Be In the Know!

It’s CNA Week and that’s a great time to think about how you can help your nursing assistants continue to learn on the job.  Here at In the Know, we’re all about lifelong learning.  And we know that the best learning experiences are often a bit “outside the box”.  So, here are some tips that might spur both critical thinking and learning among your direct care staff:

• Institute a “Learning Award” and present it to the nursing assistant who completes the most hours of continuing education in a specific time period (calendar quarter or year) or on a specific subject pertinent to your workplace (patient rights or workplace safety).

• Encourage and support skills that go beyond client care, such as money management, parenting, career planning, resume writing, etc.

• Have a different nursing assistant lead each inservice meeting with you.

• Consider developing a tuition reimbursement plan and/or a college scholarship program for the nursing assistants at your workplace.

• Ask a CNA or two to join you when a medical equipment representative comes in to demonstrate or promote a new product.  The CNAs may know best if the equipment in question will work at your facility.

• Encourage your nursing assistants to volunteer for committees at work–ethics, quality improvement, safety, etc.  Then, give them the time and support to attend the meetings.

• At home health or hospice client care meetings, ask your aides to present each of their clients.  Don’t let them sit there quietly when they probably have such valuable input to share.

• On your CNAs’ yearly performance evaluations, make sure that at least one of their goals has to do with learning.

• Build a library of books at your workplace on a variety of subjects:  health care, motivation, parenting, physical fitness, healthy eating, etc.  Allow your CNAs to “check out” the books.

• Encourage your CNAs to become computer literate (if they aren’t already).\

• Start each inservice or staff meeting by asking your CNAs to share one thing they have learned since the last meeting.

• Assess the learning needs of your nursing assistants quarterly…or at least annually.

• Teach your CNAs to speak up if they are assigned to a client with an unfamiliar diagnosis.

• Have your nursing assistants lead a book club for the residents in your facility or teach the residents one of their favorite hobbies.

Whew…as you can see, the possibilities are endless!  But the bottom line remains the same:  give your nursing assistants the opportunity to learn and grow and they will be happier, more productive employees.  And, you’ll have a team of top-notch CNAs!

Last month, In the Know asked nursing supervisors everywhere to nominate a top-notch nursing assistant at their workplace for the CNA of the Quarter Award. The response was overwhelming and we give a hearty round of applause to ALL the wonderful nursing assistants across the U.S.

There were so many fantastic nominations to choose from that we added two runners-up. The CNA of the Quarter receives $100 in cash and the runners-up receive $50. We congratulate all three of you!!! In addition, we have a number of CNAs who deserve a heartfelt “honorable mention”. Please check back regularly to this blog: we’ll honor several more nursing assistants each time we post.

So, here goes! In the Know’s CNA of the Quarter Award goes to (drum roll please):

PATTY M. who is an absolutely amazing CNA at Huntington Place in Janesville, Wisconsin.

Renae B, the Director of Resident Care at Huntington Place had so many wonderful things to say about Patty, including this:

“Today, I passed a resident’s room and saw Patty kneeling near a hospice client’s recliner, listening intently while this elderly gentleman spoke of his wish that life would just end, be done. I know that she had heard him report his problems and life stories repeatedly, day in and day out. Yet, the expression on her face was as if she had never heard it before, as if he were telling her the most captivating story she’d ever heard. The client is hard of hearing and legally blind, yet Patty stayed near, looking him in the face. Patty is a nursing assistant who makes others feel that life is worth living, even for one more day.”

All of us at In the Know salute PATTY M. and thank her for her service to her clients. Congratulations on being awarded In the Know’s CNA of the Quarter! Three cheers for Patty!!

We also want to recognize two EXCEPTIONAL CNAs:
Claudia C., who is a dedicated employee at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, Maryland
AND
Sherri A., who demonstrates her dedication at Addus Healthcare in Chicago, Illinois

Claudia was nominated by Michelle M. who told us that she is a devoted nursing assistant who always comes to work with a smile on her face. Most of the time, when someone says “Claudia, can you help me with Mr. Jones,” her response is, “I’ve already done it.” She never has a negative thing to say about her job or co-workers. She is a dream come true to the oncology patients. They always ask for Claudia by name and you can often hear them laughing along with her. Claudia keeps their spirits up every day!

Sherri was nominated by Kathy L. who raved about Sherri’s dedication to her clients. Recently, Sherri reported that one of her elderly clients seemed to be weakening, complaining of pain and a loss of appetite. He was severely disabled due to a stroke. Hospice was called in to provide additional services and family support. Sherri continued caring for the client until the end, supporting him and his family without watching the clock. Now, the wife is Sherri’s client and she feels so safe and comfortable being cared for by her. Sherri demonstrates true long term dedication to her clients.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THREE CNAs. You exemplify what it means to be a top-notch nursing assistant!

And, we thank all the supervisors who took the time to tell us about their very special nursing assistants.

With Gratitude,
The Team at In the Know