CNA, child care worker at LHGS named Chamber Employee of the Month

The county's largest employer is host to its second Employee of the Month. Brooke Cook, a CNA at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd's Heritage House, received the award for January.

Marydean Weinmann nominated Cook for the award. "I have personally witnessed her interaction with the tenants, and she is a gal who obviously enjoys her job, enjoys interacting and conversing with them, and makes people feel special," Weinmann wrote.

A native of Sheyenne, Cook attended her last two years of high school and graduated from Four Winds Community School in Fort Totten after Sheyenne consolidated with New Rockford. She then worked in the childcare center at Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten, serving as its Assistant Director. After she and her boyfriend moved to New Rockford four years ago, she decided to look for work right here at home.

She found LHGS, a place where she could work with kids, like she enjoyed, and be able to take her preschool aged son to work with her as she did in Fort Totten. She began working at the LHGS in-house daycare, a center available only to children of employees, and at a discounted rate.

The daycare is not lacking children, as many other working parents have discovered the convenience the in-house daycare provides. On days like Monday, Jan. 20, when NR-S School isn't in session, the daycare is filled with kids who come to work with their parents. Early out days and storm days are no exception. On school days, the kids ride the Eddy County Transportation bus to and from school, so drop off and pick up are of no concern to staff.

"Now I don't know what we'd do without it," she said of the daycare, noting that it would be hard to work elsewhere, since it is a perk that no other employer in the county offers. "I trust them with the world," she said of her fellow staff.

Cook got a birthday present two years ago when she was hired to work at the Heritage House. Now she spends most of her time there, about 56 hours per week cleaning, serving lunch, administering medications and visiting with the tenants. "They wait on us hand and foot," said tenant Lois Erickson, who has lived at Heritage House for five years now.

"I never thought I'd work in a nursing home," Cook said, adding that all the tenants at Heritage House have become family to her. "Now, I can't see myself going anywhere else."

Cook received her certified nursing assistant (CNA) training right here at LHGS, another perk the company offers its employees. She took her test in Grand Forks and said she quickly learned that there's more to being a CNA than some of the less-attractive tasks people normally associate with the position.

"It's about the relationships you build with people," she declared. And as for the training, it is more intuitive than one might think. She advises anyone considering CNA work to trust their abilities and not let test anxiety get the better of them.

Cook also appreciates that she has the opportunity to continue working part-time at the daycare, as she thinks it's great that the kids recognize her and give her a warm welcome when she arrives. The change of pace keeps her job interesting.

Have you experienced great customer service from an employee of a local business? If so, please consider nominating that person for this award. Nomination cards and forms are available in the table tents and on bulletin boards at local businesses. Forms can be printed from the organization's webpage, http://www.cityofnewrockford.com/chamber. Nominations can also be submitted via email to [email protected].