• NATIONAL NURSING ASSISTANTS WEEK 2001

Nursing assistants are key players in the lives of the people in their care, and each nursing assistant is called to create an environment of caring for the resident or client and the worker as well.

Nursing assistants are also called upon to work with others who may present a myriad of personalities, habits and preferences, as well as physical care needs. The Career Nusing Assistant knows that simply performing a procedure correctly does not necessarily ensure the desired results. The experienced or Career Nursing Assistant knows that a bit of common sense along with good skills can make a world of difference to the resident or client who is lonely, confused or in pain, or has a poor appetite or problems getting out of a chair.

As an example, the procedure for providing fluid intake is fairly simple and straightforward. However, adapting this procedure to a resident who is disoriented or has swallowing problems requires a great deal of common sense as well as care skillls. The savvy nursing assistant can draw on wisdon gained from past similar experiences to identify approaches that may work safely for this particular person- this is common sense in caring.

The nationwide observance of Nursing Assistant's Week provides many opportunities to recognize and validate the role of the nursing assistant in the health care system. Public recognition of nursing assistants provides a valuable service, not only for making nursing assistants more visible, but also, to lessen the concern by family members when a loved one is in need of special care.

"CareSense" refers to the ways nursing assistants combine care skills with good common sense when performing tasks of care. Each day of Nursing Assistants' Week provides an opportunity to explore another aspect of CareSense.

For more information about planning and public relations materials for Nursing Assistants' Week go to planning guide.

• "FIFTY WAYS TO SAY 'THANK YOU' TO NAs"
Excerpts from Nursing Assistant's Week Planning Guide 2001
(go to Planning Guide)

The annual observance of Nurse Assistants' Week and Career Nurse Assistants' Day is a special time to celebrate and recognize the efforts of the Nurse Assistant in long-term care services. Here are a few ways to say thank you to this important worker:

• Plan an awards ceremony and invite your mayor.

• Select teams of nursing assistants to conduct Daily Dialogues during the 8 days of National Nursing Assistants' Week

• 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 feet and post it in a prominent place.

• Provide computer training and access to computers and the Internet for nursing assistants to connect with resources and nursing assistant groups in other areas

• Enroll eligible Career Nurse Assistants as members in the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants or the National Twenty Year Club.

• Convene a Provisional Chapter of the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants in your facility or area.

For more information about planning and public relations materials for Nursing Assistants' Week go to planning guide.

• DAILY DIALOGUES FOR NATIONAL NURSING ASSISTANTS' WEEK

The goal of the Daily Dialogues Project is to bring nursing assistants together from across the country in a spirit of good will and anticipation of the good that can be accomplished when we work together for positive change.

For your Daily Dialogue you might gather informally in twos or threes, in small groups on the unit, or more formally in a class, candle light service, a coffee, or for a regional meeting. You may connect on a web site, message board, chat room, or email. You might want to take a few minutes on your own simply to think about these issues and how valuable you are to the people in your care. Each day of Nursing Assistants' Week provides an opportunity to explore another aspect of CareSense. The focus for each day follows.

Thursday      June 7         National Career Nursing Assistants' Day
                                            Service Recognition
Friday           June 8         Wisdom in Practice
Saturday       June 9         New ways to Use Wisdom in Practice
Sunday           June 10      Ethical Values in Caring
Monday         June 11      Humor in Caring
Tuesday         June 12      The Wisdom of Good Work Habits
Wednesday    June 13      The Wisdom of Working Together
Thursday       June 14      Growing my Own Career

For more information about plannin for Nursing Assistants' Week go to planning guide.

• WHY ARE CAREER NURSING ASSISTANTS SO IMPORTANT?

Each day, more than 2 million direct care workers provide hands-on care to our nation's frail, elderly, or chronically challenged citizens in nursing homes and other long-term care settings. These important workers have various titles including Nursing/Nurse Assistant, Care Assistant, Caregiver, In-Home Care Aide, Hospice Assistant, Care Assistant, Geriatric Aide/Assistant, Resident Assistant, Restorative Aide, Health Care Assistant, and numerous other titles.

Nursing Assistants provide as much as 80-90% of the direct care received by residents and clients in long term care facilities. The following are characteristics of the experienced or Career Nursing Assistants according to the "Stayers Studies" (funded by the Administration on Aging 1997-98, National Institute on Aging, 1997-98):

• 28% stay 5 or more years in positions as nursing assistants
• 12.6% stay 10-55 or more years
• Stayers maintain positive relationships with residents
• Stayers value job security and peer relationships
• Stayers are considered to be health care experts in their own families
• The majority of Stayers had a positive experiences with an older person early in life and this factor contributed to their decision to become a nursing assistants

Stayers provide predictability and stability to care, which in turn enhances the feeling of secuity for our aging, frail, or chronically challenged citizens. Career Nusing Assistants (Stayers) also bring wisdom, patience, humor and a general attitude of caring to the daily lives of these people.

• TEN STEPS FOR PLANNING ©

1. Where to start!
Decide to celebrate National Nursing Assistants' Week 2001. Get excited about the wonderful possibilities for honoring these important workers. Contact others in your area who may want to be involved. Now also is a good time to start your scrapbook.

2. Convene a Planning Committee.
Convene a group of nursing assistants from your facility or area to discuss an Award Program, Daily Dialogue or other Projects for NAW. Events may be conducted by facilities, agencies, corporate offices, organizations, and groups or in area-wide committees.

3. Decide how to honor your Nursing Assistants.
An awards ceremony, award pins and certificates, a presentation by the Mayor or a public official, contests, or a news article in the local newspaper are all effective methods for honoring these important workers. Special awards can be given to NAs who are members of the National Twenty Year Club. Plan to celebrate each day of NAW by participating in the Daily Dialogue � Project.

4. How will you involve your Mayor?
Invite your mayor to sign a Proclamation to the Citizens of your community. A Proclamation form suitable for signing by the mayor or other public official can be obtained from CNAP at a minimal cost (go to Response form) or by download from this site. A first step is to contact the Mayor's office to determine the correct procedure for requesting a Proclamation. Ask if the mayor can take this time to meet with nursing assistants for a presentation and if you can invite media. Plan to request your Proclamation signed in March or April so you will have ample time to distribute copies to media and others.

5. Decide who is to be honored.
A Career Nursing Assistant meets specific criteria. She/he may work in a nursing home, home health, hospital based long-term care unit, assisted living center, group home and any other setting providing long term care services. Service years may be compiled from a variety of facilities or settings. You also may want to honor NAs for special contributions to residents or recognize the winners of an essay contest. An important step is to decide who will be honored, and then order award pins, certificates or other award items in sufficient numbers. (Go to NA Week Catalogue)

6. Promote your program to the community.
Anticipation and involvement are important parts of a recognition program. A CNA Representatives' Committee, craft class, Resident�s Council, family members or local high school can make posters announcing awards events and recipients of awards. Promoting events to the community can be accomplished through news media, radio, interviews on local talk shows and presentations to residents� councils or family groups, but you need to get your committees active as soon as possible.

7. Create your own internal promotion team.
Designate teams of NAs who can be the cheerleaders for your projects. Include representatives from all three shifts and from each unit. They will distribute posters, flyers, application forms; encourage others to be involved with the essay contest or to complete an application for the Twenty Year Club; or participate in a breakfast with the Mayor. They may also help you gather and distribute door prizes or serve as facilitators or hostesses/hosts for various events.

8. Identify the speakers for your awards event?
You might want to feature your Career Nursing Assistants as speakers - or the Ombudsman, a local Gerontologist, the President of the Resident's Council, your Mayor, a motivational speaker, or others.

9. It is June 7 -14, 2001.
Now is the time to bring it all together with awards parties, Daily Dialogue sessions, essay contests, a visit from the Mayor and other activities. Be sure to take lots of photos for your scrapbook and to share with the media and others. Relax, enjoy and celebrate the experience and wisdom of the Career Nursing Assistant.

10. Think now about planning for 2002.
What was the best thing you did for NAW? What would you like to do differently next year? Answering these important questions now will help your plans go even better next year. A final summary of your activities and outcomes - expected and unexpected can be a part of your scrapbook.

Fore more information about planning contact the Career Nurse Assistants� Programs, Inc, 3577 Easton Road, Norton, Ohio 44203 or email to � Career Nurse Assistants Programs, Inc 1990

• HELP FOR PLANNING FOR NURSING ASSISTANTS' WEEK 2001
(go to Response form)

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
The official provider of educational materials for National Nursing Assistants� Week is Hartman Publishing Inc., Albuquerque, NM.

Nursing Assistants� Week Planning Guide with computer disc
The package includes both the Program Planning Guide for �CareSense: Hearts and Hands of Caring" and a computer disc of forms. Provides ideas and program plans for award events, activities and projects for each day of your Nursing Assistants� Week Celebration. Also provided are worksheets for planning, a Proclamation suitable for signing by your Mayor, City Council President or Governor, sample memos to the Mayor, to families and to the news media.

Nursing Assistants� Week Scrapbook
Create a unique history of your Nursing Assistants� Week event .The Nursing Assistants� Week Scrapbook features the official 2001 logo and includes a special pen for writing your name on the cover of the scrapbook. Use the pen also for autographs from the Mayor, award recipients, essay winners and those who want to honor and recognize nursing assistants for special contributions to their loved ones. Provides special sections for your Proclamation, photos of the Presentation, winners of your essay contest, and service award recipients. Also includes sections for thank you notes from family members, news releases and other items. Space to tell about how you planned the event, your evaluation of events and projects, how you will follow up with projects, and your best ideas about what you would like to do next year.

??? Poster Information for the National Twenty Year Club for Nursing Assistants 2001
The Poster for NAW 2001 is usable on both sides. Side one features the official Nursing Assistants� Week logo and side two lists the names of more than 1,500 nursing assistants who are current members of the "National Twenty Year Club."

AWARDS AND RECONITION ITEMS
The official provider of commemorative items for National Nursing Assistants� Week is Health Care Specialties, Austin Texas For convenient on-line ordering or to request a free catalogue. (go to Response form)

Official Catalogue of Commemorative Award and Recognition Items for Nursing Assistants
Nursing assistants appreciate your recognition of their efforts. Tangible rewards such as certificates, pins, T-shirts and other items are an on-going reminder of this recognition and can be displayed for family and friends.

Nursing Assistants as Authors Publications
"Tips by Nursing Assistants for Nursing Assistants Booklets"

• Tips 1 - "Wisdom and Humor of the Career Nursing Assistant" - Experienced NAs share favorite tips for care giving, organizing work, communications and getting along on the job..
• Tips 2"Working with the New Nursing Assistant" - Experienced NAs share favorite tips for coaching, mentoring and orienting the new NA as she/he adapts classroom learning to individual resident care situations.
• Tips 3 - "Daily Dialogue-What do you say?" - Experienced NAs tell about special words they used in a variety of situations.
• Tips 4 - "TEAMWORKS�- Practical advise about how cooperation among coworkers makes a better work environment.

MEMBERSHIP SUPPLIES
Membership applications, pins, and membership materials for individuals and Chapter development are provided by National Network of Career Nursing Assistants. (email)

Membership
Being a member of your national organization is an important part of your career growth. Many opportunities to work with other nursing assistants for positive change and professional growth in the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants.

Opportunities for Members to Participate in:

• The National Leadership Council,
• The National Twenty Year Club and the Annual National �Most Service Years� Award
• The WH2O Patrol,
• The Male Nursing Assistants� Task Force,
• Provisional Chapter Development in your own facility or region,
• Sponsors and Donors Challenge League
• National Nursing Assistants� Week and Career Nursing Assistants� Day
• Nursing Assistant Authors' Program
• Annual National Forum on Nursing Assistants
• Committee appointments

To submit your application to be a member of the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants and enjoy the benefits of a noted professional organization for, by and with direct caregivers in long-term care services:(email)(Membership applications)

• Individual Nursing Assistant Membership - $25/Year
• Facility Membership, community groups $100/year
• Provisional Chapter, based on number of beds. Special discounts for nursing assistant generated groups
• Corporate membership $2,000 -$10,000 based on number of beds. Receive NA and trainer workshops and other benefits for growth. To request additional information click here (email).
• Twenty Year Club Membership: The "Historians of Care" - No fee to qualified individual nursing assistants. Group rates apply.
• Sponsor and Donor Challenge League - Provides financial support to the Program and helps to offset expenses for nursing assistant Leadership Council and other projects (email).

• WHO WE ARE

The National Network of Career Nursing Assistants is the membership organization of the Career Nurse Assistants� Programs, Inc. Career Nurse Assistants Programs, Inc. is the founder and official sponsor of the annual observance of Nursing Assistants� Week in 1977. CNAP is a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(C) 3 organization.

The official provider of Award and Recognition Items for Nursing Assistants Week 2001 is Health Care Specialties, Austin Texas.

The official provider of educational materials is Hartman Publishing Inc., Albuquerque, NM.

The sale of educational and award items for Nursing Assistants� Week is an important source of income to the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants. All proceeds are used exclusively for nursing assistant related projects. Donations are also gladly accepted and may be tax deductible.

For more information contact Career Nurse Assistants Programs, 3577 Easton Road, Norton, Ohio 44203 or email to
� Career Nurse Assistants Programs, Inc 1990