In honor of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Week 2026, William F. Green Veterans Home Administrator Quinn Birmingham sat down with Quirson Hale, CNA, to discuss what inspired her to serve as a CNA, why she chose to join HMR, what keeps her going after more than two decades, and the origin story of her nickname.
Birmingham: Your years of service have made a lasting impact on our Veterans, families, and staff here at William F. Green Veterans Home Bay Minette, Alabama. Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us. What inspired you to become a CNA at the outset of your career?
Hale: When I was about 10 years old, a CNA worked for home health, and she used to come in and do such a wonderful job with my grandma. After she would leave, I would try to step up and make sure everything was taken care of the way she had it before she left. So that’s when I decided I wanted to take care of the elderly. And that CNA is actually one of my coworkers still to this day.
Birmingham: How long have you been a CNA? And how many of those years have been with HMR?
Hale: I’ve been a CNA for 24 years. I’ve also been employed here at HMR for 24 years.
Birmingham: Now that you are decades into your career, what do you love most about being a CNA?
Hale: HMR is like a big family. I’ve watched some of my coworkers grow up from being small, from working here so long ago with their moms, to seeing them graduate and become nurses and stuff.
HMR is just, there’s no place like home. Wonderful place to work.
Birmingham: Can you share with us a story that stands out to you the most in your tenure? Perhaps one that illustrates why you’ve been with HMR as long as you have …
Hale: The fact that my nickname is Peanut, and I gained that name while working here. From one of my supervisors, when I worked in restorative, and we would have to come in and greet the residents as they first arrived. So my name is Quirson, which is a hard name to pronounce. So she would say, “Well, you can call her Peanut.” I was Peanut because I was the youngest of the group that I worked with. Still to this day, I’m known as Peanut because when the Veterans introduce me to other Veterans, they’ll say, “This is Peanut. And if you need something, you can go to Peanut.” So it just keeps going.
Birmingham: Very sweet. And then lastly, our wildcard. What is one thing that even your long-term coworkers might not know about you that you want to share?
Hale: Well, they don’t know that I basically gave myself an additional kind of job here. When we have new employees come to work on D Wing, I hold my own orientation. It could be my RN supervisor, my charge nurse. I just give them the rundown of how things work at William F. Green, and how we get it done. Mostly, if they need anything, I’m one of the faces they can come find.
Birmingham: Very sweet. Well, on behalf of HMR, thank you so much for your dedication, love, and all the hard work that you pour into caring for our Veterans, families, and the staff that surrounds you. With that being said, I have the honor of informing you that you have been elected for the CNA of the Month, which comes as no surprise with that beautiful smile and energy that you bring to the table.
Hale: Thanks. Thank you so much.
Birmingham: Anything else you want to share?
Hale: I love this facility. I love this family. We’re more than coworkers, we’re a family. And I just appreciate everyone. My supervisors, my administrator, they always take the time to acknowledge. If you’ve done something wrong, they’ll let you know as well, but they will pull you to the side, and that encourages me to keep doing what I’m doing.
Birmingham: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with us, and keep doing an amazing job. We thank you very much.
Hale: Yes, ma’am. Thank you.
CNA Week 2026 runs from June 11-17, 2026. This interview has been edited lightly.
