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Is There a Nurse in the House?
Bev Mizuta knew working at Residence XII was meant to be. She has been in recovery for almost five years after completing the Residence XII inpatient program. Bev entered the program when she relapsed after 10 years in recovery from alcohol abuse.
“At the time, the fear of changing my situation was stronger than my desire to change the way I felt. I subconsciously set myself up for relapse because I hadn’t yet dealt with the core of the problem. This time I chose to abuse pain pills,” Bev said. “When I meet with the women coming in to treatment I understand what the ladies are talking about, I know what they are going through and how it physically, mentally and spiritually feels.”
Clinical Expertise
When patients first enter treatment, Bev conducts a complete medical interview to ensure that they are medically stable. She also reviews any medicines they are taking and checks if they are appropriate for an abstinence-based facility and confers with a patient’s doctors or providers to find alternatives if needed.
“Residence XII is dual-diagnosis capable, so women who are being treated for depression or who are bipolar can continue to stay on medications while they are in treatment here. I also work with the Resident Managers and Treatment Teams and kitchen staff to ensure that our women are properly taken care of. In essence, my mission is to make sure that the women have what they need physically so they can be successful with their treatment plan at Residence XII,” Bev said.
Rewarding Work
Prior to joining Residence XII, Bev’s experience included Providence Hospice of Seattle, the Fred Hutchison/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and Recovery Centers of King County. But the Res is dear to her heart.
“The Res is a wonderful place for me to do work which fills my heart and allows me to better define myself as a woman in recovery. After 40 years in nursing I have pretty much seen it all, but the work I now do with the women is truly rewarding,” she said.
The two loves of Bev’s life are her daughters, who are “wonderful, exceptional people.” Bev also enjoys travel, and this past summer she attended the 33rd World Conference of Narcotics Anonymous in Barcelona.