At Collierville Highschool most seniors worry about Tests, college applications and Prom. But there is one senior student who took on a bigger task her senior year: gaining her Certified Nursing Assistant license before even walking the stage. Working day and night at either studying for the big exam or working at clinicals taking care of patients all in hopes to pass her board and earn her CNA license. Even through juggling working, college applications and studying Lanie parr was able to pass her boards and earn her CNA license. But this was not an easy pursuit “The hardest part was learning how detailed everything is. It’s not just “taking care of people” you must remember specific procedures, safety steps, and medical terms”.
The next step in the CNA program is clinicals which includes working with real patients in-person. During clinicals it is a very new experience for its students, challenging them with certain things they have never experienced. The First day of clinicals is very overwhelming for students. “I think I felt overwhelmed but excited. I was excited to be in a healthcare setting learning how to take care of other humans not only on a physical level, but an emotional level.” Parr continues to recall a specific moment that challenged her “Well, one of the hardest of my clinical was seeing a patient who was having a bad day emotionally. At first questioned my ability to help them but, I remember we learned empathy and patience so, I just talked to them softly and let the nurse know what was happening.”.
The nursing program at Collierville Highschool challenges its students but ultimately teaches them various lifelong skills. “I didn’t expect to get so good at staying calm under pressure. I also learned how to advocate for people who can’t always speak up for themselves. That wasn’t something I thought about before the program.” Skills taught in the Nursing program provide opportunities for their students to succeed in the medical field. Not only academically but emotionally “You learn to take care of someone emotionally as well. You must consider that they are human with feelings.” The nursing program sets up students for success and motivates students to pursue their dreams. By elevating their confidence in themselves and their work. “The nursing program has made me more confident to pursue being in the healthcare field.”
Days leading up the board exam students in the CNA program were nervous for such a big exam. Everyday Lanie studied day and night in hopes of passing the board exam. The day of Lanie was “scared but confident” in her abilities to pass. After hours of exams Lanie finally was done and awaited her exam grade to be released. The moment had come, and she finally had her results; she had passed and finally eared her CAN license. In the fall she plans on going to college and majoring in nursing in hopes of becoming a travel nurse.
