Black History Month: Celebrating Women in Healthcare

#DiversityInMedicine | #BlackExcellenceInHealthcare | #BlackNursesRock | #RepresentationMatters

ANNIE SMALL

Personal Support Worker Owner of AnniesGentleCare

What is your current role in professional health care? 

My current role is as a PSW (personal support worker) which I have held for the past 20 years. A PSW serves as the eyes and ears for nurses and doctors. As a PSW, I have a duty to monitor clients. I often see clients or patients within the community, some of whom are reluctant to visit a doctor. I assist them with their daily living tasks and am expected to monitor their skin tone while giving them a bath. I ensure their bodies are intact and if there are any breakdowns I report them to the nurse if I observe any signs of changes in their mental state. Often, clients only see nurses or doctors during appointments, which can be spaced up to six months to a year apart. Changes in the clients can sometimes go unnoticed during this time. Currently, I am also a student nurse at Seneca College, working towards obtaining my RPN to become a registered practical nurse by the end of this year. 

Why did you choose this profession?

My grandmother was a domestic worker back in the 70s and cared for many individuals in the community who were seniors. She often took me with her and gave me small tasks to do, which mainly involved sitting with the clients, feeding them breakfast or something simple like cutting the crust off toast, set their plates, and may include assisting with their baths. I enjoyed watching some individuals' eyes light up as I brought them their tea. My grandmother would ask me, "Okay, you stay outside the door now, hand me the soap, okay, hand me the towel". I watched her be the only person to come in for the whole day to perform activities of daily living, seeing how it made them feel knowing they were not alone. I realized I wanted to do this as I got older, even though I had other job opportunities. I knew that caring for seniors was the professional role I would pursue in the end. 

How does your current work serve to empower women and girls?

As a single mother, I have always put my children first. I have had to work while being a student. I am confident that if a young girl finds herself in a situation like mine as a single parent, she will see and know that her life doesn't come to an end just because she has children and needs to raise them on her own. If you try to balance work, family life, and school life while also making time for yourself—even just five minutes a day to sit and take a breath—know that it's not the end of your journey. Push through because there's always light at the end of the tunnel.

Website for further information: AnniesGentleCare

Interviewed by Latisha Campbell-Small Indigenous Social Work Student, Laurentian University