CNA Appreciation!!!
Happy CNA Week: A Tribute to Our Frontline Heroes
By Nurse TLC
HAPPY CNA WEEK!!!
This week, I want to take a moment to shout from the rooftops: THANK YOU to all the CNAs, PCTs, MHTs, BHTs, and HHAs—both current and former—for the tireless work you do every single day. It is because of you that we, as nurses, can do what we do.
We simply can’t be in all places at once. You are our eyes. You are our ears. You are the hands that carry out critical tasks, the voices that speak up when something’s not right, and the hearts that bring comfort and dignity to our patients.
My journey in healthcare began over fifteen years ago when I earned my CNA certification. I started as a Lead CNA and Medication Technician in assisted living, primarily in Memory Care. That role was both one of the hardest and most rewarding of my career. I still hold dear the memories of getting to know my residents, caring for them, and building meaningful rapport with my colleagues and residents alike.
Every day, CNAs and their counterparts work incredibly hard. You take vital signs, assist with daily living tasks, support patients emotionally and physically—all while managing the constant demands of the job. Too often, you do this short-staffed, and without hearing the words you absolutely deserve: Thank you.
I remember working agency at a major hospital right after graduating from nursing school. One night, I was the only CNA on the unit—taking care of nearly 20 patients. Several were total care. It was overwhelming. It felt like I had just finished the last set of vitals when it was already time to start again.
There was one patient in particular that night—an older gentleman who had received GoLYTELY in preparation for a procedure. He was ambulatory, but needed frequent assistance. His daughter was there, but he was too embarrassed to ask her for help, despite her offering. I was by his side the entire night, always with a smile. He was so grateful.
What kept me going that night was one nurse. Just one out of the handful working. She stepped in to grab waters for patients, handed out blankets, and constantly asked if there was anything she could do to help. That act of kindness, that simple teamwork, meant everything.
The moral of the story is simple: Let’s take care of our CNAs. Let’s recognize them. Let’s support them. Let’s lift them up.
To every CNA and all your professional counterparts—those who’ve been in the field for decades, those just starting out, those considering joining—THANK YOU for your dedication, your compassion, your strength, and your heart.
You are the foundation of patient care, and we see you.
Happy CNA Week!
With gratitude,
Nurse TLC
Follow my journey and read more stories at tlcnurselife.wordpress.com