Senior Health Copywriting
A
A few years ago, a physician and I worked together making rounds in long- term care facilities. Our job was to take care of any medical needs of the patients. One particular day I was making rounds alone.
On most days making rounds in the long- term care facilities, I would typically only see a few sick patients. Of course, those patients take priority over the routine physicals, medication renewals, and mandatory 60-day visits that normally kept me busy. This day was different. I was met at the door by the charge nurse. “We have about 20 patients with flu-like symptoms. Some are not eating or drinking” she said. For the elderly, that can spell disaster. Their health can quickly spiral downward without nourishment.
I buckled down and got to work. The nurse gave me a list of names and room numbers of all the ill patients. I stacked all the charts on a cart and went room to room, starting with the sickest patients. Many were weak and barely moving due to dehydration. As I saw each patient I assessed their condition then ordered tests and medications. Some were sick enough to require IVs and IV antibiotics. I worked for hours non- stop until everyone was seen. Luckily, no one had to be admitted to the hospital. Better yet, no one died on my watch.
Within the next 2-3 days each patient was improving; sitting up and eating their meals. It was very gratifying to see. I believe that consistently working until all the patients were taken care of saved their lives that week. I am sure the outcome would have been much worse if I had not persevered that day.
Royal Oaks Golf Community Newsletter
- Writer
American Writers and Artists
- Trained Writer
University of Maryland Graduate School
- Master's Degree in Nursing
University of Maryland School of Nursing
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Certification as a Nurse Practitioner
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Professional Writer’s Alliance
Blount County Chamber of Commerce
Community Food Bank
Tennessee Achieves Program for mentoring college bound high school students
Her friends call her a "Grammar Nazi". They dread to hear her correct anyone's spelling or grammar. Heaven forbid if they forget to correctly reference a source in a document. She has APA and MLA formats down to a science. Any spelling or grammatical error will not get past her.
Aside from her editing duties, Mackenzie loves helping the elderly. She currently works at an assisted living facility that caters to patients with Alzheimer's disease. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and still lives in the area with her fiancé.
When she is not showing love to her elderly patients, she is most likely snuggled up with her cat, Mowgli and her dog, Uno. She also enjoys watching horror movies and reading the latest and greatest in literature.
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology - University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, 2015
• Hospitality industry - 2011 – 2017. Worked as part of a team of creative individuals who successfully opened a new Westin hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee, 2016.
• Currently works at Morning Pointe Assisted Living, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Former secretary for EDGE, an environmental awareness club whose mission was to educate the public on the importance of environmental issues. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2013
• Assisted in after school programs for Boys and Girls Club, Chattanooga, Tennessee. 2012
• Created fundraisers for Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation, a non-profit group that provided funding to build the Maryville Animal Shelter, Maryville, Tennessee. 2008
• Tutored fellow college students in writing English papers while a student at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
Works with Alzheimer’s patients in the assisted living setting.
Andrea has worked as a nurse practitioner for over 30 years in settings where seniors live or where their health problems are treated.