Leslie Richardson, RN has nearly 30 years of experience in senior care. In October 2023, she joined Mount St. Rita Health Center in Cumberland, R.I. as its Director of Nursing, or DON. In the role, she manages the nursing department, ensures residents receive exemplary care and oversees clinical regulatory compliance.
Leslie began her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant, or CNA. She says, “I’m a caregiver by nature. Growing up my grandparents lived with me. When I was considering a career, senior care seemed like a natural choice. I absolutely love seniors!”
Prior to joining Mount St. Rita’s team, Leslie suffered with long COVID and was ill for a year. When she was ready to return to work and began interviewing, several of the opportunities she considered didn’t feel right. She prayed for guidance and then, a Mount St. Rita recruiter contacted her about the DON position. Leslie fondly recalls, “I got the call on my godmother’s birthday. That was special because her name is Rita – and I’m named after her – my middle name is Rita.”
When Leslie walked through St. Rita’s front doors for her interview, she felt a sense of peace. She reflects, “I had been through a lot in the last year. Suddenly, I felt calm and whispered to myself – this is it.”
In addition to being an RN, Leslie is also a certified Dementia practitioner and a legal nurse consultant. She’s spent much of her career as a senior leader and educator. “One of my favorite parts of my job is connecting with memory care residents who may be having a challenging day and redirecting them to a positive place. They may not remember my name, but they will remember how I made them feel.”
Leslie also feels strongly about embodying St. Rita’s mission to provide healing and care for the whole person, in to service to all. She adds, “My personal mission is to make sure our seniors’ lives are filled with love, happiness, respect, dignity and choice.”
