FHCA Recognizes Local Certified Nursing Assistant with Statewide Award

Shae Brown writes winning submission for statewide CNA Essay Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 12, 2014                                       
CONTACT: Kristen Knapp, APR                                                                  
(850) 701-3530 or kknapp@fhca.org

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Health Care Association is pleased to recognize Shae Brown, Certified Nursing Assistant at Haven of Our Lady of Peace of Pensacola, as the 2014 winner of FHCA’s CNA Essay Contest. This annual program is held in honor of National Nursing Assistants Week (June 12-19) and helps to raise awareness about the important role of Certified Nursing Assistants and their contributions to high quality care and quality of life for Florida’s more than 70,000 nursing home residents and patients. Ms. Brown wrote the winning essay for FHCA’s CNA Essay Contest, drawing from her personal experiences working with residents in long term care facilities.

 “Ms. Brown is an excellent example of what successful long term care nursing assistants contribute to the high quality care delivered to the residents in our FHCA member facilities. We are proud to honor her for her dedication and commitment to the profession,” said FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed.

Shae Brown has been a CNA at Haven of Our Lady of Peace for six years. Administrator Martha Perez, who has known Ms. Brown for over 15 years, said she is one of the most amazing CNAs she has ever had the pleasure of working with. “She takes her work very seriously, making sure the residents’ needs are always met,” said Perez. “She also likes to have fun, and you always see her smiling and laughing.”

FHCA’s 2014 CNA Essay Contest asked Certified Nursing Assistants working in the Association’s 500+ member nursing homes and assisted living facilities (ALF) to submit up to 500 words about their personal experiences surrounding a designated theme. This year’s theme, “Back to Basics, Paying Attention to Activities of Daily Living,” encouraged CNAs to write about their experiences supporting residents in nursing homes and ALFs with their activities of daily living (ADLs): that is personal care, mobility, nutrition, using assistive devices, supporting resident’s rights, providing end-of-life care and so much more.

Ms. Brown earned a $500 award for her winning entry. Additional winners of the 2014 contest included Second Place Winner Cynthia Graham of Life Care Center of Hilliard and Third Place Winner Tiffany Robinson, also of Haven of Our Lady of Peace.  To read Ms. Brown's winning essay, along with the second and third place essays, click here.

Pictured from left: Martha Perez, Administrator; Shae Brown; Carrie Roberts, DON

ABOUT THE FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
Celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2014, Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is a federation that serves almost 1,000 members and represents more than 500 long term care facilities that provide skilled nursing, post-acute and sub-acute care, short-term rehab, assisted living and other services to the frail elderly and individuals with disabilities in Florida. The mission of FHCA is to advance the quality of services, image, professional development and financial stability of its members. As Florida's first and largest advocacy organization for long term care providers and the elderly they serve, the Association has worked diligently since 1954 to assist its members with continuously improving quality of care and quality of life for the state’s growing elder care population. For more information about Florida Health Care Association, visit [url=http://www.fhca.org]http://www.fhca.org[/url].  

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