Thirwood Place News: Inside Nursing at Thirwood Place

Healthcare exists in every corner of the world. That’s why healthcare workers are so essential and important to any community.

On Cape Cod, there are 27,564 people employed in the Cape’s healthcare sector which is equal to 12 percent of the 228,996-person year-round population.

In the summer, population can swell to nearly 600,000 people. A significant percentage of these healthcare workers are nurses such as CNAs, LPNs, and RNs.

When starting a professional journey, there are many paths a nurse can take. Hospitals, acute care settings, home healthcare, private practice and more. Depending on the environment a nurses workday can become extremely fast-paced and demanding, creating a less balanced life. A stringent job in any industry can make it much more difficult to enjoy personal hobbies and time.

Nursing at Thirwood Place

For any nurse seeking more work-life balance an Assisted Living residence like Thirwood Place is a great option for a number of reasons. According to Health Director Sara Gifford, working at Thirwood Place is a great location for medical professionals to pursue their careers.

“We really have a home-like atmosphere at Thirwood with the true feeling of a family-like environment. When you work as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Certified Nurse Assistant in other facilities, you don’t get to know the people you care for the way we do at Thirwood,” said Gifford.

This makes for much deeper and consistent bonds with residents, their families, and Thirwood team members. She said other medical facilities have a constant rotation of employees that doesn’t happen at Thirwood.

“Many job candidates we talk with can’t believe how long some of our team members have been part of the Thirwood family. We provide great working conditions in an environment that is not as stressful as an emergency room or urgent care facility,” Gifford said.

She also noted that team members truly enjoy working with each other and create an atmosphere that residents really enjoy.

The Thirwood medical team currently has four people who have worked there for more than 20 years. “That longevity is rare, which is a testament to what it’s like working in our residential setting,” she said.

Working in that environment gives team members more flexibility with residents and allows them to really get to know who they are and life experiences they have enjoyed.

Gifford also said families of residents often visit Thirwood. “We get to know the residents and their families and learn some fascinating stories about the lives they have lived,” she said.

An environment like Thirwood Place allows for nurses to have more autonomy, a better sense of routine due to a more consistent schedule, and a better work-life balance. Nurses commit their lives to helping others and at Thirwood Place we provide our nursing team with the best conditions possible for a successful career and happy life.