As a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit of Rapid City Hospital, Adam Drake is used to a certain amount of physical work. However, when he hurt his back on October 18, 2024, during a day of repeated patient transfers, he didn’t know that what seemed like a minor injury would linger on and on.
“I couldn’t sit on the couch, couldn’t be with my family, couldn’t exercise,” he says. “It progressed into 37 chiropractic sessions, a bunch of physical therapy, a pain shot, MRIs, until eventually, on June 11, I had back surgery to ease the pain.”
When a Caregiver experiences an injury at work, they have the option to be assigned Light Duty Work. In Adam’s case, he was assigned to work with Monument Health Foundation under Director Hans Nelson.
Here’s how it works: if you are hurt on the job, such that you cannot work your normal position, Jodi Bruckner, Human Resources Analyst, receives a notification. Jodi reaches out and asks if you’re open to Light Duty work. If you agree, she then follows up with an open Light Duty position in your location — possibly in the Foundation, like Adam, or perhaps in Quality, Marketing or Guest Services, etc.
During his Light Duty assignment, every day has been different for Adam, both in terms of what he does and how it’s in no way similar to the ICU, where he usually works. This can be a good thing, as Adam has gotten to know people and situations he may otherwise never have been aware of, no less experienced for himself.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Adam can be found manning the cash register with Darlyce Bollwerk, Executive Assistant, at Gear Store in Rapid City Hospital. In August he helped Kelsie Ficken, Development Officer, with the Paint the Rock Pink golf tournament. “At Paint the Rock Pink I was at the course, putting stuff in the cart and driving around with Mark (Papousek, Development Officer) and giving out lunches.”
This month, he is focused on working with Karlee Baumann, Development Officer on the Home+ Hospice House’s Giving Tree Memorial and with Shawn Powers, Development Officer – Children’s Miracle Network, on the upcoming Play Yellow Golf tournament.
“At first, I had no idea what the Foundation was. Now, I think it’s a super cool gig. I mean, they’re helping everybody out,” Adam says. “The other day, I was looking at the Children’s Miracle Network stuff and I’m getting teary-eyed reading these stories. That’s Shawn doing all that and helping out those kids.”
It’s been 11 months since Adam first injured his back. Since then, his wife gave birth to their first child, a baby girl. Thanks to the Light Duty program, Adam has been able to maintain some sense of stability and to continue taking care of his family during what under any circumstances can be a tumultuous time, even without a debilitating injury to worry about. In total he’s spent about 8 months of the last year in the program.
He is currently on a 40 pound weight restriction and has at least 60 more days of recovery ahead of him, during which time he’ll continue assisting the Foundation with whatever they need.
“Most injured Caregivers would probably be considering, ‘How the hell am I gonna make money or provide for my family?’ They will find a position for you in the organization that fits your restrictions. And from my experience your new coworkers are going to be super friendly, and amazing,” Adam says. “I’m glad the hospital offers the program—for pay, for sure—also just to keep you working and moving, versus rotting at home.”
Story and Photo by Kory Lanphear