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Charlene Payne - November 2008

Charlene Payne, a certified nursing assistant and an aide with Home Care Services, was selected as Haywood Regional Medical Center’s Employee of the Month for November.

Payne received her certified nursing assistant degree 10 years ago at Haywood Community College. She began working at Haywood Regional eight years ago, taking care of personal needs and household duties for homebound patients.

“This is my calling from God. I work with a great bunch of people, which allows me to do my job well,” Payne said.

Born in the Lake Junaluska community, Payne and her husband of 36 years, Mike Payne, have a son, daughter and six grandchildren. Michael Payne Jr. builds bridges for the N.C. Department of Transportation and Donna Payne Best is a registered nurse at the Haywood County Health Department.

“I love spending time with my children and grandchildren, my church and reading my Bible, and fishing,” Payne said.

Payne was nominated for the Employee of the Month award by a relative of one of Payne’s clients.

“Over the years, I have watched my family member gradually deteriorate. We are so fortunate to have Charlene assist our family member,” the relative wrote on a Catch Someone nomination card, cards available at Haywood Regional to recognize outstanding employees.

“Charlene has stepped up to the challenge and is very knowledgeable. She is always tolerant and kind, especially when she needs to repeat things over and over,” the family member wrote.

“Charlene goes above and beyond the call of duty. She is extremely organized and keeps our family member clean, fed, stimulated, and consistently follows her medication and blood sugar regime. I have been an RN for over 30 years and supervised many assistants, Charlene is ‘tops’ in my book. She continually provided us the best care,” the family member wrote.

Payne said she was thankful and overwhelmed by the Employee of the Month designation.

“It’s good to know that a patient feels that way about me,” she said