Inside Athena: Marlborough Hills Wound Nurse Piecing Together the Path Towards Recovery
MARLBOROUGH, M.A. — Getrude Ateawung loves figuring out the why behind wounds. As the wound nurse at Marlborough Hills Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, she finds satisfaction in her work.
“You have to have interest [in wounds],” she said. “I look forward to figuring out what is behind the wound. It’s a big puzzle.”
Ateawung began working at the center in September of 2022. She brings 17 years of experience as a registered nurse in a long-term care setting. She started her nursing career as an LPN and then pursued her RN license. Before she joined Marlborough Hills, she worked at a home care company as a wound nurse.
Working in home care was when she was more exposed to the practice and pursued further education to become a certified wound nurse, which she received in April 2019.
In her role at the center, she also educates the staff on wound care techniques as well as the residents and their families. By educating the entire team, including the resident, she hopes to have everyone on board and understand what is needed by everyone to achieve results.
“I am here to help educate and assess our residents. I can leave work knowing I made an impact on others. If your body doesn’t have enough protein, your body won’t generate healthy tissue,” she explains, highlighting the importance of good nutrition in wound healing.
Ateawung works closely with the entire nursing department, dining team, and the wound consultant group, Dr. Novikov Wellness and Skin Care to achieve the desired results for the residents at Marlborough Hills.
She thrives on the satisfaction of seeing her patients heal and improve, knowing that her efforts make a difference in their lives to participate in the daily activities at the center.
Jane Steele, Athena’s Director of Infection Prevention and Wound Care, said, “Getrude is truly an asset to Marlborough Hills. Her compassion for her residents and dedication to their wound healing is unwavering. She has always been willing to assist and educate her co-workers to ensure their residents receive quality wound care and is eager to have them all have a successful wound healing journey.”
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