Cristine Emerson, Director of Nursing for Avalon Health Center at StoneRidge, has been named a 2023 Frontline Honors honoree by Skilled Nursing News.
To become a Frontline honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.
Skilled Nursing News caught up with Emerson to discuss their time in the skilled nursing industry.
SNN: What drew you to this industry?
Emerson: Throughout my entire life, I have loved working with people. Many years of sales experience led me to feel that there was something missing and that I could do more. I took the first step and decided to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and immediately realized that nursing was my passion and that it was what I was meant to do.
SNN: What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in the industry?
Emerson: The biggest lesson that I learned in nursing is that no matter how bad of a day you might think you are having, someone always has it worse off than you. Each patient has their own individual story and sometimes tragedy. We can be the shining moment in an otherwise dreary day for most of the patients that we care for. Taking a moment to be grateful for things that you do have rather than what you don’t, will change your entire perspective on life.
SNN: What’s your favorite part about your job?
Emerson: My favorite part of my work is when we see our patients succeed in their goals, especially when they get to go home to their families.
SNN: What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?
Emerson: Healthcare is an expanding and forever changing sector. We have been in a crisis since prior to Covid with the aging baby boomer generation, decrease in healthcare workers and potential interest in working in healthcare. A revision to our healthcare system is desperately needed.
SNN: What may be one thing that leaders don’t know, that you wish they universally knew, about your job?
Emerson: There is a delicate balance between doing what is right for our patients, staff and families and adhering to regulatory guidelines. If you always put your patient, staff and families best interest first, you can never go wrong.
