News - CNA at Pender Memorial Hospital wins regional Caregiver Superstar Award

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CNA at Pender Memorial Hospital wins regional Caregiver Superstar Award
10/28/2008
Pender Memorial Hospital has many superstar caregivers on its staff, but only Certified Nursing Assistant Lizine Lewis has the plaque to prove it.

Mrs. Lewis was honored with the Region O Caregiver Superstar of 2008 award on October 14 at a celebration held by the Cape Fear Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging. Her husband and children as well as many of her nursing coworkers were on hand for the surprise announcement.

'I was speechless!' said Mrs. Lewis, who has been a Certified Nursing Assistant since 1972. 'I could do other things, but this is my calling. I don't care how bad I feel, I can go into a patient room and I get something back from them.'

The Superstar Caregiver award is presented annually to a deserving certified nursing assistant who works with the older adult population. A committee of five judges selected Mrs. Lewis out of many top-notch nominees from four counties in the Cape Fear region.

Mrs. Lewis was an obvious choice for the award, says Ann Pirt, RN, who nominated her for the honor.

'Never have I witnessed such a compassion for others than what Lizine displays daily,' said Mrs. Pirt. 'She is not afraid to hold the hand of a dying patient, or sit patiently in the room and listen to a lonely husband describe his wife of 50 years, who now has Alzheimer's and does not remember him. The family member would never know that she has seven other patients to bathe and feed.'

In July, Mrs. Lewis completed a specialized geriatric program for CNAs through Cape Fear Community College. Two days a week, she worked at Pender Memorial in the mornings before attending class for four hours and then returning for the afternoon to finish her shift. She did this for five months, during which time she also suffered the tragic loss of her granddaughter. But she did not let that keep her from completing the program or taking care of her patients.

'I respect her for her eagerness to better herself through education,' said Mrs. Pirt. 'I admire her strength to carry on when personal pain is almost unbearable, and I love her for the kindness she shows to her patients daily.'

Betty Godwin, RN, Director of Patient Care Services at Pender Memorial, completely agrees.

'We all look forward to working with Lizine because we can count on her to do a great job with an upbeat attitude,' said Mrs. Godwin. 'She is known for her hugs and kindness. She cares for her patients as any of us would want our loved ones cared for.'

'I love it here. I planted a seed here, but everybody has watered it,' said Mrs. Lewis of Pender Memorial Hospital, where she has worked for 24 years. 'I like to think I really do make a difference.'

If you are a superstar caregiver and would be interested in a career at Pender Memorial Hospital, please visit www.pendermemorial.org.
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