Home Health Care Nurse
Courtney Baires Escobar recognized her natural drive for caregiving and embraced it by pursuing a career in nursing. She began as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Our Lady of Peace five years ago, while in school. Now, she serves home health care patients as an RN out in the community, helping them get back on their feet after facing medical challenges.
Courtney is proud of her commitment to knowing her patients, where they’ve been, where they are now, and where they want to be when they no longer need her care. She says this commitment crosses the entire home health care team. “We don’t just generalize everyone. We provide very personalized care.”
It’s been a busy year for Courtney, caring for patients amid Covid-19. From keeping her patients and herself safe to meeting the demand of an increase in home health clients who are fearful of being outside the safety of their homes. In fact, during this time, Covid-19 became a temporary Medicare qualifier for home bound skilled nursing coverage. “Sometimes our patients have to go into a clinic for scans, but overall, they feel safe with us. They know they’re getting the care they need, in their home; care that they would have gone without, rather than venture into a clinic.” And, when it comes to meeting her patients’ needs beyond health care, Courtney has access to Our Lady of Peace social workers who can connect them with other services. “Most people don’t realize that there are a lot of resources out there to help them recover at home.”
Family members are welcome to be involved in their loved one’s home care, but they don’t have to, if they’re not comfortable. Most often, spouses, sons and daughters watch and learn how to do the cares that Courtney is providing, from wound care to exercises that will continue to build strength.
Older adults are commonly in Courtney’s care, but her youngest patient was a teenager who was involved in a car accident. Whatever the age, Courtney strives to be a voice for the health of her patients and help them achieve their goals. “If you haven’t climbed stairs in a few years, but really want to do it, our team will help you. We can’t guarantee we’ll be successful, but we are the mother hens that want to get you as independent as possible with the best quality of life and stay there. That is our goal. I would love to see you again, but I hope I don’t have to.”
During National Nurses Month, Our Lady of Peace is proud to honor our hospice nurses, and the compassionate end of life care they provide to patients and their families. All OLP nurses have taken the extra step of training and certification in the care of Alzheimer’s patients. Often referred to as “midwives of the soul,” in addition to medical care, these dedicated people have a gift of love and compassion for the dying.