Editor’s Note: McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care are profiling the McKnight’s 2023 Women of Distinction honorees daily from July 5 to Aug. 15. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.

From a background in manufacturing, waitressing and bartending, Robin Nelson made the move to healthcare in 1995 when she earned her certified nursing assistant certification. Within a year, she moved from working at a medium-sized facility in Westwood, NH, to a 150-bed government-owned and operated skilled nursing facility, where she has worked ever since. 

She began her employment at Maplewood of Cheshire County in 1996, working full-time as she also raised two children as a single mother. By 2004, she was promoted to occupational therapy aide, returning to school to earn her degree as a registered nurse in 2010. 

After working as a floor nurse at Maplewood for two years after earning her RN, Nelson made the move into a leadership position. She was named the assistant director of nursing services in 2014 and was promoted to director of nursing in 2018. Nelson also is known to help with administrator duties at Maplewood wherever needed. Nelson was an instrumental part in efforts to unionize at Maplewood and helped shape the first collective bargaining agreement in 2006. 

She has been recognized twice by the state as County Nursing Home Employee of the Year. In addition to her professional work, Nelson is a leader and advocate for various employee and community groups.

Her leadership and hard work have been recognized in every role she has filled at Maplewood, with Nelson leading initiatives on safety, falls prevention and quality improvement. Nelson played a large role in helping to facilitate large-scale renovations and additions at Maplewood, and she is known for picking up various levels of caregiving shifts—and even housekeeping duties—throughout the facility in times of need.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.