During the 2012-2013 school year Brownwood High School implemented a new program with the help of health science teacher Annalyn Deen. A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) class was added to the health science track to allow senior students to become certified nursing assistants by the end of the school year. This is a State of Texas mandated-course that has very specific requirements for each student to pass.
“We had a total of six girls start the program this year,” said Deen. “At the end of the year all six students passed the grueling state test.” Catherine Daniel, Miranda Chandler, Shayla Biessener, Dara Wise, Linda Luna, and Christina Gutierrez were required to perform 5 of 37 skills on residents in the nursing home and then take a 70 question written test, a process that took from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on April 29th.
Each student was required to have at least 51 clock hours in the classroom/clinical skills lab, combined with 24 clock hours in a long-term care facility. Senior Care of Brownwood teamed up with BHS to allow these students to obtain their hands-on experience at their facility.
“The staff at Senior Care of Brownwood was of great assistance to these students. Their CNAs took our students under their wing and showed them what needed to be done to excel as a CNA,” said Deen, noting that the average salary range for a CNA is eight to twelve dollars an hour. “That is a significant increase from minimum wage and may be just what these students need to get them through college.”
“I have enjoyed the class and clinical experience of becoming a CNA. There is always something new,” said BHS student, Catherine Daniel. “Mrs. Deen is an amazing teacher and she knows how to teach in a way that you will never get bored and will get the most out of each lesson. It was a lot of work, but for all six of us to pass the first time was very exciting.”
Deen had plenty of praise for the students, and also explained the many benefits offered to students in the new program. “These six girls really worked hard this year. They not only became CNAs but also grew as young women, ready to tackle the world,” said Deen. “Some of them are going on to college to become nurses and doctors, however some of them are starting at the bottom and working their way up. This is exactly what this program was meant to do; to be a stepping stone to help kick start a career in the health care field. I have no doubt all of these girls will be successful in life simply because of their tenacity and ambition that they showed me throughout this entire year.”
The successful start to the program is a positive indicator for Deen, who expressed her excitement for the program and her gratitude for having a great group of students. “I have been truly blessed to have been a part of this program,” said Deen. “Nursing has always been my passion, but making an impact in future nurses’ lives has now succeeded that passion. I could not have asked for a better group of girls to start the program with.”
Pictured above (L to R) are: Annalyn Deen, Catherine Daniel, Miranda Chandler, Shayla Biessener, Dara Wise, Linda Luna, and Christina Gutierrez.
