Careers in Aging Caregiver Profile
Janet McTaggart, RN, MDS Coordinator at Palm Garden of Jacksonville
I wanted to become a nurse from a very young age. Reading about diseases in medicals books and encyclopedias and having a mother who was often ill inspired me to become a nurse. I started my career in long-term care almost 31 years ago as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). I went on to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), earn an associate degree in nursing and lastly, a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the Florida State College of Jacksonville.
Currently, I work as a care plan specialist completing Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments, care plans, and care plan meetings for a 120-bed center. I have been employed at the center for 23 years, so clearly, I enjoy what I do. It is very rewarding to me that I am helping to make a difference in the lives of the residents in the center as they deal with complex health issues. I think people who possess certain qualities, such as patience, compassion, and good interpersonal skills, would make a good fit in long-term care since the elderly population are very vulnerable and depend on others for love, attention, and physical and emotional support.
