JBR Welcomes Zeames as New Administrator

November 2023 – SPRINGVILLE, NY — The Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home has announced it has hired a new administrator, Sharon Zeames, RN, BA, MSED, NHA to manage operations for the facility.

Sharon comes to us with a wealth of experience and knowledge in all aspects of long-term care. Over the course of her career, she has worked her way up from RN to Administrator. She has also held teaching positions at Trocaire and Bryant & Stratton in workforce development and LPN programs.

Sharon is married with two grown children and five grandchildren. She is very excited to be part of the Springville community and looks forward to working with our residents. “My love and desire to work with the elderly has always been a passion of mine” says Zeames.

“We are very excited and thankful to have someone with Sharon’s expertise and understanding of the complexities of long-term care on our team”, states Teresa Donohue, CEO of Bertrand Chaffee Hospital. 

Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home CNA Training Class Starting on September 12

Jennie B. Richmond is hiring CNA’s and has a training class beginning on September 12, 2022! Looking for a new career this fall? After successful completion of the four-week training course and probation period, new CNA’s will be eligible for a sign-on bonus!
If interested in applying or to learn more, please email bchjobs@bch-jbr.org or call (716) 592-2871. Deadline to register is August 30, 2022.

JBR becomes a Regional Test Center for the Certification Exam for Nursing Assistants

Photo included: Pictured are graduates from our June 2022 Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program. Pictured L-R JBR Nursing Home Administrator Carole Francis, Elizabeth Dimpfl, Leah Seltzer, Laura Esposito, JBR Assistant Director of Nursing Samantha Vecchio, and JBR Director of Nursing Renna Thaine.

Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home is proud to announce a collaborative agreement with Prometric to become a regional test site for the New York State Nurse Aide Certification Exam. Prometric is a leading provider of technology-enabled testing and assessment solutions to many of the world’s most recognized licensing and certification organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies. They support more than seven million test takers annually at their testing locations in more than 180 countries around the world.

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has contracted with Prometric to develop and administer the New York State (NYS) Nursing Home Nurse Aide Competency Examination and manage the NYS Nursing Home Nurse Aide Registry (NAR). All individuals performing nurse aide duties in a nursing home on a full-time, part-time or contractual basis must meet minimum training and competency requirements in accordance with state and federal regulations and be listed in good standing on the NAR.  The majority of nurse aides on the registry become certified by successfully completing a NYS-approved nursing home nurse aide training program and passing the Competency Examination. The exam consists of two parts: 1) a Clinical Skills exam (practical portion); and 2) a Written (oral) exam.

In early December of 2021, Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home received notification that it was approved for a New York State Nurse Aide Training Program and began to offer training classes in January 2022. Since then, they have had two graduating classes. A challenge the nurse aide candidates was the distance traveling to and from area regional testing sites – some candidates were asked to test 4 hours away. The administration team at Jennie B. felt this limited the chances of candidates passing the exam and as a result, entered into discussions with Prometric to develop a testing area here on the Bertrand Chaffee campus. A computer lab area was created for the written part of the exam and a laboratory area to test clinical skills. “This was no small undertaking as we needed funds to create the computer and simulation laboratories,” reports Carole Francis, Nursing Home Administrator for Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home. “We saw an opportunity to develop and train new and current staff caring for our residents,” commented Renna S. Thaine, Director of Nursing for Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home. “This will allow us to develop candidates’ skill sets so that our residents receive the highest quality of care possible. This is our commitment to them and the communities we deliver care in.”

Training coursework is held regularly throughout the year and paid for by the organization. The next CNA training course will begin on August 1; applications are due by July 25. To learn more about the CNA training program or to apply, please email aszarzanowicz@bch-jbr.org.

Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home Helping the Community Thrive with Health Care Training Program


Pictured L-R: Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home Administrator Carole Francis; CNA Training Graduates Danielle Spencer, Kelsey Wood, Molly Shanahan, Brianna Stutzman, Charla Walsh; Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home Director of Nursing Renna Thaine. Missing from photo is Harley Lafferty.

Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home invests in the future of our employees. We know that caring for our staff extends to our exceptional patient and resident care. “Every positive resident experience is made better by our associates. That’s why we invest in our team by supporting and fostering their career growth.  At BCH and JBR, we want you to reach your full potential, which is why we deliver the training and programs to do just that” reports Carole Francis, Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.

Are you looking to find a job and also help out your community? You may think you need a college degree to work in a field like health care. Although many employers look for prior experience or certificates to fill health care jobs, some health care positions require none at all. In fact, they can be learned through on-the-job training. The health sector is one of the best places to get your foot in the door before moving up a very diverse career ladder that offers the promise of long-term job security. Individuals in these entry-level positions support physicians and nurses in many ways. For example, Personal Care Aides assist with non-physical resident care, escort residents to appointments, keep residents’ rooms neat, set up equipment, store and move supplies, as well as assist elderly residents with making beds, doing laundry, passing trays at mealtimes and engaging the elderly in social conversations. Oftentimes, individuals in this position train to move up to the position of a Certified Nurse Assistant.

Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home’s Certified Nursing Assistant training program is a great way to gain valuable hands-on clinical experience in the field of nursing care. Jennie B.’s program is free and requires minimal qualifications. Certified Nursing Assistants provide direct resident care and perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. They may assist with some procedures, as well as report on any changes to a patient’s physical, mental and emotional condition. Trainees must complete a state-approved education program and pass their state’s competency exam to become certified.

Recently, Jennie B. Richmond Chaffee Nursing Home in Springville graduated five new Certified Nursing Assistants from their training program held in March. “This is our second class of trainees and we are happy to see them strive and succeed,” states Renna Thaine, Director of Nursing for Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home.

As health care continues to grow as an industry, so will the need for workers in a variety of roles—many of which won’t even require you to have a college degree. Are you trying to get your foot in the door, but aren’t sure where to start? Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home is actively recruiting for a variety of positions such as registered nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), personal care aides (PCAs) and screeners. Our next CNA Training course is starting soon. Training coursework is held regularly throughout the year and paid for by the organization. The next CNA training course will begin on May 2; applications are due by April 25. To learn more about the CNA training program or to apply, please email bchjobs@bch-jbr.org.

BCH-JBR Celebrates First Graduation Class for Nursing Assistant Training Program

The healthcare field is one of the top industries in the 2020s and continues to grow. Bertrand Chaffee Hospital and Jennie B. Richmond Chaffee Nursing Home in Springville are pleased to announce the first graduating class of their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, which was held in January.

The CNA training course is offered at the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital/Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home campus and is approved by the New York State Department of Health. Coursework consists of three components, including Theory and Fundamentals, Lab, and Clinical. Enrollees in the training program are given the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes to function safely in a clinical setting. Those who successfully complete all components of the course and the State of New York examination will receive a State of New York Certification for Nursing Assistant.

“Our training course prepares candidates for a career as a CNA. Our comprehensive and balanced classes for students interested in becoming CNA’s consist of an individual who provides basic care under the supervision of a licensed nurse,” states Renna Thaine, Director of Nursing for Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home. “Certified Nursing Assistants, both locally and nationally, are one of the most in-demand jobs in the allied healthcare field and we want to recruit caring compassionate individuals that want to learn and grow with our organization.”

“Bertrand Chaffee Hospital and Jennie B. Richmond Chaffee Nursing Home are keeping healthcare needs local for our surrounding communities and keeping job opportunities local,” states Carole Francis, Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.

Training coursework is held regularly throughout the year and paid for by the organization. The next CNA training course will begin on March 7; applications are due by February 15. To learn more about the CNA training program or to apply, please email aszarzanowicz@bch-jbr.org.

Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home Hosting CNA Class starting January 3

Jennie B. Richmond is hiring CNA’s and has a training class beginning on January 3, 2022! Looking for a new career to start the New Year? After successful completion of the four-week training course and probation period, new CNA’s will be eligible for a sign-on bonus!
If interested in applying or to learn more, please email aszarzanowicz@bch-jbr.org or call (716) 592-2871.

Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home COVID-19 Update Regarding Visitation

Updated: 9/1/2020

Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home received notification of a consultant recently working in our facility who tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, following guidelines set by the NYS Department of Health and exercising caution for our residents and employees, Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home is suspending all visitations for the next 28 days. Exceptions to this visitation suspension are only if a resident has had a significant change in condition, is on end of life care, or on Hospice. Families and friends are encouraged to communicate with their loved ones residing at Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home by phone call, Facetime call, or Zoom meeting, which can be facilitated through Nursing Home employees.

“Our staff has and continues to go to great lengths to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of our residents – our number one priority,” said Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home Administrator Allysa Olsen. “Our thoughts are with the individual who tested positive. We are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of our residents and staff and taking great strides to maintain communication between our residents and their loved ones during this time.”

Staff members at Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home continue to work diligently to keep residents and employees safe. Guidelines from the NYS Department of Health have and continue to be strictly implemented and followed. Employees have their temperatures taken and are screened for symptoms before and after every shift and are tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. Staff members wear masks and other appropriate personal protective equipment throughout their entire shift. Increased frequency of assessment of residents’ health and well-being is taking place. In addition to routine cleaning, increased sanitization, especially of high-touch areas, is taking place. Residents remain in their rooms except for ambulation and small group activities, in which they remain socially distanced and wear face masks. Family members of our residents are provided daily updates via call or email.

Family members of residents at Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home may contact the following staff members with any questions:

Allysa Olsen, Administrator (716) 592-2871 x 1201
Renna Thaine, Director of Nursing (716) 592-2871 x 1285

JBR Welcomes Olsen as New Administrator

March 11, 2019 – SPRINGVILLE, NY  — The Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home has announced it has hired a new administrator, Allysa L. Olsen, to manage operations for the 80-bed facility in Springville.

Olsen brings to the Jennie B. a background in social work and crisis counseling. She has experience in assisted living, long-term care and sub-acute rehabilitation facilities in Western New York, specializing in admissions and discharge processes as well as advocating for resident rights and needs. She earned a Long-term Care Administration Certificate from D’Youville College, and a Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University at Buffalo. The South Buffalo native began work on March 11.

“I’m eager to meet the residents and staff at the Jennie B.,” said Olsen. “JBR is a treasured part of Springville and I look forward to maintaining its tradition of quality long-term nursing care and short-term rehab services.”

“Allysa has a wealth of social work experience,” said Bertrand Chaffee Hospital CEO Nils Gunnersen. “We’re looking for her to continue our focus on residents’ medical, social and emotional needs.”