Virginia Health Services

Our dietary team is dedicated to providing nourishment served with care to individuals at our nursing and rehabilitation centers, and assisted and independent living communities. They support their colleagues with meals and helping with events for residents. They provide nutritional meals and snacks daily to residents, serving up smiles along the way. Thanks to our team for all you do to support individuals to live their best life! #HCFSWW2024 #NutritionExcellence #AHFBetterTogether

We wished Mitzi Fields, the Director of Medical Oversight at The Arbors Independent Living, the best in retirement this week. Her 47-year nursing career included the last 14 years at The Arbors. "It has been my professional privilege and personal joy to serve in my nursing role at The Arbors for these last 14 years," she says. "I am so grateful for the opportunity to care for the residents alongside my wonderful and supportive colleagues. I have had many valuable and memorable experiences. ... What a tremendous blessing these 47 years of nursing have been! I thank God for allowing me to serve others in such a fulfilling and gratifying profession. It has been my honor and delight to be a part of the Arbors family." Thank you for your service, Mitzi, and for supporting our residents and team to live their best life!

Congratulations to our most recent Gloucester apprenticeship program graduates! Oneisha Gray (salutatorian) and Kacee Heath (valedictorian) graduated from Care Assistants to Nurse Aides during a ceremony Thursday at Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. They join the Walter Reed team as they prepare for their certification exam to be a CNA. The earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship program includes classwork, clinical skills labs, on-the-floor experience and covers the cost of the state exam. The women were described as "compassionate, caring and having heart" by instructor Tracy Williams, RN, BSN. They exhibited perseverance throughout the program, which they were encouraged to use as career stepping stone in healthcare. Our Administrator Bryant Hudgins and Virginia Health Services President & CEO Mark Klyczek were keynote speakers and encouraged the graduates to continue career paths in healthcare - pathways that opened leadership roles for them. Bryant and Director of Education Princess Henderson, RN, BSN, both began in the CNA program with VHS and the organization continues to support their career development. Learn more about our apprenticeship program at vahs.com/apprenticeship. #apprenticeship #cnajobs #nursingjobs #nursingcareers

Congratulations to our most recent graduates of the apprentice program! Six students graduated from Care Assistants to Nurse Aides in the earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship program, and will join the teams at Coliseum Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, York Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, The Newport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and VHS Home Health Care. The program also covers the cost of the state certification exam to be a CNA. The graduates are Ressie May (valedictorian), Keajah Brooks (salutatorian), Kaylan Movilla (Clinical Superlative), Masiyah Miller (Champion Award), Jasmine Davis and Kelicia Pressy. “This class gave me the hands-on experience that I feel every person needs to have before working in healthcare. We worked through long days of study, challenging clinicals, and the endless practice of perfecting every task, from taking vital signs to the essential daily care of residents. Now, we stand ready to step into a career that’s not just a job but a calling.” Ressie said in her valedictory address.   “…Nursing is often described as the heart of healthcare, and as future CNAs, we are at the core of that heart. We will be the hands that comfort, the ears that listen, and the eyes that notice when something is wrong. In many cases, we will be the ones who make the difference between a patient’s good day and a bad one. That’s a tremendous responsibility, but it’s also a privilege.” Learn more about the program at vahs.com/apprenticeship/

It's National Nursing Professional Development Week, and invite you to join us in celebrating the hard work that our team of nursing professional development practitioners do every day to educate and support our clinical team! The team is the first group to try out new equipment and deliver training; leads the earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship program; organizes in-services for ongoing training; and helps the nursing team connect with programs to advance in the field. Thanks for all you do to support the growth of our team! Read more about the nursing professional development the VHS education team supports: https://lnkd.in/edtD-UEe. #NPDWeek

We are proud to celebrate National Rehabilitation Awareness Week this year with AMRPA. Our VHS Rehabilitation team of physical, speech and occupational therapists work in our outpatient location at Port Warwick, in skilled nursing centers, senior living communities and more. This week, we reflect on the remarkable patient outcomes that are achieved through the power of medical rehabilitation. Thanks to our team for all you do to support individuals to live their best life! #NRAW2024 #NationalRehabilitationAwarenessWeek #PowerOfMedicalRehab

During National AL Week, we also celebrated senior living with our residents at The Arbors Independent Living. The Back-to-School celebration started with residents sharing their school pride during a "Back 2 School Bash." Hampton High and Newport News High alumni were well represented, and there were alums from Ferguson, York, Bethel and several others (including those not on the Peninsula) showing off their school spirit. The residents also tried to identify who was who in school and baby photos. The week culminated with a signature Homecoming event. Residents dressed up for the occasion and enjoyed a sit-down champagne cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres that included pigs-in-a-blanket, sliders, mini grilled cheese, spanakopita and bacon-wrapped scallops. Entertainment was provided by Mary Saunders, who sang a variety of favorites. The residents nominated a homecoming court and voted on their king and queen. You could feel the anticipation build during the event until the king and queen were crowned. There may have been a few tears of happiness all around. Congratulations to Marshall and Cat! Both are former Hampton High Crabbers. It was truly a special week. Special thanks to The Arbors team for working hard to ensure it was a memorable one for everyone! #seniorliving

For National Assisted Living Week, The Hamilton transformed into a cruise liner, transporting residents all over North America. Cruise Director Kirstie planned a trip that took residents to Alaska (axe throwing and caricatures); a stop in Cuba for Havana Nights Bingo and a trip to Yorktown Beach; an at-sea day with a Captain's Lunch of surf and turf and onboard show featuring Elvis; a stop in the Caribbean with food of Haitian and Panamanian inspiration; and the final stop in Aruba, where residents went "scuba diving" for oysters with pearls to make jewelry and a Splash Bash where no one was safe from the water balloons and squirt guns. It was an amazing week enjoyed by the team and all of our residents. The dietary team complimented each stop with beautiful spreads, including a lovely Caribbean-inspired farmers market, and the nursing staff ensured residents safely attended every event. Thanks to all for making the week so special! #NALW #assistedliving #assistedlivingcommunity

We celebrate our residents at all of our senior living communities this week! The National Assisted Living Week's theme is "Inspiring Generations" and the residents' stories we're sharing embrace that spirit. They've inspired their family members, friends, former coworkers and our team throughout their lives, and were kind enough to share their stories with us all. The Fleshmans met after both moved to the Peninsula for jobs. Bob attended the Apprentice School and worked as a designer and did contract estimates at the Newport News shipyard for 43 years. In addition to being a homemaker, Ruby was a secretary at a hospital and a church. After retiring to Staunton, they moved back to York County to be closer to their daughter and her family. Now they call The Hamilton Assisted Living home. Also a resident of The Hamilton, Peggy Bruce has claimed a nomad life, but settled in the region for band life and her late husband, a retired Navy lieutenant commander. She's been a model, a singer, a social worker and more, all the while collecting cool stories and friends. Lynn Bush made Virginia home at The Arbors Independent Living after moving from Colorado to be closer to her son, daughter-in-law and only grandson. While what she's seen of the state so far is via outings with The Arbors or her grandson's baseball games, she says, "I love it here. ... It is perfect. I don’t have to cook, I don’t have to clean up too much. I just love it.” She find everyone at The Arbors to be friendly, which made the transition to her new home much smoother. Terri Merendino started working while still in school at age 13. She's been wowing bosses since, taking on jobs in New York City, Jersey City (where she grew up) and Newport News, where she and husband Tony of 66 years moved to when he oversaw regional sales for Pepperidge Farm. They spend time with their family that lives nearby. “My darling children decided I should be in a senior dwelling and not have to worry about anything,” she says with a smile. Get to know more about these inspiring residents at https://lnkd.in/efZpapWE. #NALW #assistedliving #seniorliving

Join us for the final Recruiting Roadshow of 2024! From Sept. 23-26, VHS Senior Recruiters Colleen Reynolds and Renée Turner will host the Roadshow at our seven nursing and rehabilitation centers. They will conduct on-site interviews and guide interested candidates through the application process. Learn more about career opportunities with VHS and get to know our team during these events: 📆York Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and The Hamilton Assisted Living, 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Sept. 23. 📆Coliseum Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1-4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23. 📆James River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24. 📆The Newport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and The Huntington Assisted Living, 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Sept. 25. 📆Northampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25. 📆Lancashire Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, Sept. 26. (Job fair will include refreshments and a drawing!) 📆Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. Visit vahs.com/careers to apply early. We look forward to meeting you! #cnajobs #rnjobs #nursingjobs #nursingcareers #lpnjobs