The Sweet Memorial Nursing Home Board of Directors is very pleased to announce that Sweet Memorial Nursing Home Administrator Rebecca Shackelford has recently passed her exam, met all the requirements and has received her Nursing Home Administrator License from the Montana Board of Nursing Home Administrators.

Shackelford was hired in December of 2019, "The (COVID-19) pandemic reared its ugly head shortly after that, complicating what would already be a difficult first year for me," said Shackelford. "I would study for my exam when I could, but never could devote the amount of time I preferred while still doing the job I needed to do."

Licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator is huge task to take on and the Montana Board of Nursing Home Administrators Mission statement reads: The mission of the Board of Nursing Home Administrators is to protect the health, safety and well-being of Montana citizens through the licensing of competent health professionals and by the regulation of the related practices to promote the delivery of quality health care. Rebecca certainly has met all of those qualifications and passing her exam recently has provided her that License.

The Sweet Memorial Nursing Home really came together during the pandemic and kept moving forward while providing the best possible care for the Residents. 2020 was hectic and didn't offer up much 'free time'. "Once 2021 began and I got an extension from the Board of Directors on the deadline to have my exam passed," added Shackelford. "I made more of an effort to make time for studying. Whether we have just got the COVID routine down or we are just getting used to the 'new normal', things slowed down enough, and I knew it was time to push to get the examination done. Not just for the Board and facility, but for myself."

Through it all, the added obstacles to receive the licensure was a huge personal accomplishment, "My Administrator licensure has been one of the most rewarding personal accomplishments to date," stated Rebecca. "Most definitely, a year and a half of experience working in the position helped me prepare for the exam. Also, having Jenni (Pula) to follow as Administrator and still having her in the building as a Co-DON, plus having Joni (Myhre) as Co-DON, has been a lifeline of learning. What is it they say...? "Three heads are better than one!"

The Sweet Memorial Nursing Home Board of Directors is extremely pleased with the Sweet Home and what has been accomplished in difficult times. Board President Art Kleinjan expressed plenty of support in giving his endorsement, "I've been on the board now for 36-37 years and with the situation were in, lack of people willing to work, we (the Board) are completely satisfied with the performance of Rebecca and the job she has done at the Nursing Home. Times have been tough, and the Sweet Home has done very well to do the job they do. The Board is very satisfied with the entire staff top to bottom from the administrative office to the RN's, CNA's, Activities and the hole staff in general, that's the way I feel, and I feel confident that I can speak for the board in that regard."

Rebecca has filled her Administrator roll admirably and the transition from Jeni Pula, the previous Administrator to herself has been smooth. Rebecca and the management team are just that, a 'Team'. Jenni is still in the Office as Registered Nurse (RN), Co-Director of Nursing, along with Joni Myhre, RN, as the other Co-Director of Nursing, Jamie MacLeod, MDS Coordinator and Sandra Sorensen, Social Services. Together they bring functionality and team spirit to the entire staff and all of the residents.

"Sweet home is and always has been about teamwork and our goal is always to make our Sweet Home environment the best," said Myhre. "Having gone through the past year together, and accomplishing what we did together all of us, the Administrators and the entire staff are focused on working as one team."