Chandra Gardner, a certified nursing assistant from the North Carolina State Veterans Home of Black Mountain, was honored with MemoryCare’s Georgia Crump Certified Nursing Assistants Award on December 19, 2024. The award, including a plaque and monetary stipend, was established to honor nursing assistants for the heroic work they do every day. It has been presented annually since 2003. Nominations are solicited from hospitals, hospices, nursing care facilities and home health programs throughout western North Carolina. This award was named to honor Georgia Crump, LPN, in recognition of her passion and dedication for improving working conditions and educational opportunities for nursing assistants.
Ms. Gardner is currently employed on the Memory Support Unit at the North Carolina State Veterans Home of Black Mountain. She was nominated by her charge nurse, Brittany Kirby, for her “patience, resilience, grace, and heart,” stating that she never has an “off” day.
Ms. Kirby wrote in her nominating letter, “Nobody had a clue about the devastation and destruction Helene would bring. Apart from worrying about our own homes and families, we also worried about our facility, vets, and coworkers. Not only did Chandra show up for her shifts amongst the chaos, but she worked six 12+ hour shifts in a row to ensure that our nations heroes received the care they needed and deserved.”