Imagine going to two different high schools for your classes. The best of both worlds, right? For Liv King, Holly Hohmann and Marie Jeschke, ‘18, this is a reality.

These three juniors are getting their certified nurses assistant (CNA) this semester. CNA is a class through NICC that can be taken at Senior, Hempstead or over the summer. Instead of coming to Wahlert in the morning, King, Hohmann and Jeschke are currently taking the class with Ms. Demmer at Hempstead during their first and second hour.

CNA classes train students how to assist nurses and take care of residents. “It’s a college course and a bit more challenging than my other classes, but it’s not just about learning through a textbook; it’s hands-on experience, too. We are required in the class to have 80 hours of clinical and lab time, so I will be working in a nursing home and doing labs with residents.”

Although it sounds difficult, King assures that the hardest part of the class is, “really just dealing with the Hempstead schedule and Wahlert schedule and coordinating them, but the class is really just an awesome opportunity.”

There are many different reasons to get a CNA. For King, it was rooted in her future plans. “I really wanted to get my CNA because in the future I plan on going into the medical field, and this is an opportunity for me to get my CNA requirements and get hands-on experience in the care of others.”

If interested in signing up for the course, a good first step is talking to a counselor at Hempstead or Senior, and then working with the counselors at Wahlert to align your schedule.

As a final piece of advice from King, “It’s really a great opportunity to get an early start in the medical field if you have plans for that after high school, or even if you just like helping others; it’s a great job!”