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Myrna Rawlins
Myrna is a C.N.A. (certified nursing assistant) at P.A. Peterson. She works most of the time on our Pathway Unit (short-term rehabilitation) on the second shift and has worked at P.A. since 2002. Prior to working at P.A. Peterson, she spent her career in the healthcare field working in medical records and quality assurance. She decided that she missed people contact and received her certification in 2000. She finds that helping patients reach their goals and returning home safely are the biggest rewards of her position.

Myrna says, "The personality of the staff, the excellent customer service skills in place, and the environment are what I believe makes P.A. a special place to work." She also feels that P.A. offers the nicest and most up-to-date equipment in healthcare, showing the dedication to offer the very best to patients/residents and staff here at P.A. Peterson.

Myrna's spare time is filled with reading and caring for her lovebirds (African chicklets), her fish aquarium, cooking, flower gardening, listening to jazz music and spending time with her fiance, her daughters, her son and her six grandchildren, who range in age from 4 months to 13 years old. Additionally, Myrna is a member of the NAACP and an active member of her church. Although Myrna reads many books, her favorite author is Kimberly Robey. Her favorite movies are "Shaft" and "The Matrix ." Her most important attribute, says Myrna, is her desire to help others and to give confidence to patients to continue their rehabilitation program. Myrna believes that raising all three of her children as a single parent and achieving home ownership as a single person are her biggest accomplishments.

Nancy Wikstrom
Nancy is a Registered Nurse at P.A. Peterson who normally works day shift on Garden Hills. Nancy received her nursing degree 40 years ago at Freeport Memorial School of Nursing. As a charge nurse, Nancy is responsible for giving medications to her residents and carrying out all doctor's orders for each resident in her care. She also needs to accurately assess any changes in her resident's conditions and report it promptly to the appropriate people. She also ensures that she has an open communication line with the C.N.A.'s to effectively care for all of her residents. Nancy feels that the most rewarding thing about her position is the residents. She loves them all and treasures her relationships with the residents and their families. In fact, Nancy feels that the relationship process is so important that she will take residents to her home for short periods of time. Nancy feels that in order for her to have a strong relationship with her residents she wants to share her personal self with them, too. Nancy says, "I make it a point to get to know the families, because we are all involved in making sure the resident gets the best care. We all need each other to make sure this happens."

Nancy feels that the spiritual emphasis at P.A. Peterson and the beautiful environment makes this a special place. "I have been in enough nursing homes to know that this is one of the best," says Nancy.

Nancy is very involved with her church. She collects angels and spends her spare time with her husband Jim, listening to classical and gospel music, and her children and grandchildren. Nancy and Jim have two daughters and one son. Their two granddaughters are 4 and 9 years old and live nearby in Hoffman Estates.

Her favorite book is the Bible, and she reads in everyday. When it comes to favorite movies, Nancy admits that her most recent flicks are probably produced by Disney -- as she enjoys going to the movies with her granddaughters at this time.

Nancy feels her greatest accomplishment so far is knowing that she raised her family to be productive members of the community. She has a strong feeling of contentment because she knows that God wants her at P.A. Peterson right now. She is fulfilled knowing that she is carrying out what He wants for her.

Bobbie Lambiotte
Bobbie is a Registered Nurse at P.A. Peterson and is assigned to Pathway (short-term rehabilitation). She began working at P.A. in 1995 when the Pathway Unit was opened. Bobbie graduated from SwedishAmerican School of Nursing in 1973 and spent most of her career prior to 1995 in the hospital and home care sectors of healthcare.

Her job duties include assessing patient's conditions, carrying out doctor's orders, communicating with physicians, on any changes with patients to ensure that their overall plan of care is followed. Additionally, Bobbie serves frequently as House Charge, which means that she deals with supervisory, scheduling and staffing issues. Bobbie finds that helping patients to return home after their illness/injury/surgery is the most rewarding part of her position here. Bobbie feels that the staff at P.A. Peterson is what makes this a special place. "There is a core group of nurses/C.N.A.'s here who have worked together for a long time. We have a special relationship; we know each other's strengths and weaknesses – we care for each other (personally and professionally). Because of this relationship, we are empowered to care for the patients in the best way possible," says Bobbie.

Bobbie is a member of the Humane Society of Winnebago and the Natural Land Institute. She volunteers countless hours at Midway Village. She has a special interest in native landscaping and volunteered to assist in creating the creekbed project at Midway Village. Bobbie prides herself on being very environmentally educated and likes sharing her knowledge with others. She enjoys reading books and educational material on the environment. Among her favorite books are "The Healing Earth," "Earth in Mond," "Noah's Garden" and "Wings in the Meadow."

She currently has four house cats but has had dogs and even a horse that lived to be 34 years old. One of her main accomplishments was remodeling her Grandmother's house and yard. Bobbie says her motto is to plan for the worst, hope for the best, and you will never be caught unprepared -- if the best happens you will be pleasantly surprised!

Dave Sadtler
Dave began working at P.A. Peterson in December 2005 as a dietary aide. His responsibilities include serving the residents and doing some meal preparation. Dave previously worked at JMK Nippon and has been in Food Service his whole life. He is currently attending Rock Valley College in pursuit of his associate's in arts degree. Dave says he likes the residents here, and although he has worked in Food Service for so long, it is different here because of the residents. He says he likes being around people and is definitely a people person. Dave has volunteered at a food pantry and has been very involved in his 7-year-old son's school. He enjoys assisting the teacher and playing music for the children at Bloom School. Detravius is Dave's son, and Dave says that accepting the challenge of being a single parent with the sole responsibility of rearing Detravius is rewarding and his biggest accomplishment.

Dave designs and creates denim clothing in his spare time. He is a gifted musician and songwriter, and mostly, he works on his music. He sings, plays guitar and can play almost any string instrument. He has performed at many places in Rockford, including the Irish Rose, On the Waterfront, and at happy hour here at P.A. Peterson. He was educated through the Suzuki program at Rockford College.

Dave loves movies, and his favorites include "The Fugitive" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." He likes listening to the commentary of each movie, as well as the movie itself. Dave is also interested in making sure that the legacy of his family is carried on. His family has been an important part of the history of Rockford and he wants to preserve that. One of his favorite sayings is, "If a tree has apples, it's an apple tree."

Tracey Brown
Tracey has been a C.N.A. here at P.A. Peterson since May of 1999. She usually works on the Garden Hills neighborhood where she is responsible for ensuring her residents receive all their daily care like showering, dressing, eating, etc. Tracey received her certification in 1989. She continues her education by taking advantage of all opportunities here at P.A., and she has also been assisting the leadership here at P.A. talk on panels about culture change and how it helps our residents. Tracey says, "If I can put a smile on a resident's face, that's the best part of my position here. I believe in treating each resident like they are a member of my family, and I do that, everyday." Tracey feels P.A. Peterson is special because the communication is good. There is a lot of teamwork. She feels that her opinion is valued and takes her job here very personal. "I am truly blessed to be here," says Tracey.

In Tracey's spare time, she enjoys reading books, specifically mysteries, and spending time with her family. She loves watching movies. V.C. Andrews is her favorite author. Tracey has a 15-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter. She feels her greatest accomplishment is seeing her children down the right path and raising them as a single parent. Tracey is always smiling and always singing. Others sometimes call her the "singing C.N.A."

Shannon Contreras
Shannon has been at P.A. Peterson since 1980 -- 26 years! Shannon began here as a C.N.A., then received her L.P.N. in 1991. She attended the Rockford School of Practical Nursing, where she earned her degree in 1990/1991 while she was working here and raising her children. Most of her time is spend on Garden Hills, but she says she works on Pathway sometimes, too. Her duties include making sure all the physician's orders are carried through, distributing medications and assessing her residents to make sure they don't need a different plan of care. Shannon says, "The most rewarding part of my position is listening and talking to the residents. I always take my time when I'm passing medications to talk to everyone." Shannon feels that P.A. Peterson is a special place to work because the staff here is great. Communication is good, and she feels she has a voice here. The priority is always the resident's well-being.

Shannon spends her time with family and occasionally visits the area's gambling boats. She enjoys watching WEW wrestling. She has been married for 31 years to Martin, and she has two children and four grandchildren who rnage from 12 years to 3 years. Her 12-year-old granddaughter lives with her. Shannon considers completing LPN school while working full-time and raising her family her biggest accomplishment.

Sherrie Quigley
Sherrie has been a C.N.A. at P.A. Peterson since 2002. She received her C.N.A. in 2000 but she had been doing nurse's aide work for a long time. She works at Bergmark Villa where her main duties include ensuring that the residents receive their personal care and their needs are met. Sherrie says she loves working on Bergmark Villa -- everyday is different. Sherrie says, "Some days if you conquer a smile from a resident, that's the best part of my day." Sherrie likes to help residents on Bergmark Villa and loves working with all seniors. She loves working at P.A. Peterson because the staff and the environment are the best. She also feels that the resident are well taken care of here.

Sherrie has been married for 26 years. Sherrie and her husband have two sons and one daughter. Their youngest is 16 years old and still at home. Sherrie likes to shop, garden, and clean (yes, clean) in her spare time. She also likes to watch her husband bowl.

Her favorite movie is "Titanic." She feels that raising her children and her strong marriage are her biggest accomplishments. Sherrie says, "Always smile" is her motto, and everyone always "catches" Sherrie smiling!

Prim Aljilji
Prim began working at P.A. Peterson in 2004 as a C.N.A. at Bergmark Villa. Prim's responsibilities include ensuring that the residents receive their personal care and their needs are met. Prim has been a C.N.A. for more than 5 years, and he has been accepted into R.N. school through Rock Valley College and will begin this his studies in fall 2006.

In his spare time, Prim enjoys playing golf, watching sports, reading and visiting book stores. Da' Bears is his favorite football team. Prim has been married for three years. He has many favorite books; he reads anything that sparks his attention. Prim considers being accepted into the R.N. program his biggest accomplishment so far.