July 2002

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Caregivers Corner - July 2002: "The Great American Caregiver"
2002 NAs in the Spotlight	2002 marks the 25th Anniversary Year of the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants, an organization dedicated to the recognition and support of caregivers. This year the Institute for Caregiver Education sponsored Nursing Assistant Week (June 6-13) celebrations in Chambersburg and Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. Eighty-two nursing assistants participated with a combined experience of more than 786 years of caregiving in the long term care profession. Nursing assistants were treated to a day of motivational speakers, a catered lunch and an afternoon of pampering to recognize and reward their commitment and years of service to their residents and employers. This year focused on �The Great American Caregiver.�
In Chambersburg, Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was the host site for the Nursing Assistant Day celebration. Myrna Eshleman, RN led the morning session, speaking about the importance to nursing assistants of taking good care of themselves in order to avoid the �Caregiver�s Trap� that can lead to burnout. She asked participants to consider �Just One Thing� each could individually commit to �continue doing, �to stop doing, �and to start doing in order to take better care of themselves. Eshleman then worked with the group to make a pot of �Chickpea Soup for the Caregiver�s Soul.� Participants took turns adding 14 ingredients and identifying how each contributes to nurturing caregivers� souls. A few ingredients included chickpeas that help keep in focus the basic purpose for becoming a caregiver, hot water that identifies their own signals of distress, celery heart representing a kind heart that is needed for caring for themselves and others. To this pot of soup they then added lemon recognizing the importance of having fun and adding a bit of �zip� to life and work. Eshleman concluded by discussing the importance of opportunities for mentoring as a means of recognizing the experience, dedication, skill and quality of care provided by seasoned nursing assistants. Mentoring is instrumental also to offering support and encouragement to new nursing assistants, teaching them the expectations of the role, promoting high quality resident care and increasing job satisfaction.

In Fort Washington, Casey Reeder of Silver Lake Center in Bristol, PA presented the morning session. Reeder spoke from his 14 years of experience as a Nurse Aide, Geriatric Nursing Assistant Specialist and Restorative Aide. He discussed ways of successfully handling the day-to-day challenges of the caregiver role. Reeder also highlighted some of the innovative practices his center is instituting to enhance the quality of life and work for residents and caregivers.

Casey Reeder in Action

Both programs continued with a catered luncheon and recognition of nursing assistant years of service followed by a variety of afternoon pampering activities that included mini-manicures, chair massages, participatory presentations on the benefits of yoga, and relaxation strategies. Local businesses generously donated prizes and services to make the celebrations memorable for these distinguished caregivers.

16-20 Years of Service: Nursing Assistants attending the Chambersburg celebration
Left to Right: JoAnne Brinkman (19), Penny Reid (18), Donna Wright (16.5),
Helen Paz (18), Melody Brightful (18)

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Caregivers Corner - July 2002: "The Great American Caregiver"