RICHMOND —
About four years ago, Bethany Maynard’s 3-year-old sister Alexa was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells in bone marrow.
Although Alexa, now 7, is in remission, she still has complications from the disease and relies on the care of others, Bethany said.
Lucky for Alexa, she has her sister Bethany, who wants to one day become a pediatric oncologist, a doctor who specializes in childhood cancers.
A junior at Madison Southern High School, Bethany, is completing the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course at the school. The course teaches basic clinical skills and will ultimately prepare students for the CNA licensing exam.
“After what we’ve gone through and after what I’ve seen doctors do — how they help people — I really want to help kids like they helped my sister,” Bethany said.
This is the second year CNA courses have been offered at both Southern and Madison Central high schools. The course is a partnership between the county school district and the Medical Careers Training Center (MCTC) in Richmond.
The instructor provided by MCTC, Linda Amon, has been a licensed practical nurse (LPN) for more than 27 years. Although she never taught in a high school, Amon said she taught adults similar skills at Saint Joseph East Hospital in Lexington for 18 years.
Students in the course will have an opportunity to take state board exams to earn a CNA license. Normally, applicants are required to be at least 18-years-old to take the exams, Amon said. However, students who take the high school course and are 17 years old, receive a special waiver. Students with financial need will receive assistance to cover the exam fees, she said.
Last year, 14 of the 20 students who elected to take the exam received certification and are ready to be employed in the medical field, according to a release by the district.
The Medicaid-funded program is only offered at Central and Southern, but Amon hopes to expand it to Berea Community School and others, she said.
CNA students have access to mannequins to practice ADLS, or “activities of daily living.” They learn resuscitation skills with choking dummies, but most of all, “they learn compassion and respect when caring for older adults,” Amon said.
For those who will go on to achieve even higher levels of certification in a medical field, understanding what tasks CNAs perform everyday is essential for a medical care team, she said. CNA certification will be a “stepping stone” for some students.
Senior Darrien Fields, 18, used the skills he is learning to ensure his 96-year-old grandfather is being cared for properly in his nursing home, he said. He plans to pursue a career in the medical field.
Darrien enjoys the field trips to nursing homes, he said, where they are able to visit with patients and get real-life experience.
“I’ve learned (the material) much faster in this class than in other classes,” he said. “I know what Ms. Amon expects and it is very hands-on.”
Senior Lauren Marshall, 17, has always wanted to be a veterinarian. Learning basic medical skills now will give her a jump-start on her career, she said.
“Since I’m learning now what most students won’t learn until their second year in college, I’ll be able to focus on other important courses like mathematics and biology,” Lauren said.
Lauren plans to earn her certification and work her way through college as a CNA, she said.
Member of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and senior Andrew Selover, 18, plans to pursue a job in the military, either as a field medic, surgeon or police officer. Regardless of which direction he chooses, Andrew said the CNA course is teaching him the skills the skills he will need to help an injured soldier.
Andrew thought the course would be “more on the technical side,” he said. Instead, he has learned practical skills that have prepared him to help his grandfather, who suffers from arthritis and has limited mobility because he has had three vertebrae removed, Andrew said.
Another thing Andrew has learned is to “never pull a catheter out yourself,” he said. “I never want that to happen to me either.”
Crystal Wylie can be reached at cwylie@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 6696.
Education
Related Photos
-
Senior Cheyenne Barnett takes "Pat's" blood pressure. Crystal Wylie
-
Senior Lauren Marshall demonstrates how to use a catheter in a "sterile field," an area considered to be free of microorganisms. Crystal Wylie
-
Bryce Patton, senior, gets rolled on her side while Brittany Shaneen, junior, back left, and Lindsey Bowles, senior, front left, get ready to demonstrate changing bed sheets with the help of Linda Amon, instructor, employed by Medical Careers Technical College, during the CNA class offered at Madison Central. Kaitlin Keane
-
Cynthia Clark takes Bridgit Barger's temperature in the CNA course at Madison Southern Wednesday. There are two classes at Southern and one class at Madison Central High School. Crystal Wylie
-
Jessica Sell restrains Nikki Edminster in a wheelchair. Crystal Wylie
-
Lindsey Bowles, senior, takes the weight of classmate, Bryce Patton, during the CNA class offered at Madison Central Wednesday, Nov. 14. Kaitlin Keane
-
Lindsey Bowles, senior, center, watches as Brittany Shaneen, junior, right, takes the blood pressure of mannequin during the CNA class offered at Madison Central with the help of Linda Amon, instructor, employed by Medical Careers Technical College. Kaitlin Keane
-
Instructor Linda Amon, from the Medical Careers Technical College in Richmond, shows Mo'nica Blake how to properly measure Darrien Field's height. Crystal Wylie
-
Hayden Westfall weighs Sean Gabbert on professional medical scales in the CNA course at Southern on Wednesday. Crystal Wylie
-
Junior Bethany Maynard ties on a surgical mask Wednesday at Southern's CNA course. Bethany wants to become a pediatric oncologist one day. Crystal Wylie
-
Instructor Linda Amon instructs Tara Chrisman on how to guide Bethany Maynard from a wheelchair to a walker. Crystal Wylie
-
Brittany Shaneen, junior, takes the blood pressure of mannequin during the CNA class offered at Madison Central with the help of Linda Amon, instructor, employed by Medical Careers Technical College. Kaitlin Keane
-
Seniors Carmela Blake and Darrien Fields prepare to change the bed sheets for "Pat." Crystal Wylie
-
Instructor Linda Amon oversees Angelica Thomas while she checks Andrew Selover's blood pressure. Crystal Wylie
High schoolers become Certified Nursing Assistants
- Education
-
-
‘Etta May’s On Her Way’ for Model Lab benefit
Laughter will fill Eastern Kentucky University’s Keen Johnson Ballroom June 8 when southern comedienne Etta May comes to town for Model Laboratory School’s first annual fundraising event.
Half of the ticket proceeds will be donated to help five Model program: Scholarships, gifted programs, the arts, athletics and extended field trips or exchange programs, said school psychologist Ellen Rini. -
State champs get their rings at YMCA breakfast
Two months may have passed, but Madison County continues to celebrate the state basketball championship won by the Madison Central boys team.
Team members were presented championship rings while their cheerleaders received pendants Saturday morning during a breakfast at the Telford YMCA attended by nearly 300. -
District urges students to ‘PowerMyLearning’ through the summer
Sixteen little penguins need help jumping from iceberg to iceberg as a hungry killer whale swims menacingly in the chilly water below.
The fate of the poor little penguins lies in the hands of a third-grade student, who must quickly find the answer to a math equation to lead the penguins to safety. -
GREAT bridges gap between cops, preteens
Bridging the gap between public misconceptions about police officers and the reality of what’s behind the uniform can be a daunting task. But, a growing program at Madison County middle schools is helping break down those barriers.
-
Toyota bornlearning Academy graduates parents
Seven graduates received their certificates Thursday night, but not with the customary rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance.”
It was a celebration of the parents’ six-month journey with the Toyota bornlearning Academy at Berea Community School.
The academy works with parents and caregivers of children from prenatal to 5 years old on ways to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities. -
Caudill Middle School student showcase
Members of the Caudil Middle School Jazz Band entertain the crowd during the school's end of year student showcase Thursday.
-
The Incredible Child: Support group for parents of special-needs children meets Tuesday at library
Richmond now has a local chapter of The Incredible Child, a support group for families of children with all types of disabilities.
The group will host the family-friendly event “Read to Me” from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Madison County Public Library in Richmond. -
EKU to host biannual Family Nature Day
Eastern Kentucky University’s Division of Natural Areas will host Family Nature Day on Saturday at Maywoods Environmental and Educational Laboratory located on the borders of Garrard and Rockcastle counties.
-
First Lady urges graduates to live by their values
Touching on her own college experiences, First Lady Michelle Obama urged Eastern Kentucky University graduates to live a life of service while building on valuable character traits that will benefit the entire nation.
Obama visited Richmond as the featured speaker for EKU’s evening commencement. She chose to speak at the ceremony because of the university’s recognized commitment to serving student military veterans. -
Board votes to reclassify full-time substitute teachers
Madison County Schools teachers and staff cheered Thursday night after a proposal to cut two contracted days from the school calendar died when board members declined to make a motion on the measure, either pro or con.
However, 15 educators in the district will see cuts to their salaries as the board voted 5-0 to reclassify full-time substitute teachers to para-educators. - More Education Headlines
-
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
