When people visit Valley View Retirement Community for the first time, many times they talk about the feeling that they get when they walk through the doors. It’s a feeling of belonging, connection, and community, where people feel cared for and seen. For two team members who met on an elevator in the middle of COVID, Valley View became even more than that — it was the place where they met each other and their favorite career. Here’s Nick and Olivia’s story.

Nick Morrison started working at Valley View as a Certified Nurse’s Aide (CNA) in 2017 and says that it’s a job that he loves. “During the eight years that I’ve been at Valley View, I have worked in all of the neighborhoods in the Haven. I like getting to know all of the residents, and I love making them happy. Helping others is my passion.”

In 2019, Olivia Hill joined Valley View as a CNA. Like Nick, she has also served throughout the Haven but primarily serves in Memory Lane. “I picked Valley View because my grandmother worked here for 20 years as a CNA, and she always raved about her coworkers and how Valley View put the residents first.”

When Olivia started out in her job, she had no idea that she would soon be adding another reason why she would like Valley View so much.

“I got into the elevator to go upstairs to Memory Lane, and he was standing in the corner, and he said, ‘Oh, hello,’” she said.

“I remember asking if she was from Amish country,” Nick added, laughing. “And she turned beet red.”

A few months later, Olivia started orienting in Peaceful Avenue (500 Neighborhood) where Nick worked, and they struck up a friendship and exchanged numbers. Soon, they were meeting at Sheetz after work, and then those ‘mini dates’ turned into dates at the Allen Street Grill in State College.

By May 2020, the two were officially dating, a development that delighted the residents they served. “They are very invested in our relationship,” Olivia said, laughing.

Over the past four years, the pair have both worked at Valley View. Many times, their shifts are separate. But their favorite—and residents’ favorite—is when they are working in the same neighborhood together.

“Working with Olivia is fantastic, and the residents absolutely love it when we work together,” Nick said. “Our co-workers call us the Dream Team.”

“Working with Nick is very calming for me. We work well together as a team and I know that when I get to work with him it’s going to be a great night, full of laughter and good times with the residents,” Olivia said. “It’s a great feeling knowing that not only our coworkers, but the residents say things like ‘The Dream Team is with us tonight!’”

During those years, both of them started classes toward becoming a Registered Nurse. Nick has worked PRN at Valley View while taking general education classes at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) for the past three years, and Olivia worked part-time while taking classes. This August, Olivia will start at the Geisinger School of Nursing, and when she graduates, Nick will finish his degree.

They said that Valley View has been a great place to work as they work toward their degrees.

 

“I knew that nursing was always the career that I wanted, and I wanted my experience as a nurse to be in a place that has such a good name,” Olivia said. “Valley View has values that I believe in as well, like putting the residents first. Being a Christian-based retirement community was something that drew me to the place, because I knew that the people here would extend those values to everyone.”

She said that the best part of her job is the bond that she makes with residents. “I love each and every one of them like my own family. I love that I get to make them laugh and ask them about their life stories as well. But my favorite part of all is seeing how much of an impact I’ve made on them and their lives at Valley View. Seeing myself through their eyes makes me realize how great I would be as a nurse, and it has solidified even more why I’ve chosen this career path.”

Nick agrees. “I picked Valley View because I heard that it was the best place to work if you wanted to get into nursing. I have always felt accepted here and through hard work I know I can change the lives of my residents in a positive way. Being there for the residents has given me a feeling of worth and belonging. I’ve thrived here and loved every single second of the eight years I’ve spent here.”

This past August, the “Dream Team” got engaged. Olivia happily said yes when Nick popped the question on the train at Del Grosso’s. They are not sure which year they will get married, but they both absolutely know the date. It will be May 25, the day they started officially dating. Residents and team members alike are trying to convince them to get married in Valley View’s chapel. And while they haven’t decided on the location, they both credit their lives together to one thing.

“I’m blessed to have Valley View. I’m grateful that I have gotten to work here and meet Nick and such wonderful people here,” Olivia said.

“I have nothing bad to say about this place,” Nick added. “I love this place. I do.”