Fifty Ways to Say "Thank You"

FIFTY WAYS TO SAY "THANK YOU"
TO NURSE ASSISTANTS
"Nurse Assistants: Specialists in the Art of Caring"

Words to use and projects to thank your nurse assistants:

1. Write a note to nurse assistants telling them how they have contributed to the quality of care in your facility

2. Tell nurse assistants publicly how they have contributed to the quality of care in your facility

3. Ask family members to write notes describing how they think a nurse assistant has contributed to the well-being of their loved ones

4. Create a poster consisting of thank you notes from family members and staff. Include pictures of your nurse assistants. When complete, enlarge your poster to 5X8 ft. and post it in a prominent place

5. Ask your local newspaper to print a photo of your poster with a story about what nurse assistants do when providing care

6. Enroll qualified Career Nurse Assistants in the NURSE ASSISTANTS' TWENTY YEAR CLUB

7. "You are a valuable team member. Others like to work with you because you are kind to residents and helpful to other nurse assistants"

8. "You do a good job of (insert specific task or relationship)"

9. "We appreciate the special skills that you bring to caring for our residents (insert skill)"

10. "Your pleasant attitude makes the day brighter for our residents"

11. Praise her/him for good work in front of family members, supervisors or administrative personnel of the facility

12. Ask your physician to distribute a service pin or special gift to each nurse assistant

13. Copy your Mayor's Proclamation and send with a thank you note to your nurse assistants

14. Enlarge your Mayor's Proclamation to 5X8 feet and display at entrance to the facility

15. Ask your local media to publish an article about your experienced or Career Nurse Assistants

16. Give a gift certificate for a dinner for Career Nurse Assistants and their families

17. Provide a "We Appreciate.." bulletin board on which people can post messages of appreciation

18. Give a voucher for a new uniform, shoes or hose

19. Give a corsage made by residents for honored nurse assistants

20. Tape notes of appreciation for good work on nurse assistant notes

21. Develop a "sharing" scrapbook to help nurse assistants discover the things they have in common with each other and with individual residents. Include a photo and notes about favorite foods, hobbies, and favorite reading materials, special experiences or skills

22. "Know Your Caregiver Day" - Create a profile of each caregiver and post on bulletin board

23. Provide tray notes for residents "Your Nurse Assistant today is_____"

24. Host a raffle for nurse assistants who have 5, 10 or more years of service

25. Give points for each year worked and provide special prizes or compensatory time

26. Give gift certificates for a "Bonus Day-off" for nurse assistants who have worked 10 or more years

27. Resident Council hosts "Plant a Tree" in honor of each nurse assistant who has 5 or more years of service

28. Hold a Shadow Day in which nurse assistants shadow the administrator, the DON or another official

29. Provide opportunity for the administrator or medical director to work with a nurse assistant for a shift

30. Rotate experienced nurse assistants into the Activity or Therapy Programs

31. Develop a plan to grant tuition reimbursement for community education

32. Recognize and validate nurse assistants for their observations about changes in a resident's condition or behavior

33. Create a display board about the theme of "Nurse Assistants: Specialists in the Art of Caring." When complete, display the board at your local mall or university

34. Host a day in which workers can introduce their children to the people in their care

35. Tell the families of nurse assistants how much you appreciate the work of the nurse assistant

36. Give stock in the corporation for nurse assistants who have completed 10 or more years of service

37. Provide computer training and access to computer and internet in off-hours

38. Listen with attention

39. Provide panels of nurse assistants to speak to schools and colleges about health care

40. "Out-to-lunch with the administrator" - administrator takes small groups of nurse assistants to lunch

41. Publish a newsletter article about the accomplishments of nurse assistants

42. Make business cards for nurse assistants to give to new families

43. Subscribe to a Nurse Assistant related publication and make these available to nurse assistants on an on-going basis

44. Allot time for the Nurse Assistants' Committee to plan and organize special events for Nurse Assistants' Week

45. Insert a thank you note in the paycheck

46. Give each nurse assistant a gift certificate for a dinner at a local restaurant

47. Post a list of nurse assistants' actual service years in your facility and other long-term care settings

48. Provide service pins to identify number of years of service

49. Ask nurse assistants how they would like to spend a day with the people in their care

50. Offer to help with a difficult task

Ideas And Suggestions For Nurse Assistants' Week '98
The National ClassRoom 1998

Career Nurse Assistants' Program, Inc
3577 Easton Road Norton, Ohio 44203-5661
PH (330) 825-9342 FAX (330) 825 9378
E-mail [email protected]

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