Long-term care operators have produced a variety of clever, attractive calendars through the years. The illustrations have shown people in costume portraying movie scenes or modeling bathing suits or even simulating naked poses (strategic signage saving the viewer from the “Full Monty” experience).
And to my recollection, the subjects in them have always been elderly residents. Now, hold on: There’s nothing wrong with that — especially when such calendars are fund-raisers and quickly sell out (which they usually are, and do).
But those circumstances made a new calendar that I just received stand out from all the others. It celebrates the long-term care frontline caregiver.
In this age of staff-retention and nurse-shortage challenges, could there be a better idea? The calendar subjects are all certified nursing assistants, led by Nursing Assistant of the Year Kaleb Gibbs of the Idaho State Veterans Home in Pocatello, ID.
Nine other finalists and two runners-up — hailing from Tucson, AZ, to Fort Kent, ME — grace the other 11 months. Supervisors glowingly describe in print what makes each honoree special.
“Win-win” doesn’t begin to describe this scenario strongly enough.
It’s all a part of the Nursing Assistant of the Year Scholarship program sponsored by Cerner Extended Care and The American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination (AANAC). Now in its fourth year, the program grants a total of $8,000 in scholarship funds annually. Gibbs is using his $5,000 to pursue a nursing degree. Finalists’ organizations also receive donations for their training and continuing education funds.
How cool would it be to see one of your CNAs on a calendar that hangs on providers’ walls around the country? You can find out for yourself by obtaining a free copy of the current calendar by requesting it online here. (It’s free to everyone.)
Something says if there were more calendars like this, there would be fewer caregiver shortages.
Oh, by the way: Nominations for the next Nursing Assistant of the Year are open now through Feb. 14.
