Abundant appreciation shared for CNA team members

National Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) Week was June 13-19, 2024, which provided the perfect time to share our deep appreciation for the CNA staff at Hillcrest Healthcare’s three Knoxville communities.

This year’s theme, “We’ll be there for you,” is a perfect summation of how CNAs are consistently ready to offer a helping hand for nurses and patients alike. It’s our great privilege to celebrate and recognize the capable, caring professionals who do so much – especially those who serve in senior care.

At Island Home, CNA staff members received assorted tote bags and lunchboxes and enjoyed fun activities – including some friendly competition. Island Home Director of Nursing, Ellen Lamkey, shared her thoughts on the CNA team: “Island Home is blessed with the best CNAs in the world who work with our residents.”

The West Hills community’s Director of Nursing Bonnie Lepley, talked about the importance of being intentional in honoring CNAs: “The West Hills CNA staff members are the heartbeat of our facility. Their hard work and dedication to helping others is often unrecognized. We celebrate them this week to honor all they do each and every day.”

Wordplay was ripe at the Beverly Park Place community, where CNA associates received gift bags with items such as lip balm, writing pens shaped like syringes and sunglasses-clad rubber ducks with cards reminding them that they are ducking worthy. The gift bags said “May you be proud of the work you do, the person you are and the difference you make. Thank you.”

“The backbone of healthcare has been and will always be our frontline caregivers,” Beverly Park Place Director of Nursing Laura Major shared. “They are the ambassadors for our community, building trust with patients and families. We celebrate their contributions to our communities.”

It was great fun and an even bigger honor to celebrate our CNAs and we encourage everyone to take a minute to appreciate friends or loved ones who work in the medical and senior care fields to let them know how they truly make a difference.

Keep up with all the activities happening in our three Knoxville communities by following us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hillcrestknox.