Every great day starts with breakfast!
Dee Kropuenske knows this better than anyone. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) working at Willow Creek in Henning and every morning she helps residents who need a bit of extra care, to the dining hall for a hearty breakfast. Always wearing a smile, she contributes so much to the assisted living community!
A Day In the Life of an LPN at Willow Creek
Dee starts every day at Willow Creek in the same place: at her computer station reviewing the day’s medication orders. She receives a report each morning from Donna Bartels, the Willow Creek Executive Director, detailing the day’s schedule.
Originally from Staples, Dee’s family and friends live in the Henning area and she has worked at Willow Creek for the last four years. She has been a nurse since 1996, bringing lots of experience in many different nursing environments to the role.
After breakfast, Dee helps clean up and assist residents to their rooms, and then she starts her medication duties. Keeping detailed and organized records is essential for any care facility, and much of Dee’s day is spent around this task.
She makes sure every residents gets the attention and medication they need at the time they need it. This means checking and double-checking medication orders and delivering them to residents throughout the day.
When she isn’t caring for the residents, she is caring for her family and friends, including two grandkids. She loves camping and fishing, and warm, summer nights!
Nursing’s Role in an Assisted Living
It is not uncommon to see Dee around town, running errands to and from the local clinic. As an LPN, she can collect samples for testing and drive them into the clinic without the patient needing to leave Willow Creek.
One of the many perks of living at Willow Creek is the weekly visit by the in-house provider. When the doctor visits to check in on residents, Dee is available to assist. Her duties might include further monitoring and reporting to the doctor, or running to the pharmacy for updated medications.
Dee is also available for the residents when the doctor is not. She can dress and monitor wounds, alerting the doctor if additional care is necessary. Residents can have their vital signs checked and their blood drawn without leaving their home!
What is Dee’s favorite part of working at Willow Creek? “Getting to know the residents!” she says, with a big, bright smile. Indeed, the residents ultimately benefit the most by having an LPN on duty. According to Donna, “Dee is vital to Willow Creek. She is truly a leader here in Henning!”
Interested In Assisted Living?
Willow Creek has many more amazing perks to offer its residents. If you’re interested in an assisted living facility, give us a call! Contact us for more information about the beautiful community of Henning and our facility.