September 5, 2024

From Construction Worker to Hospice Nurse: Meet EveryStep's John Cejka

Nine years into his hospice nursing career, with two of them at EveryStep, John Cejka says he didn’t think about being a nurse until he was in his 30s. “I never wanted to be a nurse — it was never a thought in my mind. I did construction and it was starting to get hard on my body. I knew a couple of people that were nurses, and I was like, well, you know what? I think I'm going to do this. I was praying about it, and someone was telling me to go this direction.

“It was almost like it's just written in my spirit. This is your way, John. This is the direction. This is where I want you right now.”

John says one of the things he loves most about being a hospice nurse for EveryStep is the supportive culture. “As a nurse, the patient is everything, and you can sometimes deal with maybe not so great situations with administration. All the way up to the CEO, I'm able to send an email, talk to him and not feel penalized or that I can't. I love that aspect. Anytime I've had personal problems in my life, this company has backed me — whether emotionally or spiritually, physically even. It’s just a beautiful company.”

No day is ever the same for an EveryStep Hospice nurse and that’s one thing John says makes his career interesting. “You have a schedule that's laid out for that day that you're planning to achieve, and you just kind of roll with the punches throughout the day. Whatever calls come in. Our patients are dynamic. They can change in moments, and we have to be prepared to handle whatever comes in. So, my day can go from three visits to seven. It did yesterday. From three to seven in a matter of minutes.”

John says each day begins for him with a prayer to treat people like a relationship, and not a task. “Everybody thinks the nurse is always pouring out, but people are pouring into us. When you look at what people are giving you back and what you're receiving, it's way more than you can ever give.”

Married and a father of four, John says his family comes first, but his patients are always on his mind. “I get up in the morning, and the first thought of my day is what I have going on, who I'm going to see. And the last thought is the same. I wonder how so-and-so is doing.” John admires his EveryStep Hospice team in Des Moines for their commitment as well. “I absolutely love the experience and quality of the nurses. I can honestly sit in front of a patient and say, ‘It doesn't matter who sees you. You're going to get great care here.’”

Switching from construction work to hospice nursing has had a personal impact on John’s life view. “If hospice care teaches you one thing, it's that moments are everything. Nobody dying has ever told me that they had an awesome car or that they loved this material item. They talk about the people that they love, and it's revolutionized my home life, my personal life. You just cherish moments, because we say things like, ‘they're not going to be kids forever,’ but to internalize that and act that way with your children or with your spouse or whoever it is. The moments become more intimate. They're deeper. I love that. That's probably my favorite thing about being a hospice nurse.”

EveryStep Hospice’s local hospice teams work with you and your family to create a customized plan for your care, which is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance policies.

Visit everystep.org/hospice for more information about EveryStep Hospice and its teams in Des Moines, Centerville, Mount Ayr, Mount Pleasant, Osceola and Winterset. Most hospice care is provided wherever a patient calls home, but when around-the-clock or more advanced care is needed, EveryStep’s Kavanagh House hospice home in Des Moines is available. To find care for yourself or a loved one, click here and fill out the easy, confidential online form. An EveryStep staff member will then contact you to offer support.

If you’re interested in joining the EveryStep team, visit our careers page.