On June 11, I had the privilege to represent the DCA at the first ever Career Nursing Assistant Day Celebration and Recognition event for the direct care workers of Delaware. The meeting was held in Dover by the Delaware Certified Nursing Assistants (DCNA) association. The theme was the Wizard of Oz, since CNAs all have HEART, COURAGE and BRAINS.Pat Engelhardt, the founder and head of the association, did an awesome job. As I know from years of experience, it takes a lot of time and effort to pull off an event like this. I counted approximately 55 direct care workers in attendance – a good number for a first event.
Keynote speaker Jeni Gipson (standing)
Delaware Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf was on the program – but she was there to learn, not to speak. Secretary Landgraf is working with Pat to improve government policies that affect direct care workers. She opened up the floor to questions, asking “If those changes were going to happen today, what would you ask for?”
The response was overwhelming, and the outcome was: RESPECT, better health insurance, dental and eye coverage, increased pay, and a living wage. She was amazed to hear about how many of us who provide care don’t have health care coverage ourselves.
The day began with time for people to visit the vendors and exhibits while munching on a Continental breakfast. I was thrilled by how many people came by the DCA vendor table to ask questions. There was a lot of interest in what the Direct Care Alliance is doing for direct care workers. A young woman named Sandra touched me with her story of how she learned about caregiving at an early age from her mother because she was helping to care for a sister who died at a very early age.
The keynote speaker was DCA board member Jeni Gipson, the founder of the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants. Jeni talked about how we all have a story to tell. She talked about stories like the one Sandra told me, about why we are nursing assistants, what quality care means, what makes an effective nurse aide, and why our work is important. I could see the wheels turning in the room as she spoke, and several of the direct care workers in the room soon shared their stories.
Jeni spoke about being a team member, a mentor/coach for new nursing assistants, and an advocate for your profession, and a family member told us about her gratitude toward the direct care workers who had cared for her significant other.
The director of the state’s division of Long Term Care Residents Protection also popped in to say a few words, and eight of us were honored for having been direct care workers for 20 years or more.
Besides me (I’ve been doing this for 25 years), the honorees were:
- Peg Ankney, 38 years
- Bernice Barnes, 19-plus years
- Sandy Bryan, 23 years
- Sarah Fooks, 20 years
- Thelma Heyward, 53 years
- Glay Jones, 19-plus years
- Milly Wilson, 19-plus years
At the end of the day, we all went to Legislative Hall for the signing of a state resolution in support of CNAs. That was an emotional moment for us all.
I thank you, Pat! I was proud to be part of it.
Brenda Nachtway
Direct Care Worker Specialist
Direct Care Alliance
Sounds like a wonderful event. I think every state should hold a conference to recognize the work that we do.
Tracy Dudzinski
Direct Care Worker
DCA Board Member
Dear Brenda
Thank you for posting the list of DE 20 Year Club members and your kind words about the program. The Twenty Year Club is a nationwide honorary member organization for experienced nursing assistants who provide direct care in nursing homes, homes, hospices, or other long-term care services. The 20 Yr Club members are the “wisdom keepers of what works.” They play an important role as models for new NAs and also send a message to the community about “Stayers” in health care.
Many states (like Delaware), cities, organizations, facilities, agencies, groups and others do conduct conventions or conferences in conjunction with the annual observance of National Nursing Assistants and Direct Care Workers Week, now in its 32nd year. Projects begun during NAWeek are designed to continue throughout the year to address specific issues of care and caring.
The focus for 2009 is teamwork and the slogan is “Yes WE Can.” The teamwork guide for ’09 includes inservices, discussion guides, program plans and forms for planning events for NAs and other hands-on workers in long term care and provides a guide for initiation and continuation of projects of importance to NAs and Direct Care Workers
Hope this helps. Feel free to contact us if you have questions or if we can be of help. You also can find more info on our web site at http://www.cna-network
Jeni
Genevieve Gipson RN MEd RNC, Director
National Network of Career Nursing Assistants
cnajeni@aol.com
Brenda, thanks very much for for attending our first career Nursing assistant day, and thanks for introducing us to the DCA. Am looking forward to working with you. Thanks again for everything you did to make our day a success.
Rhena
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