Hickory Creek Celebrates STNA Week

_{June 20, 2024}
June is a special month at Hickory Creek of Athens. It’s a time when we shine a spotlight on the true “Hearts” of our community: our STNAs (State Tested Nursing Assistants)! These remarkable individuals are the backbone of our care team, and their role extends far beyond providing daily care. They are kind, caring, devoted, and compassionate. Every day, they don multiple hats, serving not only as caregivers but also as friends and family to our residents. Their smiles and kind gestures make our residents feel at home, reinforcing the sentiment often echoed by our residents: "They are more like family."



The importance of their role cannot be overstated. They offer emotional and spiritual support when needed, help improve the quality of life for our patients, support the nursing staff, and act as advocates for our patients. In many ways, they are the glue that holds our community together.

This June, our celebrations for STNA Week have been nothing short of festive. The week has been filled with delicious desserts, hearty meals, and a variety of fun games for everyone to enjoy. It’s been a delightful way to show our appreciation for all that they do.



In the spirit of celebration, a few of our dedicated STNAs have shared their experiences, highlighting their years of service, their favorite parts of the job, and the challenges they face.

Connie has been a beacon of care at Hickory Creek for an impressive 34 years, with a total of 42 years as an aide. Reflecting on her journey, she shared that "my favorite part of the job is seeing the residents' smiling faces; I enjoy taking care of and being around them."

Alana, with 21 years of dedicated service as an aide, shared her love for taking care of people, making them smile, and simply being there for them. She admitted that "the hardest part of the job is losing someone that you care about," a sentiment that resonates deeply with all caregivers.

Trudy, who has spent 34 wonderful years at Hickory Creek, expressed her joy in "getting to know all of the different personalities, learning about their backgrounds, and meeting their families." She also noted that "the hardest part is dealing with change and loss," a challenging aspect of the job that comes with the territory.

Jennifer, who has been with us for 5 years and also serves as our Social Services Director, shared her gratitude for being able to work one-on-one with residents, serving the community, and giving back as both a social worker and a caregiver. She acknowledged that "the challenging part in this role is knowing that people aren’t able to always be home," highlighting the delicate balance of providing care while acknowledging the emotional challenges that come with it.

As we celebrate the incredible contributions of our STNAs this June, we are reminded of the profound impact they have on the lives of our residents and their families. Their commitment to care and their compassionate approach make our facility a true home for so many. We are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated and caring individuals on our team. Here’s to our amazing STNAs—thank you for all that you do!

Looking to make a difference in our residents' lives? See what positions we currently have available on our careers page.

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