A week ago, I started working as a laundry aide in my hometown's nursing home. It is great for two reasons: 1. because many of the people who work there now knew my mom, who also worked there, so I have people on my side, and 2. because I know people who are currently living there, so I can visit and minister to them whenever I have the time to do so. I have had a lot of thoughts during my first week of work that I think others have probably had as well.

Before anyone says anything, I will preface with this: I have not violated any HIPAA laws in this article, nor have I bashed any individual resident or residents in any nursing home anywhere. I have not personally bashed any staff member of these living facilities either. They work VERY hard at what they do, and they have a very different job from me. These are just my personal thoughts about the job I have now.

1. "That is a LOT of clothing!"

I work in the laundry room, where we sort, wash, dry, hang, and fold all of the linens and personal clothing for the residents and nurses aides. I get a lot of clothing every time I make rounds around the nursing home. Some of these residents have a LOT of clothing.

2. "Please tell me that's not what I think it is."

As a safety rule, laundry aides are NOT supposed to be handling any bodily fluids or solids. This includes feces, blood, and vomit. Sometimes we get vomit and feces on the clothing, even though the CNAs are supposed to wash all of it off before putting it in the dirty linens basket. It's definitely not fun.

3. "Bleach fixes everything."

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I am not even kidding with this one. On the chance that we get an article of white clothing or a piece of linens that has a stain, feces patch, or any other stain-making substance, we just drown it in diluted bleach. Bleach definitely fixes everything.

4. "When can I take a break?"

As law, we get two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch break. No matter what shift I'm working, whether it is first or second, as soon as I step foot into the laundry room, I'm looking forward to the break. It isn't because I don't like the job, it's because my feet start hurting just thinking about work!

5. "Oh my gosh, my feet are killing me."

I've never worked a day in my life, so when I'm 19 years old and my feet are hurting worse than I did when I bowled for Morehead State, you better believe I mean it.

6. "Where is the bathroom?"

You wouldn't believe how hard a bathroom is to find in the nursing home, even though they're EVERYWHERE.

7. "These residents are so sweet."

With the exception of the residents who have become mean with age (due to no fault of their own, it happens with degenerative diseases), most of the residents I've encountered are very sweet. They make sure to say hi, and I've had quite a few thank me for bringing them their clothing.

8. "Where are all of the ____?"

I promise that if it's been a couple of hours since I've been around, I'm more than likely NOT gonna have that random piece of linens that you're wanting. Ask your coworkers to locate the linens cart in your wing, but I will bring them around when I have a sufficient amount of them!

9. "I really love this job."

I'm not a CNA or an RNA or any kind of nurse. I'm not planning on being a nurse. I work in the laundry room washing clothes for seven-eight hours a day, four days a week. I don't face nearly the amount of hardships and difficulties that my coworkers face. I love the job that I have, though. I have made friends on this job, I have experienced the joy that a resident feels when I've found a missing piece of clothing. I've had easy days, and I've had hard nights.

I wouldn't trade any of it for the world, no matter how tough things get.