Bev Walkof - Registered Nurse

“I think that’s the bottom line actually.” Bev Walkof, says pointing to Salem Home’s Corporate Values, hung beautifully on the boardroom wall. Compassion, Dignity, Excellence and Faith. Smiling proudly, she considers her years working at Salem as a Registered Nurse and what makes the place so different.

Since starting her work at Salem in 1993, she has grown to really appreciate the environment, the ‘relational care’ approach, the ability to hone her supervisory skills and the resource development department. She’s even debunked the myth that RNs can lose technical skills in a personal care home. But to Bev, above everything else, being faith-based is what differentiates Salem Home from any other facility.

“That’s why I think the residents get such good care here - because we believe in a loving God, and what He tells us in His Word. We live out what’s in His Word - that’s the key here for giving the good care. I’ve worked in several other places and I have not worked in a place like this. I brag about it all the time. It just totally changed my mind about long term nursing care,” she said.

Bev has worked as an RN at several hospitals, including the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, but now she describes herself as ‘hooked’ on Salem Home. One of the main things that hooked her was the working environment, the residents and staff. At a hospital, acutely ill patients often demand the nurse’s attention and sometimes, unfortunately, there is not enough time to go around. At Salem Home, the ‘relational care’ approach gives time for her to be more attentive.

“Here we are totally focused on them [residents] and we can give them our time and tailor make their care plans so that we can give excellent care,” she said.

For some Registered Nurses, the thought of working in a personal care home can sometimes evoke negativity. There is a fear that they’ll lose essential skills and become out of touch. Bev vouches  that this is a myth. She experienced the transition from a hospital environment to a personal care home, and says if anything, you have more opportunity to hone and sharpen your skills.

“When I worked in the hospital, the other disciplines worked along side of me.  Whether it was the physicians, physiotherapists, OT, lab and IV technicians, or the nurse specialists.  At Salem Home,   the physicians and OT come weekly so there is much opportunity to use, shape and hone your nursing skills, especially your assessment skills" Bev said.

Bev believes that in addition to technical and nursing skills, having the ability to care deeply and passionately for others is the most important component to being a nurse.  This is one of the reasons nursing is a chosen profession.  She says this inherent and critical characteristic is a large part of life in a personal care facility.

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