Care Center residents enjoyed a social with Helena Blake, director of nursing who retired in June after almost 40 years at the Care Center. (L-R) Ellen Hargis, Helena Blake and Eileen Hall.
After 39 years of serving others Helena Blake, RN, has retired from her duties as the director of nursing for the North Shore Care Center.
Blake’s last day on the job was June 17.
North Shore Health Director Kimber Wraalstad said Blake didn’t want a cake or a party, but staff and residents still had smaller retirement celebrations with her before she left.
“Helena began her service to the Care Center on October 15, 1976,” said Wraalstad. “Throughout her tenure she has brought to us and the residents a cheerful smile and happy caregiving attitude. She will captivate your attention when you visit with her and discuss North Shore Health’s history. She truly has witnessed the progress that has been made in health care over the past 40 years.
“ She came to us as a new nurse having recently graduated from the Fairview School of Nursing in Minneapolis. Helena tells stories about her first shifts and setting up medications to be given to residents and how the process of medication pass has changed dramatically. Nurses no longer set up all medications in little cups, all at one time. The rules and regulations have changed tremendously since she began almost 40 years ago and as Helena comments, some have really benefited the residents and some have resulted in much more paperwork.
“Helena started the Care Center down the road to the household model and the transformation to resident directed care. While she is retiring after many years of dedicated service, she has guided the Care Center’s past and has created the foundation for the future,” said Wraalstad.
With her retirement, Blake will be replaced by three people. Mark Abrahamson, RN, Amy James, RN and Robert McGregor, RN have agreed to share the position as interim clinical nurse managers/ directors of nursing for the Care Center.
“I will miss the staff and the residents but I won’t miss all of the changes,” Blake said.
When she started in the health care field Blake said her work centered on patient care, but through the years there was more and more paperwork to take care of as government regulations increased and the health care industry changed.
“I’m glad I worked in the time period I did,” Blake said. “I know everything always changes. I guess that’s good. But I was ready to retire. If I would have waited until October that would have been 40 years for me. Personally, I think that’s close enough and I’m calling it 40 years,” she said with a smile.
Although retirement is new to her, Blake said the adjustment has been going nicely. Less than one week off of the job and she was already heading to Bemidji to visit her kids and grandchildren. After that, who knows? She’s not a on a time clock anymore, but she did say that she likes making Grand Marais her home, so Blake will be around, unless the call of the road beckons her for a short reprieve from the North Shore, and then there’s nothing to stop her from taking a well-earned vacation.
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