CNA HealthCare Program: A Future in Scrubs

This month, a group of WGHS students who completed the CNA program shared their experiences, opening up about the process and how the program shaped their goals. 
by Chloe Fankah

​Haylie Crunkleton (12) joined the program because, “I have always been interested in nursing and I thought it would be a great opportunity to gain experience.” she said. The fast pace of the program pushed her, since “it was a lot of work in a very short time,” but she ended up mastering every skill on her own. She said the experience “opened my eyes and made me realize how much time and effort nurses put into their job.” Finishing the program helped her confirm, “this is definitely something I want to do in the future.”

For Carter Waldrip (11), the CNA program was the perfect starting point. “I joined because I want to be in the medical field,” he said. His biggest challenge was the tests, but he is proud of “getting through and learning all the CNA skills and finally getting my CNA certification.” The program also shifted his perspective, and he admitted, “it made me realize that people in healthcare don’t get paid enough.” Even so, the experience “made me realize that I actually want to be in the medical field.”

Ariana Elizalde (12) joined because she wanted an early start. “It inspired me to start early and have something going,” she said. The hardest part for her was “having to remember all the skills we practiced and not knowing what skills you were receiving.” Her proudest moment was simple. “I am most proud of being a CNA at my age.” Seeing healthcare up close “made me feel so much better because I got a glimpse of what it could be,” and now she feels ready to step into the field sooner than she expected.

For Abygaelle Desil (12), job security and the future of nursing were big motivations. “I joined the CNA program because of strong job stability and seeing the outlook on the nursing field,” she said. Perfecting each skill was tough, but passing them was the best part. “The moment I’m most proud of is passing all my skills and feeling confident about them.” The experience changed the way she sees the field because she realized “how much of an impact CNAs have on their patients,” and it helped guide her career goals moving forward.

Overall, the CNA program gave them a real look at what healthcare is like and showed them what they can actually do. It wasn’t always easy, but they came out stronger, more confident, and way more sure of the paths they want to take. For all of them, this was just the beginning.