As the pandemic continued, and the strain on every senior care employee grew, two nurses wanted to recognize the sacrifices made by their CNA coworkers at Marquis Mt. Tabor. But for Chris Bell and Leslie McKibben, writing thank-you cards and buying pizza just didn’t seem like enough to share their deep and honest gratitude.

So instead, with their own money, these RNs purchased brand-new stethoscopes (valued at $70 each) for every one of the CNAs working on their unit, a gesture that lifted morale and made a real impact.

For Chris and Leslie’s gesture of generosity and appreciation, they were nominated and recognized as Marquis Legends, a prestigious program that honors employees who make a defining act in a defining moment.

The last two years have been very challenging, and all Marquis staff have made sacrifices to take care of our residents,” said Zach Fogg, vice president of operations, at a Mt. Tabor all-staff where he presented them with the award. “But you went above and beyond, and I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.

When the applause died down, the two took a moment to talk about why they did what they did. Chris explained how the stethoscopes could be used not only at work, but by those who are furthering their CNA education or pursuing nursing careers. “It just felt right,” he said.

“In these hard times, we as nurses couldn’t provide half of what the residents deserve without our CNAs,” added Leslie. “They’re just as important as we are, and we wouldn’t be up here today without them.”