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Islands Hospice serves our patients, our families, and our community with a total commitment to excellence in hospice care.

February West Oahu Hospice Hero

Posted on February 2, 2020

Hospice Hero

Hospice Hero West Oahu
Noralyn Pascua
CNA
Like many people, Noralyn Pascua ended up in a completely different career path than the one she started in.

Like many people, Noralyn Pascua ended up in a completely different career path than the one she started in. After moving from the Philippines, Noralyn attended Hawaii Business College and started working in an office after graduating. Although she had a steady job in business, a personal experience led her to consider another path.

Noralyn experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to care for a loved one when she became her mother’s primary caregiver. “I was the one who took care of my mom, and it’s not easy, especially if it’s your loved one,” Noralyn reflected.

She realized how valuable it is to have the help of someone outside of the family to provide care and nurturing and felt the desire to help people, especially those in need. Noralyn decided to follow the path to becoming a certified nurse assistant, enrolling in a CNA program and graduating soon after.

This career change moved her from her office desk into the homes of families who were once in a similar situation that she was in. Noralyn says she is happy she followed her instinct and went back to school because comforting patients gives her great satisfaction that she may not have found in a different environment and industry.

In her eight years as a CNA at Islands Hospice, Noralyn has been serving our West Oahu residents, giving comfort care to not only patients, but families as well. It always amazes her how the grieving families take time to acknowledge her work, even during their difficult time.

“I see how families suffer from the passing of loved ones, but they still thank me for making their family smile and feel comfortable during their sorrow,” she said.

Her typical workday includes visiting her clients, helping with activities for daily living and assisting with various comfort care tasks. Although the CNA job isn’t easy, she remembers that everyone who works at Islands Hospice gives support to the families or caregivers, and most of all, provides comfort to patients.

Noralyn is deeply devoted to her friends and family, enjoying their company while she’s not running around West Oahu caring for patients.