Our school offers several off campus classes for the Juniors and Seniors, and one of those classes is Health Occupations. This class is all about nursing, as long as you pass the state test, you will end the year being a Certified Nursing Assistant or CNA. There is a lot of requirements for passing this class, but there should be as CNA’s are a huge part of healthcare. I mean, you wouldn’t want some amateur taking care of your loved one.

Although it is pretty intimidating I would recommend this program to anyone interested. Here are some things the instructor went over during her visit. Attendance is a must have, the Illinois Department of Public Heath overseas everything with this program. They require so many classroom hours, and clinical hours. If you miss to many then you don’t qualify for the test, you have to have an 80% or above. After years of doing this program they have figured out that if you don’t have an 80% by Christmas break, then it’s more than likely you wont pass the state test. Therefore,  unless they see that you are trying to get your grades up, you will be kicked out.

There are several things to take away from this class, even if you don’t pass the state test. You will know that you don’t have TB, because they test you before the first clinical day. You will be CPR certified, and you will experience this so much. You also learn how to fold a fitted sheet, and how to make a bed with someone in it. You can try thickened liquids, but is not as great as it sounds.

CNA work is hard work, but it is also extremely rewarding work. Even if CNA work isn’t your favorite, and you want to go into nursing, you would have to be a CNA in order to go on in nursing.