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CNAs are proud of their career choice
June 12 through 19 was National CNA Week. A CNA is a certified nursing assistant. If you have ever spent a day in the hospital, or time in a long term nursing care facility, you have seen several CNAs daily.
They are the ones who make your bed, rub your back, help you dress and walk, take your temperature and blood pressure, serve your food to you and assist you with the hundreds of daily living skills your injury or illness may have limited your ability to do independently.
Nursing assistants do a lot of direct care work, and they do it with compassion, professionalism and technical skill.
Training for certification originally takes weeks to accomplish. On-going training is required, and CNAs work under direct supervision of a Registered Nurse.
The CNAs of the Barone Alzheimer's Care Center celebrated CNA week with drawings for prizes, sticker day, special dress days and a baby picture contest.
Several of the CNAs had comments on their profession and why they chose a nursing career.
Cindy Osborn Berten has been a CNA for 21 years. "I was adopted at birth. I lived in Gower, Mo., 'til I was 15 and moved to Schell City. I went to school there for four years. I have two kids and one step-daughter. My folks were in bad health and that's how I got my start in nursing." She's been a CNA for 21 years and has never regretted her decision to enter nursing. "It helped me with my folks.
The best part is having someone to talk with and making people smile." She deals daily with the fact it is not an easy job, physically, mentally or emotionally. Berten would agree that being a CNA "takes a special type of person."
Kimberly Lasley went to school at Northeast Vernon County. She lives in Montevallo with her husband Michael and five children, Michaela, Courtney, Lane, Lindsay and Justin.
"I chose to become a CNA because my grandmother had old age dementia and I helped my Mom take care of her." Lasley has been a CNA for one year and said, "The best part is getting attached to the residents and getting to visit with them. But the worse part is the death part, and watching resident's health fail is difficult." She explained, "Being a CNA has affected my life tremendously! I've learned you don't take things for granted."
Bethany Minor lives in Nevada and went to school in Nevada. "I have two kids who are two years old and 10 months old. Their names are Darelyn and Tyler Minor. I love spending every free moment I have with them.
"I chose to become a CNA because my Mom used to work as a nurse and now she's an LPN. I hope to follow in her footsteps and become an LPN someday."
Minor has been a CNA six years. She said the best part of being a CNA for her is, "I love the people I take care of and spending some quality time with them. I like everything about being a CNA. I wouldn't change anything. I like knowing that I can take care of some body down the road if they get hurt."
April Roasch moved to Nevada two months ago. "I love it here. I grew up in a single mom household. Mom worked very hard and taught me good values and common sense. I chose to become a CNA because I love caring for people -- always have." Roasch has been a CNA four years.
She enjoys being a CNA because "I like seeing the residents smile and light up and I like the hugs!" Being a CNA has affected her life in positive ways. "It has made me a more giving, loving and caring person. I'm blessed to be in this field of work."
Rosa Thomas went to Central High School in Kansas City, Mo., and now lives in Nevada. She has three children.
She became a CNA because, "I like to take care of people. My Mom got me interested in nursing. She would always talk to me about nurses. When I went to the doctor I thought the nurses were nice. They always made me feel better. I decided that I wanted to help others and make them better." She has been a CNA two years and said, "The best thing about being a CNA is taking care of others. It has made me feel like I am making a difference -- someone is being taken care of; somebody's grandparent."
Paula Ponzini graduated from Rich Hill High School in 2000. She lived in Nevada for three years before moving to Papinville.
She was born in Nevada to Junior and Reta King and for eight years has been married to Mike Ponzini. They have two little girls, Sierra age seven and Jena age two.
"I knew I wanted to be a nurse when I was nine years old and my grandma was sick and dying. I helped take care of her and feed her pudding and I loved it. I told my Mom then that I wanted to be a nurse and take care of people."
Ponzini has been a CNA for eight years. "I like being a CNA because I love helping take care of the residents and visiting with them. I hope to be an RN one day."
David Harms, the Center's administrator said, "The CNAs at Barone Care Center are the foundation of the quality care we strive daily to provide our residents. I personally admire and appreciate the dedication, compassion and love they exhibit daily to our residents. It is my belief that the nursing aide profession is one of the most important and vital in our society."