Inside Athena: Claudia Pimentel Builds Trust and Comfort at Valerie Manor
TORRINGTON, C.T. — After Claudia Pimentel became a CNA in 2005, she knew she made the right choice. She always knew she wanted to help others and found her passion at Valerie Manor.
After working as a CNA for 9 years, she decided to pursue more education and in 2014 began working as an LPN at the Torrington center.
“I just love what I do,” she said. “I just thought I could help the residents more and I was ready to grow professionally. I still wanted to help the residents and be part of their lives and thought becoming a nurse would be the best of both worlds.”
This year she celebrates 19 years at Valerie Manor, a milestone she attributes to the residents, all her dedicated colleagues, and the warm, homelike environment the center provides.
As new staff are hired at the center, Pimentel offers guidance and support to help orient the new staff.
“I tell [new hires], ‘Don’t get overwhelmed at first, you’ll grow into the position and the residents will truly make your day,’ and if they have any questions they can ask me,” she explains and said Valerie Manor is like a “great family to work with.”
In her approach with residents, she said, “I make them feel loved and comfortable and treat them like my own family.”
She encourages new staff to adopt this same approach, reminding them that residents are usually admitted to a skilled nursing center due to a medical event and typically not by choice. Whether the resident is here for short-term recovery or long-term care, it’s important that they feel comfortable and for them to trust you, she explains.
Pimentel shared that while other job opportunities have come her way, she’s never considered them, as she values the team at Valerie Manor, the connections she’s built with residents and their families, and the chance to learn something new in nursing every day.
“I love the residents and love that I have the ability to learn something new every day, it’s a challenge, but I love what I do,” she said.
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