Annette Y. Merge, CNA

Annette Y. Merge, CNA, is a dedicated Certified Nursing Assistant based in Memphis, Tennessee, with decades of experience providing compassionate, hands-on care for older adults. She currently works as an agency nurse with Certified Medical Staffing, supporting nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, and is known for her patient-centered approach and unwavering commitment to the comfort and dignity of her residents.

Annette began caring for others informally at the age of 15, a calling that would shape her career. She earned her original CNA certification in Memphis in 1994 and renewed her training and certification in 2015 at Valley Memorial Healthcare in North Dakota. Throughout her career, she has gained experience across multiple long-term care and rehabilitation settings and has trained Personal Care Assistants (PCAs), sharing her knowledge and expertise with new caregivers entering the field.

Her professional focus centers on geriatrics, emphasizing thoughtful, individualized care. Annette goes beyond clinical tasks to ensure patients’ needs are fully met — whether that means providing snacks, personal attention, or advocacy. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: “If they’re happy, I’m happy,” reflecting her dedication to improving quality of life for older adults every day.

In addition to her clinical work, Annette has shown versatility and resilience. When agency work is scarce, she has also driven trucks, holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL), demonstrating her commitment to hard work and adaptability. She is active in her church, where she contributes through singing and cooking for community events, showing the same generosity and service outside of her professional role.

Annette has been recognized for her dedication and skill, being selected to represent Tennessee in America’s Best in Medicine for 2026–27. She also advocates for fair pay in caregiving professions, emphasizing the importance of valuing the work that nurses and assistants perform every day. Through her decades of service, Annette Merge has built a career defined by compassion, professionalism, and a heartfelt commitment to those in her care.

• Valley Memorial Healthcare, North Dakota — CNA License Renewal, 2015
• Hill Haven, Memphis, Tennessee — CNA Training
• Original CNA Certification, Memphis, Tennessee, 1994

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) Certification

• Selected to be featured in America’s Best in Medicine (Tennessee, 2026–27)

• Active in church, contributing through singing and cooking for community events