MHS graduates take leadership roles at MNRC, Pennington

     There are some new faces at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Campus.

   In March, Chelsie Siebels started working at Pennington Square Assisted Living. She is the new assisted living director.

   In early May, McKenna Hall began her job at Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as the director of nursing.

   Both are quite familiar with the Monticello community and are graduates of Monticello High School. Siebels was a member of the Class of 2006; Hall, the Class of 2015.

   “It feels good to serve our hometown,” expressed Siebels. “I didn’t think I’d be here working one day, not at all.”

   Siebels has been working in healthcare for many years, but on the nursing home side of things. She worked at both Winslow House Care Center in Marion and the Care Center in Anamosa.

   “I love working in healthcare; it’s a rewarding career,” she said.

   For two and a half years, Hall worked for Above & Beyond Hospice as a case manager.

   “My first job in healthcare was actually at the nursing home as a CNA (certified nursing assistant),” she recalled.

   And now Hall is back serving MNRC in a leadership position…

   “I monitor the nurses and CNAs and make sure that things on the hands-on clinical side are getting done the way they’re supposed to,” she said of her job. “A lot of charts, auditing, making sure that paperwork is done the way it’s supposed to, crossing the T’s, dotting the I’s… Making sure that quality care is being provided.”

   As the director at Pennington, Siebels works closely with the tenants and their families, providing a positive environment.

   Right now, they’re at 60 percent capacity.

   “We have openings,” offered Siebels.

   Knowing the nursing home side of healthcare, Siebels said she knows what the next steps might be for someone on the assisted living side needing to transition to the care side.

   “I know what can happen next from this point, if a tenant is declining,” she said. “We help the family with their best options.”

   “It helps with that transition overall,” added Hall, “and what the next steps are for people in the nursing home. A lot of times, this is their last place that they call home.”

   Hall brings a different perspective to her role, having had experience on the in-patient side of things “and understanding what happens in the hospital with the acute setting, but then also understanding what happens at the end of life.

   “It’s an easy transition,” she continued. “How can we make everyone feel confident enough in themselves and in the decisions they make as well?”

   Siebels was excited for this job because it also entails marketing Pennington Square throughout the community.

   “I love marketing,” she said. “I did that previously at a nursing home, so that was a big factor in coming here; getting Pennington known throughout town.”

   Hall said it’s important that people in the community know that MNRC is a safe place for their loved ones.

   “We want them to know that there are people here who will advocate for them to make sure that their needs are met,” she offered. “We don’t want people to feel uncomfortable in a nursing home or assisted living. You want them to know that they’re going to be heard.”

   While Hall and her family reside in Ryan, she still has lots of family in the Monticello community.

   For Siebels, she’s literally a two-minute drive from work.

   Working in healthcare, Siebels said she enjoys that every day is something different; that no two days are alike.

   “It just very rewarding,” she shared.

   Hall said working in healthcare, she has this drive to just help people.

   “To know you can make an impact and how you make that impact is up to you,” she said. “Healthcare is never easy. We all know it’s difficult. It’s always a learning experience; I don’t think you ever stop learning in healthcare.”

   With young kids at home and raising their families, both Siebels and Hall said it’s about balancing work with family and time for yourself.

   “I went through nursing school with a newborn,” laughed Hall. “You learn to set time aside. But I thrive when I’m busy.”

   Siebels makes it a point of bring her kids to Pennington to see where Mom works and to know it’s a happy place to be.

   “On Easter, I brought my kids in and we delivered Easter baskets to all of the tenants,” she said. “My kids loved doing it; the tenants loved getting them.”

   For information on both MNRC and Pennington, visit monticellocampus.com or call 319-465-5415.