Class allows students to earn certification

Health Careers II students train to aid nurses

by eric rosa <executive editor>

Starting next month, Health Careers II students will be given the opportunity to take classes through Johnson County Community College and earn certification in the nursing field.

According to Joanne Hughes, Health Careers instructor, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training is extremely beneficial for students interested in pursuing a career in medicine.

By earning their CNA certification, students are able to actually go out and get a job, one which could pay up to $10 an hour, Hughes said.

“CNA training gives the students a head start on their medical careers,” Hughes said. “This experience is so valuable as they interview for future jobs.”

In many nursing schools, students are not accepted without having earned their CNA certification.

Though the course costs $150, a majority of Health Careers students will be taking the course.

The motivation for taking the course, according to senior Stephany Godwin, lies in the opportunity to enter the medical field at an early age.

Students who take the course will study medical abbreviations, learn how to perform basic functions such as taking blood pressure or performing CPR.

Starting in January, the students will be leaving school at 11 a.m. and arriving at their destination at 11:30 a.m., which differs from the current style of arriving on site at noon.

They will be going on every day except for Fridays until the end of the program.

According to Godwin, nearly all Health Careers students are serious about advancing to a job in the medical field.