Consulate Health Care Nurses Win Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) Awards

Annually, the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) honors top professionals in the long-term care field with a series of prestigious achievement awards. FHCA represents hundreds of long-term care centers across the state of Florida. During the 2021 Nurse Leadership Program, three Consulate Health Care nurses were recognized for their commitment to excellence and quality.

Verdell Larkins, Registered Nurse at Harbor Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, has been recognized as the 2021 Registered Nurse of the Year. Larkins has more than five decades of long-term care nursing experience, with 12 of those years working at Harbor Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. As the RN supervisor, Larkins is described as an educator and mentor to her fellow nursing staff and is known for her problem-solving ability. Her priority is always her residents, and her calm demeanor and compassion have given her the ability to put the residents, their loved ones and her team members at ease during challenging times.

“I love my job. I do this because I truly enjoy it, and I am so happy to see my efforts are being noticed by people here at the care center,” Larkins said. She told us she had no idea she was going to win the award and held back tears. “I am 76 years old, and I am just glad I am still able to come in and help,” Larking explained she is humbled by the honor of being nominated by her peers. She thanked her coworker, her residents, and the Florida Health Care Association. It is an honor to have an individual so dedicated to helping our residents heal, like Verdell, in our Consulate family.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at Consulate Health Care of Winter Haven, Charmaine Jobe, has been recognized as Florida’s LPN of the Year. Jobe has nearly two decades of nursing experience, with more than seven years spent at Consulate Health Care of Winter Haven. Her knowledge and expertise, along with her ability to build relationships with residents and family members, are what make her a top- notch leader. She knows how to build their trust and always follows through on calls and visits to make sure the residents and families have what they need. She is described as an excellent communicator, which is important in handling the facility’s hospice referrals and speaking with families, and supporting the residents during their end-of-life care.

As the case manager and social services director at the care center, she does a phenomenal job being present when her patients need her. Charmaine is genuinely passionate about what she does and never hesitates to help her team and other departments around the center when she is needed. “I like to treat everyone as if they were part of my family and exactly how I would like a family member of mine to be treated,” Jobe explained. She also thanked her family for being there for her and giving her strength during these challenging times, and her Consulate family for their support.

Andrea Mattern, assistant director of clinical services and infection preventionist at Countryside Rehab and Nursing Center in Palm Harbor, was recognized as the 2021 Rising Star in Long Term Care Nursing. In the eight years Mattern has been in long-term care nursing, her attention to detail and extensive  experience, put her in the critical position of overseeing the facility’s precautionary measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mattern was responsible for coordinating COVID-19 testing, educating staff and coordinating vaccination clinics, along with telehealth visits, data collection and documentation compliance. Her coworkers describe her as a compassionate team worker, always showing her integrity and respect for the residents through her actions.

“It was a surprise to receive this award, such an honor. I cried when I heard my name being called,” she said. Andrea explained that she works hard to do the right thing for her residents and give their families comfort knowing they are well cared for. “Our success was all about our teamwork, we learn from one another,” Mattern thanked her team and every person she worked with this past year for the knowledge she gained. She also dedicated this award to her father, who was her biggest supporter while she was in nursing school; he passed away last year but was incredibly proud of all her accomplishments.