SOULcial Salute
Ngawang Sherab, Certified Nursing Assistant
Aurora on France Senior Living, Edina
Assisted living or Transitional Care, it’s About Revering Elders
Ngawang’s mom and dad have always been healthcare workers. In their Tibetan heritage there is a high degree of respect afforded to elders. On a family trip to Tibet when Ngawang was a young teen he met both his Grandmothers. The respect and reverence they were shown left it’s mark on him in a good way.
Driven to Care For Others and Achieve
He not only cares for people, but he helped his siblings and parents foster puppies when he was younger. It was also part ploy to get his folks who were unaccustomed to domesticated pets to accept an animal in the house.
Laughingly Ngawang said “My siblings and I didn’t really tell mom and dad at first that we were taking care of puppies. But I knew puppies would make it easier to break the news when they discovered it.”. And as you might imagine, mom and dad eventually fell for one of the puppies. It became their first family pet.
At just 20 years old Ngawang is already in his 4th year at the U of M. He is studying biology, society, and environment. He is carrying a full-time class schedule there. And working part time in transitional care at Aurora on France.
Ngawang already knows he will achieve becoming a physician assistant. He intends on getting into one of the highest rated programs even if it takes longer to get accepted. After getting a start at one of the big metro hospitals he took an opportunity to join Aurora. He likes it and wants to stay there all the way through entering PA school to demonstrate his stability.
Care Delivered With Compassion and a Bit of Cleverness
It doesn’t hurt that he loves the work and what he’s learning. He approaches his work with a very clear intention. “I aim to make their everyday living easier and more enjoyable.”.
This mindset clearly gives him the determination to deliver quality care even to the more challenging folks. Ngawang recounted being introduced to one rather unhappy woman. It was clear she didn’t want him working with her for various reasons. It didn’t phase him. Holding his bar high he persisted in politely providing professional care. In the end he gradually won her over and eventually becoming buddies.
One busy afternoon Ngawang promised a sherbet to one person who requested it. After seeing sherbet in the store on his way home from work, he shook his head in disappointment at missing keeping the promise. I could hear in his voice during our interview that it still bugged him. And someone else likely fulfilled the request. It is likely that in the future, someone in Ngawang’s path is going to be receiving a random sherbet surprise.
“Ngawang goes above and beyond on a daily basis in bringing fantastic, resident-centered care to each and every Aurora resident he works with.”
Mathew Keller, JD RN-BSN
Director of Nursing – Aurora on France