The North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association recently recognized excellence in the front-line staff working in skilled nursing facilities across North Carolina. Southwood CNA Nicole Woodworth was a local recipient for the award.
The Fabulous 50 awards program, launched in 2001, is an important part of the long term care community’s effort to recognize the extraordinary contributions of all front-line staff to the quality of care and quality of life of individuals residing in skilled nursing facilities. The Fabulous 50 are nominated by their co-workers for this award. Each person selected is honored at a dinner celebration, complete with a local celebrity host. Recognition includes a certificate from Gov. Beverly Purdue.
“It is an honor to nominate Nicole Woodworth, a dedicated Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), for the recognition as a Fabulous 50 recipient. Nicole came to work for our facility December of 2007. Before moving to North Carolina she was a CNA at a nursing facility in New York for 11 years between 1996 and 2007. Nicole has dedicated her life to assisting the elderly and disabled. She is a true asset to the building. Nicole is a unique CNA because she refuses to have a consistent assignment of residents. She prefers to float on different assignments every time she works. On many occasions, nurses, other nurse aides, residents and even families have begged her to take an assignment that will mean she will work with them consistently. Each and every time she refuses this request because she likes to float around and have her hand in every activity of the building. She states she likes to know what is going on with everyone and have a chance to visit with everyone in the building during a week’s time she says I call it spreading the love,” expressed Southwood director Jennifer LaMar, NHA
Southwood has a mentor program for newly hired nursing assistants. Those nursing assistants given the title of mentor must complete an education session on expectations, leadership, training techniques, company policies and customer service. Mentors also receive compensation for mentoring new hires. LaMar explained that Woodworth has been a mentor at Southwood for four years.
“When she is given a trainee she takes it very seriously. She ensures when they finish training with her they are ready and comfortable to perform all job duties. Even though she receives compensation for the time they spend with her she will request from other staff members her trainee shadow someone else so they can learn a part of the building she knows she won’t be able to train. She also follows up with each of her trainee’s to check on how they are doing if they need any additional help or if they may have any questions. When the Director of Nursing has to pick a mentor for a newly hired nursing assistant Nicole is her top pick,” said the Southwood director.
“Families adore Nicole and feel confident in her ability to take care of their loved one. One resident recently told me ‘if you could clone Nicole you wouldn’t have any more problems.” Another resident completed a nomination form and stated, “Nicole is a very caring and helpful person. You can ask her to help you and not matter what she is doing she will help. Nicole also will change the sheets and make the bed up so good that you don’t want to mess it up. You never see her standing around in the hallway laughing, playing and being loud, she is always busy working.”
Woodworth is an active member of her church. She heads up the follow-up ministry. Whenever visitors come to service she follows up with them to thank them for coming, request they return and inform them of the many programs and activities available. She said she also does anything else her preacher request. The preacher says, “Call Nicole she will do it.”
The social worker described a time when a resident turned 100. Nicole had found out the resident loved fried chicken from a local restaurant. Nicole made it a point to go to the restaurant on her day off and get the resident a plate of fried chicken. The social worker said the resident ate every bit of the chicken and couldn’t have been happier. She has also been known to bring in cakes or brownies for residents on their birthdays.
“When I look around the facility at deserving employees of the Fabulous 50 honor I find no better fit than Nicole Woodworth,” asserted LaMar.
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