July 9, 2021

Meet Tiffani Rouse RN, BSN

Director of Clinical Services for Leonard Florence Center for Living

With a passion for travel and good food, Tiffani Rouse enjoys exploring new places with her beautiful four year old daughter McKenzi. Originally from West Branch, a small rural town rural in Northern Michigan, Tiffani moved to the Boston area when she was 20 in pursuit of better career opportunities. And that’s exactly what she found when she joined Chelsea Jewish Lifecare in 2011!

We spoke with Tiffani about her background, her role in the organization and her most memorable moments.

Q. What made you decide to become a nurse?

A. I grew up watching my mother work in the healthcare field and knew from a very early age that it was an occupation I wanted to pursue. When I was 13, my grandmother had a stroke. Helping to take care of her made me realize that I would love to be a nurse.

Q. What was your career path?

A. I received my LPN license from Kirtland Community College in Roscommon Michigan and graduated from Laboure College in Milton with an Associate Degree in Nursing. I then went on to receive my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southern New Hampshire University.

Q. Why did you decide to work with seniors?

A. When I started in long term care 14 years ago as a CNA, I knew I had found my calling. My present position provides me with a way of being able to make a difference in the quality of care for our residents. It also allows me to be able to implement processes to assist the staff in many ways.

Q. What is your favorite thing about working at Chelsea Jewish Lifecare?

A. I  truly enjoy our organization’s culture and vision. There are so many opportunities for learning and advancement. Most importantly, we always strive provide the best, most innovative care for those in need. Whether it is our residents, staff, or family members, it’s a wonderful feeling knowing I am making a difference on someone’s life. I guess I just really like to help people!

Q. What do like to do in your spare time?

A. I enjoy spending time with my daughter. We like to travel and explore new areas and restaurants. We especially like to travel with other family members and try to see family as often as possible. It’s a terrific opportunity to create memories we can cherish for years to come. Additionally, I like to play and watch sports. Must be my competitive nature!

Q. You mentioned that you love to travel. What trip stands out in your mind?

A. Growing up in such a rural area, we went camping quite a bit. I once went on a two week horseback riding trip, from one side of Michigan to the other. (Lake Huron to Lake Michigan). We would ride every morning from one campground to the next. What an amazing experience!

Q. What do you want people to know about COVID-19 prevention?

A. Every one of us plays a key role. We do so by being responsible and adhering to infection control measures such as proper handwashing, PPE use and getting vaccinated. I believe we can all make a huge difference in the safety of our residents, and each other, by following these simple steps.

Q. What was the most challenging aspect of the pandemic for you?

A. For me, it was hard to accept the fact that our residents and their families were not able to be together. As someone who has had a family member in a healthcare facility, I couldn’t fathom the thought of not being able to be physically present.

That said, the entire staff did everything possible to schedule virtual visits with family members. Our staff pulled together to do everything and anything to ensure our residents were cared for. It was really inspiring to see the dedication of the staff during this most challenging time. We made sure we spent extra time with the residents, visiting and interacting with them often. After all, there is no substitution for the human connection.