Careers

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Kayla Burner: Building Family Bonds at Salemtowne

At Salemtowne, we are deeply committed to our Moravian foundation and the principles of lifelong learning it embodies. We recognize that continuous education is essential for personal growth and professional development. To support this mission, Salemtowne offers an education assistance program for our team members. This initiative is designed to foster individual growth and empower our team members to reach their fullest potential, ensuring that they thrive both personally and within their professional careers.

Kayla Burner attended Walkertown High School near Winston-Salem and knew during her high school years that she wanted to pursue a career in nursing. To begin her career path, Kayla took advantage of Walkertown High School’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program and began work as a CNA at Salemtowne in 2020 after graduating from high school.

Kayla’s first step towards continuing her education following high school was to become a Certified Medication Aide (CMA) in 2022. Not finished with her education yet, Kayla went back to school at Forsyth Technical Community College and became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). She is proudly the first person in her family to go to college.

“Working in long term care at Salemtowne gives me the opportunity to develop bonds with patients and their families,” Kayla said. “You just don’t get that type of bond working at a hospital. I really get to know my patients —it’s very rewarding work.

“I firmly believe that the best nurses start out as CNAs. Whether as a CNA, CMA, LPN, or something else, there will always be opportunities to work in healthcare,” she added. “I would tell any CNA considering going back to school to become an LPN that working in long term care is definitely a sweet spot for LPNs.”

Kayla also has advice for LPN students: practice and hone skills at a rehabilitation facility. She has worked in several areas during her career at Salemtowne but is now settled in her current role within Salemtowne’s Westerly Place, an environment specifically designed for those living with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive issues.

“I feel blessed by my work schedule at Westerly Place. I work 12-hour days on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays—the rest of my week is free time,” Kayla said. “I’m very happy with my current nursing position, but it does take a person with tremendous patience to care for those dealing with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

“The patients I work with may not remember my name, but they definitely remember me and are happy to see me,” she said. “I also love working with my fellow team members at Salemtowne. As a team, we all work together to make life the very best it can be for our patients.”

In addition to working directly with patients, Kayla works with their family members. She said that she sometimes calls a patient’s family members several times a week to update them and, over time, has become a highly trusted caregiver for their loved ones at Salemtowne’s Westerly Place.

“Memory care patients and their families need consistency, and I very much like providing that,” Kayla said. “I feel most comfortable myself when I’m in a consistent work environment with residents, family members, and staff. It makes me want to stay in memory care work for the long term. I’m so happy where I am now.”