A Tale of Compassion and Dedication – Liz Shuey’s Journey

Liz Shuey’s Journey: A Tale of Compassion and Dedication

Liz Shuey enjoys helping others. As a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), she has been an integral part of the Cornwall Manor team for 27 years, caring for residents in the Health Center. Liz’s journey at Cornwall Manor began when a friend, who already worked here, told her about the CNA training program. Intrigued and eager to make a difference, Liz applied and successfully completed the program. From that moment on, she couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Certified nursing assistants are an essential part of the health care team at any facility, especially here at Cornwall Manor. Also called nurses’ aides, a career as a CNA is a worthwhile profession that allows one to build relationships and strong bonds with residents in personal care or skilled nursing. This job can be demanding, as it requires you to be a constant in the lives of Cornwall Manor residents, but it’s also gratifying. CNAs provide hands on care like bathing, feeding and dressing. Our nursing team feels a sense of pride and accomplishment for helping residents who are dependent on nursing care in their aging process.

Cornwall Manor continues to offer an onsite Nursing Assistant Training program that is designed to help prepare qualified individuals to become a CNA, while at the same time providing valuable, hands-on experience in this field.

Liz’s CNA-recipe-for-success includes compassion, dedication, hard work and respect. She builds excellent rapport with her residents by listening to them, learning about their lives and sharing her caring heart. She respects that Cornwall Manor is their home and she strives to do her best every day.

As we all know, the nursing field can be challenging. It can involve long hours, physical and emotional demands and the need to stay updated with medical knowledge and regulations. Nurses frequently deal with high-stress situations, which can take a toll, both physically and mentally. However, many find nursing to be incredibly rewarding. The opportunity to make a significant difference in residents’ lives, the sense of fulfillment from helping others and the strong sense of community at Cornwall Manor can make those challenges worthwhile. Liz knows that some days are harder than others, but she is grateful to work with a dedicated team, who are like family. She deeply appreciates the support and camaraderie she shares with her fellow team members at Cornwall Manor. This strong sense of teamwork not only enhances the quality of care they provide but also creates a positive and uplifting work environment.

Over the years, she has seen many changes in the field of nursing, from the days of crank shift beds and paper documentation to the modern technology that make their work more efficient. Despite these changes, one thing remains constant: Liz’s unwavering dedication to her residents.

Outside of work, Liz’s life is just as fulfilling. Living in Lebanon, she is married and has two daughters, six grandchildren, three dogs and a cat. Liz loves to read fiction, love stories and thrillers, and her passion for books led her to create a lending library outside her house. She had found a shelf while thrifting, and her husband built a roof for it, turning it into a charming book exchange. Neighbors and friends often stop by to borrow or donate books, sharing in Liz’s love for reading. She loves reading so much that she has a huge collection of autographed books. Whenever an author was speaking in the area, Liz often attended the event in person to get their autograph.

Also sharing Liz’s love for reading is her granddaughter, Catherine. On Wednesdays, Liz picks up Catherine after school and they stop at McDonald’s for a special treat before heading to the Lebanon County Library, where Catherine participates in the “Paws to Read” program. Kids in grades 1-5 are invited to read to Leo, a certified therapy dog, for 20 minutes. Reading out loud is an excellent way for youth to improve their reading skills and dogs make great listeners – and this program has significantly improved Catherine’s reading skills and Liz cherishes these moments with her granddaughter.

Liz is also an avid crafter, painter and loves thrifting. She enjoys finding old items and transforming them into something new and beautiful. Her creativity knows no bounds and her home is filled with unique pieces – including her porch goose and items that she lovingly crafted.

Family time is important to Liz. When she is not at work, reading a book, thrifting or crafting, she loves hanging out with her family. Sometimes you can find her checking out new coffee shops as she has participated in several “java journeys,” to sample creative caffeinated brews. In the evenings, she can be found checking out pubs in the area.

Reflecting on her career, Liz finds the most rewarding aspect is people. Whether caring for her residents and making a difference in their lives or the friendships she had made over the years, Liz has always felt a deep sense of fulfillment in her role at Cornwall Manor.

Her advice to anyone considering the CNA program is simple: have compassion, understanding, and the ability to work well with others. If you possess these qualities, the job can be incredibly rewarding. Liz’s colleagues and residents at Cornwall Manor appreciate her for her professional dedication and her lively and engaging personality. She is a joy to be around, always ready with a kind word, a helping hand and a positive outlook.

In every aspect of her life, Liz embodies the perfect blend of dedication, compassion and fun. Her journey as a CNA at Cornwall Manor, combined with her many hobbies and interests, makes her a delightful person to know and she continues to inspire those around her every day.