The students in the Medicaid Nurse Aide Program at the Clinton County Area Technology Center recently wrote letters reflecting upon their experiences this year in the MNA Program.

The students took their certification exam to become State Registered Nursing Assistants and the ten students who took the exam passed, giving the program a 100 percent passage rate for the 2014-2015 school.

The students completed their clinical training at the Clinton County Care and Rehab Facility. Mrs. Billie Frye, RN would like to thank the students for their dedication to the MNA program, hard work throughout the year, and for their dedication to the healthcare industry. Also, she would like to thank their families for allowing them the opportunity to explore the wonderful field of nursing.

Students in picture are, left to right: Asha Martin, Katie Huff, Danielle Dalton, Marika Lowhorn, Taylor Buster, Makayla Lee, Macy Looper, Carley Miller, Ansley Stalcup, Taylor Guinn, Shana Shipman, and Ashley Harper

Ansley Stalcup

My experience in the MNA class was much more than I had ever expected it to be. Before completing this class, I had plans to become a physical therapist or and athletic trainer. Now I have fully decided that nursing is the place for me. This is something I never would have figured out if I hadn’t participated in the Medicaid Nurse Aid class.

Learning the basics of nursing has shown me how much I want to help people and the proper techniques to do so. My experience working with the elderly was good and it taught me a lot, but it also helped me to realize that working with the elderly is not something I wish to do in the future.

In the future, I would love to work in emergency medicine. Overall, I am so thankful for the opportunity to take this class and I can’t believe it has come and gone so fast. I strongly encourage anyone who is even a little bit interested in the healthcare field to take this class. You will not regret it!

Asha Martin

At the beginning of this letter, I would just like to thank Mrs. Frye for all she has done for me. Throughout my high school years I have taken a majority of classes with Mrs. Frye. From all the classes I have taken, the MNA class has been the most rewarding.

My thoughts and feelings towards nursing have somewhat stayed the same, but I now fully understand how difficult it can be to work in the healthcare field. You just have to keep a positive attitude and focus fully on the care of the patients. My experiences have helped me to grow as a future healthcare worker by building my desire to become a better individual and care for others more than I care for myself.

Clinicals were a wonderful experience; working with the elders at the nursing home changed my point of view on how much respect and dedication it takes to care for others and for them to solely depend on you. The experience I received opened my eyes and helped me realize what I wanted to do with my life. When caring for the elders, you become so attached to them it’s as if you are caring for your own family.

I would definitely recommend this class to anyone interested in the healthcare field. The MNA class is beneficial to your future! Make sure you always show up to class and do not miss clinical days! In my future I hope to turn out to be half the nurse and mother Mrs. Frye has become in her life. Mrs. Frye is an incredible woman and healthcare provider. I deeply thank her for all she has done for me and being so understanding. You have forever made an impact on my life.

Ashley Harper

My views on nursing and the healthcare field have changed drastically since joining the MNA program in the fall of 2014. Although I think nurses and doctors are amazing people and I have had and an amazing experience in this program; I have discovered I do not want to work with people. I am so glad I had the opportunity to participate in this class because it has saved me from going down the wrong path. I have discovered that I am much better with animals and I will be pursuing a career as a veterinarian.

I liked the nursing home and the residents and I am so thankful I was presented with the opportunity to work with them. I would recommend this class 100 percent to anyone interested in the healthcare field. If it doesn’t push you stronger into the medical field, it may just show you the path you were meant to take; like it did for me.

Carley Miller

For as long back as I can remember, I have wanted to be an Emergency Medicine Physician. I have memories of being three and four years old playing “doctor” with my dolls. I have had many opportunities to get my feet wet in the healthcare field by working with athletes as a Student Athletic Trainer, but it was not until I was blessed to be in this Nursing Assistance class that I truly understood what it means to be a (future) healthcare professional.

On the first day of class, Mrs. Frye told us that this would be the most important yet rewarding class we had taken thusfar. She would not have been more accurate. At first I did not understand the fullness of this concept, but when we began practicing skills I realized that actual lives are in our hands, that we were working on someone’s someone, and that impacted my views drastically. Throughout the course of this program, I learned a massive amount about medical practices, but more than I could ever express about passion, love, ethics, teamwork, and being compassionate. I learned what kind of healthcare provider I want to be—one who loves and serves selflessly.

Once we were checked off on skills and ready to begin our clinical hours we went to Clinton County Care and Rehab which is were the reality of nursing assisting hit the fan. At first I was extremely nervous, but then the rewarding aspect of the program set in. I never realized how much a simple conversation could impact someone. Often times I was the one being impacted. I learned that one reason I do want to be a healthcare professional is because you get back more than you could ever give. Even though I still want to be a physician, I vow to always be eager and willing to take on the selfless role of a CNA, to be a figure of encouragement and support to any and every patient I come in contact with, because I know how much CNAs impact their quality of life in the most positive of ways.

As cliché as it sounds, this class has truly changed my life. I will be forever thankful for all that this class has taught me. I have been forever impacted by this wonderful, hard, rewarding experience.

To Future Students: Congratulations for being in this class, it is certainly an honor. This class is different from any you have ever had. Try not to be nervous and absorb all the knowledge you can. Allow this class to shape and mold you. If it’s not for you, get out early. It’s completely okay if you realize that nursing is not for you. I wish you all the best of luck in all you do! I believe in you!

To Mrs. Frye: I will always be thankful for you; you are the woman and healthcare professional I hope to be someday. You are the picture of the Proverbs 31 woman and I’m blessed to have been taught by you. You have impacted my life and I owe many of my current and future successes to you. Thank you for believing in me, encouraging and supporting me in all my endeavors as well as being a motherly figure for me. You are the most knowledgeable person I know and I consider myself blessed to have been taught by you.

Danielle Dalton

Since I began the MNA program, my views and thoughts towards nurses and other healthcare workers have changed greatly. I have much more respect for these individuals because I have received the experience myself. I feel that this experience has allowed me to grow within the healthcare and will help me out tremendously when I join the nursing program at Western.

When we began working at the nursing home, I was honestly so worried about it. I didn’t think that I would like working with the elderly because I was afraid I would hurt them. However, I was very wrong and I really enjoyed my time out there. I would most definitely recommend this class to future students interested in healthcare. This class will provide the experience and knowledge needed to advance within their career.

Katie Huff

My feelings coming into and leaving the MNA class have stayed the same. If anything has changed it would be that I truly believe that nursing is the career for me! Working with the elderly made my heart so happy. I loved helping them! Becoming a CNA has a made a clear path for me furthering my nursing career.

Working with the elderly brings a new perspective to life. You overlook all the bad things in order to make their days as wonderful as possible. No matter how much I write I appreciate this class and Mrs. Frye. I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in a healthcare career. It teaches you a lot about yourself and helps you to decide if the healthcare field is really for you.

Mary Looper

My thoughts about nursing have changed greatly. I never thought I would say this, but I do not think I wish to be a nurse anymore; if I were to be a nurse it would definitely have to be in the Emergency Room. Regardless, I do not regret taking this class at all. I have learned so much about caring for the elderly and disabled. I have made friends that will last a lifetime. I absolutely loved clinicals at Clinton County Care and Rehab. I started working there independently afterwards. I love working with the elderly, but I would rather work with the first responders. However, this is a start and I am so thankful I have had you as a teacher. It is not only through this class, but through you, that I have become a better healthcare worker. You are the best example of what a healthcare worker should be.

I would most certainly recommend this class to the upcoming seniors. Whether it changes your views on nursing for better or for worse, it is a great class to take if you are planning to go into the healthcare profession. Thank you Mrs. Frye for the opportunities you have given me. I LOVE YOU!

Makayla Lee

When I first applied to the Medical Nurse Aide program I was not prepared for all the hard work that I was going to have to do. As I went through the class I was so thankful that Mrs. Frye pushed us so hard and gave us difficult work, because it prepared us for our CNA test. I am so glad we are offered the chance to take this class because it gets us ahead of everyone else when applying for a nursing program.

Since this class, I have really grown as a healthcare worker. My love for older people has grown since I have been in this program. It has made me want to make sure that everyone gets the perfect care they need. When we did clinicals at the nursing home, it opened my eyes to a lot of things. It was so heartbreaking seeing the elderly not being able to take care of themselves. It made me want to stay with them forever and make sure they are always happy.

I would definitely recommend this class to future students interested in the nursing or health field. It will certainly help you determine whether or not you want to be in this career. It is a very good opportunity. Thank you Mrs. Frye for everything you have done for us this year. I know I would not have succeeded in this class without you!

Sapphire Marika Breeze Lowhorn

During this class, I would have never thought I could do the things I have done this year. Thanks to the Medical Nurse Aide program, I have tried so much harder to reach my future goal, which is becoming a Nurse Practitioner. My thoughts and feelings towards nursing have grown so much stronger. I have also grown stronger in the healthcare practice itself.

When we first started working at the nursing home, I was a little nervous about working with the elderly. I was scared that I may hurt them or not do a procedure correctly. After the first two days of clinicals, I was drawn so close to some of the residents. One specific resident, I was drawn closer to as I grew up around her. You never know who you will meet when doing your clinical hours. Now I absolutely love working with the elderly.

My overall experience at the nursing home was amazing. There are no words to describe it. If any student is even slightly interested in nursing or any other healthcare career, I would highly recommend the MNA program to future students. It is one of the most important and eye-opening learning experiences you will ever have.

Shana Shipman

My thoughts and feelings towards nursing have greatly changed since the beginning of the MNA program, for the better. I have definitely grown as a future healthcare worker. I love to help people.

My feelings really have not changed in regards to working with the elderly. I have always wanted to work with the elderly because they’re very sweet and loving.

My overall experience at the nursing home was life changing. I have discovered that the nursing home is not the place for me, personally. I want to be somewhere with loads of action.

I would recommend the MNA program to everyone interesting in healthcare or nursing, as it is a very good experience. It is also a good program if you are unsure about nursing and wish to explore your options.

Taylor Buster

Since this class began my feelings towards nursing have changed. Coming into the MNA program, I thought I wanted to be a nurse, but now as I prepare to leave this program I KNOW I want to be a nurse. Preparing to be a future healthcare worker has changed me as a person for the better. Nursing is one of the most selfless careers there are. It changes your heart and attitude towards others. As a healthcare worker, you no longer care only about yourself; you care for others who you have never met before!

My feelings about working with the elderly have also changed. As I have gone through the MNA class and clinicals to actually being employed at the nursing home; I have come to realize that I want to further my education and become an RN and work in the ER. Now this is not because I hated the nursing home or dislike elderly people, it is simply because of the excitement and thrills that you hear of in the ER.

One day, later in my career, I do plan to return to the nursing home and work with the elders again. There are so many lessons of love and respect to be learned from working with elderly people it is truly a rewarding place to be. With that said, I would absolutely recommend this class to anyone interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare field. You will not regret taking this class. Mrs. Frye is extremely intelligent and a truly wonderful nurse. It is and honor to have the opportunity to be taught be her.

Taylor Guinn

Since being accepted into the MNA program in the fall of 2014 my thoughts and feelings about the nursing field have changed so much. I have come to realize how much nurses mean to the medical field and how they affect people. I feel that I have grown a lot as a future healthcare worker since taking this class and getting the nursing experience.

When I first began this class I did not think I would enjoy working with the elderly, but now my mindset has changed and I consider it as a possibility. My overall experience from the nursing home was wonderful and I loved every minute of it! The elders are so sweet and make you feel like you have a very important job there. Working at the nursing home is a great experience that everyone should consider if they want to go into a nursing career.

I would definitely recommend this class for any future students thinking about going into the nursing field. Mrs. Frye is an excellent nurse and teacher and will truly help you understand what it takes to be a nurse.