Caregiver of the Year

Congratulations to Delilah Branch, Crockett County Nursing Home's 2008 Caregiver of the Year!

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Think back, its 1972 and where were you? What was your favorite song, what were you doing, or what did you want to be when you grew up? Well, for Delilah Branch it was working in long-term care as a nurse’s aide, which was before the days of certification, OBRA, MDS, weekend RN coverage, and yes, litigation. Back when nursing was simply caring for your PATIENTS and even with all the changes within the industry there is one thing that has not changed and it is Delilah’s love for the elderly.

When Delilah graduated from high school, it was right into long-term care, and for the past 33 years she hasn’t given it another thought. She started as a nurse’s aide, then to LPN school, and in 1988 she graduated from Dyersburg State Community College as a Registered Nurse. Delilah has only worked at one other facility before coming to Crockett County Nursing Home.

Even though Delilah has only been employed at Crockett County Nursing Home since May 11, 2007, it didn’t take long to realize what a wonderful, caring, compassionate, and kind person we had employed. Delilah was employed at the facility as the on-call nurse -- a job that includes working call-ins for other nurses -- but you will never hear her complain about anything, and that includes other office and paperwork detail. Delilah never has idle time, she will often be found in a resident’s room doing nails, feeding, and assisting CNA’s with personal care, or giving extra TLC to that needy resident.

She is very devoted to long-term care, as evidenced by the years of service she has dedicated. Delilah is very diligent in her nursing duties and never turns down an assignment, including working weekends as RN coverage after completing a 40 hour work week. When you meet Delilah you have truly met a genuine nurse. She is also a very devoted mother and grandmother. It is with great pleasure to nominate Delilah Branch, Registered Nurse, as caregiver of the year!