From HHA to RN: Donna Wilson’s Inspiring Journey
When Clinical Care Manager Donna Wilson started working as a home health aide (HHA) at VNS Health, she had a vision that she would one day become a registered nurse (RN). As a child growing up in Guyana, health care became her passion thanks to her paternal grandmother, who was a nurse. Her grandmother would often take Donna with her to work, where she mostly cared for elderly patients.
“That’s where my love for the geriatric population began,” says Donna. “That feeling continues today. I have a love for seniors, and the sentiment seems to be mutual.”
From HHA to RN
Donna served as a teacher and an assistant tax inspector in Guyana prior to moving to the United States in 1989. In the U.S., she worked in insurance and banking before becoming an HHA in Personal Care (then known as Partners in Care). Donna was drawn to the position because of the scheduling flexibility, which allowed her to enroll in college and eventually enter the school’s nursing program.
Upon graduating nursing school in 1994, Donna worked as a per diem registered nurse in the Private Pay department of Personal Care. She was then offered and accepted a position as a RN Field Supervisor, overseeing clinicians and HHAs in the field.
“I loved my job, but I wanted to get more hands-on experience,” Donna recalls. She left Personal Care to work as a home health care nurse for another home care organization, which was then acquired by VNS Health. After working several more years as a field nurse for VNS Health Home Care, Donna left once again to experience nursing in hospital and managed long-term care settings.
Supporting VNS Health’s Mission of Helping Patients
Donna returned to VNS Health in 2019, where she’s now working as a Clinical Care Manager for VNS Health Care Management. Donna notes that all of her previous experience influences and enhances the service she provides in her current role. “It helps me visualize and better understand patients and their unique care needs,” she says. “
As a Clinical Care Manager, adds Donna, “I’m still very much involved in VNS Health’s mission of helping patients. I’m part of a team that provides care management for high-risk health plan members who have been admitted by VNS Health Home Care after being discharged from the hospital or referred by their physicians. In our role as advocates, care coordinators, facilitators and educators, we provide patient-centered services in order to keep them out of the emergency room and the hospital.”
Her job, which she does telephonically, involves “keenly listening to what our patients needs are and filling in any gaps in care by collaborating with members of the Home Care team,” notes Donna. “Using evidence-based tools, we facilitate case conferences, provide authorizations, and refer our members to nutritionists, pharmacists, rehabilitation clinicians, and social workers within our team, and to other teams like Advanced Illness Management and Behavioral Health.”
Lessons Learned from Being a HHA
Donna adds that her time as an HHA continues to resonate today. “My time as an HHA was a rich and invaluable experience,” she says. “Working in people’s homes, I was privileged to care for a wide and diverse population. I entered private homes with their own private elevator and I made visits to apartments in housing projects and walk-ups in lower Manhattan. I saw across the board what my patients had in common and what their differences were, and how this impacted their care and health.”
One of the big lessons Donna learned was not to let what patients do or say influence how she cared for them. “You’re entering their home—their domain—where most of them have just returned to from the hospital, so they’re sometimes agitated, scared or may be in pain. When a patient did lash out, very often by the time I left they would apologize. That’s because I learned to remain professional, empathetic and caring, even in challenging circumstances.”
Donna also learned the important role home health aides on each patient’s care team. “HHAs are the eyes and ears of the nurse and can be of tremendous value to patients and nurses,” she says. “They can report on any changes in condition, when a medication has run out, when it is not being taken, and other important details that can actually prevent rehospitalization if they’re promptly reported and addressed.”
Donna’s advice to HHAs considering nursing school: Go for it!
“If you’re an aide who’s interested in becoming a nurse, do everything in your power to pursue and complete the course,” urges Donna. “Nursing school is tough but it’s worth it. My exposure to nurses and other clinicians while caring for persons in their homes helped me during school. I had an advantage because I could use what I had learned from patients and the professionals I interacted with—and it will help you, too.”
Are you an HHA interested in growing your career at VNS Health?
Click here to learn more about the VNS Health Internal Mobility Program and the ways VNS Health and 1199 SEIU can support you.
From HHA to RN: Donna Wilson’s Inspiring Journey (Summary)
Donna Wilson, a former Home Health Aide (HHA) at VNS Health, had a dream to become a registered nurse (RN). Growing up in Guyana, her grandmother’s nursing profession inspired her passion for healthcare, particularly for the elderly. Donna worked in various fields before becoming an HHA, which allowed her to attend nursing school.
After graduating in 1994, she worked as a per diem RN and eventually became a Field Supervisor. Donna gained more experience in different healthcare settings before returning to as a Clinical Care Manager for VNS Health Care Management.
In her current role, Donna plays a vital role in providing patient-centered care management for high-risk health plan members. She collaborates with various teams and professionals to ensure patients receive the best care possible.
Her experience as an HHA remains invaluable, teaching her to be professional, empathetic, and caring in challenging situations. Donna recognizes the importance of HHAs in the patient care team, as they are the eyes and ears of nurses and can prevent hospital readmissions with prompt reporting.
Donna encourages other HHAs interested in nursing to pursue their dreams and emphasizes the advantages of having real-world patient experience during nursing school.
For HHAs looking to advance their careers at VNS Health, click here to learn more about the VNS Health Internal Mobility Program and the ways VNS Health and 1199 SEIU can support you.
To read Donna’s Full story, click here.
