Congratulations on 30 years with us, Tamara Brown-Stevens (affectionately known as Big Mama)! We love we get to celebrate this milestone anniversary during CNA Week. Big Mama joined the team at James River fresh out of the CNA program through the former Career Development program in Newport News. She has worked in six of VHS’s seven nursing and rehabilitation centers, but for the most part, been at James River. “I’ve always been a CNA. I came in as a scared CNA and was on Monticello unit at James River,” she says. “There were some tough women there. I had a mentor - mentor program was great – and it wasn’t a senior aide, but Janice Sawyer … we still keep in touch. “I’ve been around, spreading my love.” She was nicknamed “Big Mama” by a resident, and it stuck. “I don’t pick up my feet; you can hear me coming from a mile away,” she says with a laugh. “Everybody knows me as Big Mama.” She originally thought she would pursue nursing, but is hesitant to prick anyone with a needle. “You wouldn’t want that for your loved ones. I’m happy being an aide. I love people and I know how to give respect, patience – a lot of patience,” she says. Her advice to incoming CNAs is to love the senior population. “The main reason for being here is the residents,” she says. “Love the elderly population. Try to be a good team player – sometimes it’s hard … but you have to have patience and be respectful.” There are former residents’ family members who keep in touch with her, continuing to thank her for the care and compassion she provided during their time at James River. She gets cards, letters, and runs into them in the community. In 30 years, she has often unofficially served as a mentor for new CNA team members, including VHS Director of Education Princess Henderson, RN, BSN. “Thinking back to my first day working with Big Mama, I thought I was the boss on Jefferson unit. I quickly learned that she was old school and had a lot of knowledge that would help me become a better CNA,” Princess said. “I worked with her through nursing school and she was one of my biggest supporters at James River. She continuously lets me know how proud she is of me!” Big Mama will tell you she is “fanatical” about making sure residents in her care are clean and smell good — “I carry a bag of soaps and lotions with me everywhere,” she says. She and her husband have a daughter and three grandchildren “I absolutely adore,” she says. She also has a pug named Sassy and likes to bargain hunt. Big Mama loves to talk and will visit the sick and shut-ins when she isn’t on the floor at James River. “Anybody who needs love, when I’m off, I’m there for you,” she says. She says VHS is a good company — and the job is all about what you make of it. “Every day is a new day to make a big difference,” she says. “Be nice to people. Try to brighten up your residents’ day and be nice. It’s all about the residents. Make them shine.” #CNAWeek #CNAWeek2024
Jessica Mitchell
3mo
Congrats Tamara!!
Process Improvement Manager at Virginia Health Services
3moCongratulations 💕