurses and 40 nurse's aides.
Both Eyrse and Bahn wanted to explain that the perception that
many people have of "nursing homes" is different than what Maple
Ridge is dedicated to. "When we have a new resident, we work to
rehabilitate them, get them up to par and then return them to their
home," Eyrse explained.
When asked how many residents had "graduated" to going home this
year, both Eyrse and Bahn immediately knew the answer: 43.
The center also isn't a facility for just senior citizens,
although a great many older area residents do call Maple Ridge their
home. The age of those receiving care ranges from as young as 18;
others who are in their 30s or 40s are also receiving care and
treatment at the institution.
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When asked what the difference was between working in an
emergency room, and now being in charge of nursing at the center,
Bahn had an immediate response. "In an ER, you help a person and
then they go on. Here I get to spend time and really get to know the
people, and their families as well. We become involved; we take the
time to let them know we will take care of them."
Eyrse acknowledged that this empathy with residents and their
families is very important at Maple Ridge. "I had to place my mom
here six years ago," she said. "I understand what the people and
their families are going through when someone is admitted."
The new respiratory wing, now a year old, brings in many
individuals for care from all areas of the state, and even from
around the country. Eyrse stated that she has fielded inquiries from
all over, and their respiratory wing currently includes a Floridian.
Walking the halls with both Eyrse and Bahn shows that they really
do know their residents. Stopping and ducking in and out of rooms to
say hello to residents, they both stopped and beamed when we came to
a room halfway down the respiratory wing. The woman currently being
cared for was going to be going home in the next day or so without
having to take a respirator with her.
It looks like the graduation number at Maple Ridge for this year
will now get bumped to 44 ... and counting.
[By MIKE FAK]
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