Jayme Sala

Background

About Jayme Sala

I began my healthcare career as a nursing assistant and went on to become a licensed practical nurse, associates prepared nurse, and then to bachelor's prepared nurse. I then earned my certification in maternal newborn nursing. As a lifelong learner, and as inspired by one particular nursing instructor, I am currently enrolled at Western Governor University for my Masters in Nursing Education. I will always consider my career advancements as longitudinal personal and educational moves, but lateral moves within the workplace, as I believe healthcare does not work without each and every moving part. I learned more about compassion while working as a nursing aid than in any other professional role. The direct contact with aging individuals allowed me to effectively listen to my client's life stories, struggles, and emotional and physical needs. I learned about humility and the passing of independent care. I also learned the proper way to hang a roll of toilet paper from a veteran who had difficulty grasping the available end if it were up against the wall. My experience as a nurse in the correctional system allowed for many life lessons, possibly the most important was to treat all clients with the same respect. I also learned to work with limited resources, to manage several situations simultaneously, and how to closely observe my surroundings. I picked up the mantra "you can't accomplish ten things without first finishing one" from a co-worker and have used it throughout my career to stay task-oriented, especially during a busy shift. My nonverbal communication decoding skills were greatly refined during this time, as clients in this population are at increased risk for mental health disturbances. A request by a client that could not be rectified immediately could quickly become a serious threat, so knowing how to read their body language was imperative. The transition to mother-baby care came natural for me as I have always wanted to care for and help build families. I believe I have found my true life's calling in the field. I specialize in swaddling and building parents' confidence in newborn care. I have learned about care differences among various cultures and religions, including mother care, infant care, and the grieving processes.