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13Therapy, and the Single Point of Entry program (which decidesappropriate client placement). A recent addition is access to aSocial Worker once per week. An LPNs responsibilities in theTwo Hills office includes case coordination which may requirewound care, ostomy care, palliative care, post-operative carealong with assessing for long term care, telephone pacemakerchecks, discharge planning, and ordering of medical supplies.When you have lived in a small town for a long time, it is notunusual to know almost everyone, thus people are eager to trustand it is much easier to develop a good working relationship. Ourcommunity members know most of us personally and are notafraid to call if they know of someone who may be struggling athome. It is not unusual to receive the odd phone call at home forassistance from a client or family member. The rewards and challengesin home care in a small community make our jobs fulfillingand rewarding.A unique area to the Two Hills Health Centre isthe Stroke and Geriatric EmpowermentRehabilitation Unit (SAGE) in which the LPNassumes the role of team leader to promoteachieving maximal independence and life satisfaction.The LPN is an integral part of the multidisciplinaryteam in which full scope of practice isachieved by all. The rehabilitation team on SAGEis staffed with one LPN and one PSA. The nursingstaff works closely with physio, occupationaland speech therapy to develop a plan to meet theclients’ established goals. Rural Alberta is proudto have a unit such as SAGE and their many successstories.long illness to the death of long time resident, or a co-workerschild’s death in a farm accident; all play havoc on our emotions.From the frustration of the grandparent who requires an urgentCT scan that is unavailable to the elation when a rehab clientwalks out the front doors. Rural nursing is a life learning experiencethat I would recommend to each and every new graduate ofthe LPN program.Author: Tammy Tarkowski has been an LPN since 1985 and hasbeen employed in her home town of Two Hills since graduation.She is married with two children and currently works full-timein acute care at the Two Hills Health Centre. Tammy and herhusband own and operate a small business in the communityand volunteer for numerous charity functions. She believes andengages in life long learning, encouraging her co-workers toattend as many courses as possible. Tammy extends a big“Thank-you” to colleagues she interviewed in preparation forthis article.Last, but certainly not least, is the long term careunit in Two Hills where LPNs work twelve hourday shifts. Our days are full and very rewardingknowing that we are providing quality care forour community of sixty elders. The LPNs are partof a team which includes RNs and PSAs. LPNsare responsible for all aspects of direct patientcare including medication administering andmonitoring of outcomes.LPNs participate in the planning and evaluatingof care for our individual residents as well as processingand carrying through doctor’s orders. Ourelderly are precious fragile resources that deserverespect and quality care in the last days of theirlives. In Two Hills, we strive to provide communityneighborhoods within the long term facilitythat make our elder’s homes a fulfilling place toreside.Nursing in a small community in rural Albertahas its ups and downs. Yes, it does come in handyto know the majority of the community membersand their history, but I can attest from personalexperience the train of emotions that any ruralnurse experiences at any given time. The triumphof a community member who recovers from a