How many people can say they found their calling by age 20?

Nina Marroquin, RN, realizes she was fortunate. She started her career as a nurse's aide in a nursing home and knew right away she had discovered her life's work.

"I just loved the geriatric patients with their honesty and their forwardness, and [I love] trying to help them in any way I can," she shared. She became an LPN and obtained her RN license about 3 years ago. ADVANCE asked Marroquin what prompted her to become an RN.

"What made me decide to go forward was the encouragement of other nurses," she said. "They cheer you on and they'll point out your talents and gifts, because we are just so busy working [we don't always recognize them]."

As an RN, Marroquin enjoys the opportunity to give back to her staff.

"I think the difference [between being an LPN and being an RN] is being a leader, encouraging others the way I was encouraged. You don't necessarily succeed all the time, and that's OK; we'll get it the next time," she said.

As the resident services coordinator at Arden Courts, Geneva, IL, Marroquin works exclusively with patients who have Alzheimer's and dementia. Her own experience caring for her grandmother, who had the same conditions, provides Marroquin with a depth of understanding she draws on in her practice.

"[The personal experience] gives me a whole different angle and perspective. When I talk to daughters and sons, I have an idea what they're going through. I don't necessarily have to acknowledge that to them; the gift I give them is the gift of listening," she explained.

Marroquin works with families and provides suggestions to improve the situation at home with their loved ones. Almost more importantly, she gives them "permission" to rest.

"It's like they always have to work; they always have to be 'on.' I encourage them to rest and take time off. Even if [the loved one] can't live [at Arden Courts], there is respite care, there is private duty agency care. Hopefully, that's the biggest gift I give family members - that you need to take care of yourself, too. They have the tendency to forget that," she said.

Besides encouragement, Marroquin likes to provide her staff with another element of compassionate and effective caregiving - ideas.

"Sometimes, a resident may not be cooperative, but it's not just about asking them or telling them [to do something]. Sometimes, you have to give a resident a visual É such as showing them a plate of food when you need them to take their seat in the dining room," she said, noting patience is much-needed when caring for this patient population.

"We are doing things on their time. They don't have to eat [at a certain time]. They're not on our schedule; we're on the resident's schedule."

Marroquin also reminds her nursing staff - and herself - to remain open to the suggestions and knowledge the nurse's aides and assistants have to offer.

Recently, she arrived at work to find a resident outside. He was agitated but recognized her, and she managed to bring him inside with soothing words and a gentle touch. A caregiver reminded Marroquin he found comfort in praying and holding a religious picture he had.

"We went into his room, he held onto the picture, we said a prayer and he went to bed. My caregivers teach me and remind me of the personal touches we can give to our residents - anything we can do to make their lives easier."

Barbara Mercer is associate editor at ADVANCE.