It’s National CNA Week (June 12-18), which celebrates our nurse aides and certified nurse aides. The theme is “We Are The Champions,” as determined by the National Association of Healthcare Assistants. We asked members of our nursing leadership team to share what makes CNAs the champions.
“The CNAs with Virginia Health Services are our champions because they show up each and every day for our residents — often in ways that go unnoticed. Our CNAs are often the unsung heroes of the day,” says VHS Vice President of Nursing Rebecca Boyd, RN. “They are the foundation of our profession and responsible for providing quality care. If this is not a champion, I don’t know what it is.”
What a CNA does
CNAs are responsible for resident care — helping them with the activities of daily life, including bathing, using the restroom, eating, and getting dressed and groomed. They assist them with physical therapy and take them to activities. CNAs see the residents daily and can help identify subtle changes in condition that can alert the team if intervention is needed, Rebecca says.
“The CNA is the front line of care, offering compassion, a listening ear and a loving touch,” she says.
Walter Reed Director of Nursing Lana Ketch, RN, calls their CNAs champions because their sole purpose is to support residents to live their best life.
“The bonds between them are unbreakable,” she says. “Our aides really connect with residents and get to know them and their likes/dislikes, routines, activities they love, etc. They are truly tag team champions with the residents. Each generation of aides brings something to the table.”
Lana says CNAs are the eyes and ears for the nursing staff.
“I often tell our aides that things they do for our residents that seem so small are so impactful for them,” she says.
Emotional toll
The loss of independence and control can be frustrating to residents. Not being able to reside at their home can impact their behavior. CNAs offer dignity, compassionate and respect while assisting residents’ complete tasks and help them maintain as much of their own identity and independence as possible.
“Our CNAs must know how to navigate those emotions by staying calm and attending to those needs while promoting the best sense of well-being and recovery possible,” Rebecca says.
They often serve as family for the residents, some will be the last face a resident sees or a hand they will hold. CNAs are there to promote grace and dignity throughout a resident’s journey.
Apprenticeship program
We offer an earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship program that graduates Care Assistants to Nurse Aides and covers the cost of the state certification exam to be a CNA. Classes are offered on the Peninsula, Middle Peninsula and in the evenings in partnership with Virginia Peninsula Community College. The course includes classwork, skills labs and on-the-floor experience at our nursing and rehabilitation centers.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching the ‘next generation’ of CNAs,” says Training and Education Coordinator Tracy Williams, MSN, BSN, RN. She teaches the program in Gloucester and Kilmarnock.
“The students show great passion, determination and a tremendous desire to assist residents. CNAs are the foundation of the whole nursing profession and are the eyes and ears of the nurses and doctors. They will realize something is happening with a resident before the nurse does. Nurses could not do their jobs properly without the work of our CNAs.”
Learn more about our apprenticeship program.
Join our team
We are always on the hunt for CNAs for our nursing and rehabilitation centers, assisted living communities and VHS Home Health Care team. Visit vahs.com/careers to learn more and apply.
