With Community’s Meet Community blog, you will have the opportunity to meet one of our staff members each month and get to know them with some fun questions.
Julie Sheldon, RN, grew up as the daughter of a pastor in the Pacific Northwest. She worked as a CNA for 10 years, loving every stressful minute of it, and eventually worked her way towards becoming a nurse. After a year and a half working in a nursing home, she followed her true calling and moved into a position as a hospice nurse in Spokane.
It’s been eight years since Julie moved to Vancouver and continued her career at Community. She now shares her passion and experience with the rest of her colleagues as an education coordinator.
Q&A
What inspired you to work for a hospice nonprofit?
Working for a nonprofit organization just feels good. At the end of the day, we are all here for one thing. That is to care for people who need us. I am not only working for Community, but I am working for the community that I live in. It feels good to make a difference with the work that I do.
What makes Community unique compared to other places you’ve worked?
Community is a small enough organization that each employee has the ability to be heard and to make a difference. When there is something in a process that is not working well, it can be addressed in a much timelier way than in other places I have worked. The other thing that I think makes Community unique is the passion and heart that is put into the work that is done here. The staff of Community truly care and it shows.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of my job is anytime that I get to help a patient or family. I love being able to provide education to a patient or family and see the relief or understanding wash across their face when they realize that 1- they are not alone and do not have to go through this alone, and 2- that they understand or learned something new that will help them in the journey through end of life. Although I do not have a lot of patient/family interaction in my current position, I like to think that I am still able to make that impact on patients and families through the clinical staff who are out there working so hard day after day.
What’s your favorite on-the-go snack while working?
I work between both offices, so my drive is not too bad. That being said – even when I was on the road, I was a horrible planner when it came to packing a lunch! String cheese, fruit and crackers are always an easy on the go snack!
Cats or dogs?
Dogs. My pup Sami would get mad at me if I said anything different. : – )
What’s your favorite hobby right now?
We have recently started kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. I am having a lot of fun with that! Once the weather turns, my plan is to start playing my guitar again. Spoken like a mom of 2 boys- only time for one hobby at a time!
What’s your favorite book?
I love to read so that is hard to choose. Right now, I would say “Ghost Boy” by Martin Pistorius. It is a quick read and I found it so very impactful as someone who works in healthcare with nonverbal patients.
What’s your karaoke song?
My go to song to sing at karaoke is “I’m alright” by Jo dee Messina!
If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Warning: May start singing Christmas songs out loud in early November!
Tea or coffee?
Coffee, all day every day! Occasionally, I decide that I am going to become a tea drinker, but it never sticks (takes sip of coffee while typing this).
