(Entertainment-NewsWire.com, July 23, 2012 ) San Francisco, CA - Karen Casillas is one of the five students from Jackson Hole High School who spent almost 36 hours in the nursing home as a requirement of the certified nursing assistant (CNA) program. This high school program is 1 semester-long with classes done four days in a week under their educator and school nurse Annette Eastman.
According to Eastman, to become a certified nursing assistant is considered to be a prerequisite before becoming a nurse. Getting this pre-requisite finished during high school is already a big advantage as it can save both time and money. The CNA program in college costs around $900-$1,500. On the other hand, the CNA program in high school is free. Hence, it is an excellent opportunity for high school students as it can also help them in deciding whether to pursue nursing or not.
Furthermore, this is also a great way to practice the students’ skills astheir skills will be put into action. They can work with real people. They also feel important because of the patient connections they made throughout the process.
Even the staff in the living center also noticed the enthusiasm and attentiveness of the students when it comes to care for patients. A registered nurse named Natalie Stewart told Eastman how well-prepared the students are for the clinical experience. She added how respectful and compassionate they are towards each resident.
During the program, the students also witnessed the death of two residents due to natural causes. For them, discovering that these residents have already passed away is difficult and shocking. However, they know that they must deal with it as it is part of the job.
The CNA program involved not only lots of studying but also long hours in the nursing home. This is not usually dealt by average teenagers. Thus, teenagers who want to undergo the said program must be ready and well-motivated. After all, the clinical experience they can get is rewarding as they can apply their skills in real-life situations.
