While many people know about the Med Program and Med Academy on campus, many don’t know about the CNA program on campus. CNA stands for (Certified Nurse Assistant). Dinuba High School has its version of this program; you can spot them in their colorful scrubs consisting of black and bright lilac.
What is a nursing assistant?
A nurse assistant is somebody who takes care of the smaller tasks that need to be done daily, such as feeding, cleaning, shaving, showering, dental hygiene, general hygiene, and activities of daily living. It might seem that a nurse assistant’s job is very minimal and seemingly insignificant, but it isn’t. Imagine being unable to shower, eat, walk, or even have someone to talk to. Nurse assistants are a crucial part of the medical staff as they take care of a patient’s needs. In contrast, other medical staff focus on more specialty areas like medicine and physical therapy. The work of nurse assistants is crucial and is tragically not noticed or gratified as much as it should be, as their work is vital and selfless.
Why take the class?
What compels a person to take the CNA class? The answers may vary. Some would say fulfillment, and others would say variety, but the most common reason was to help people who could no longer help themselves. Taking care of people who can no longer do basic activities is very selfless work and is not a profession in which glory is sought; the fulfillment that is gotten from helping others is what primarily drives the students who go into the CNA program.
The Instructor
Much like everything else, there must be a teacher who teaches their students, so what compels a person to teach high schoolers to be a nurse assistant? According to Mrs. Schuster, the reason is simple yet complex, she said that “ She always wanted to be a teacher”, in addition to saying that it “felt like something I can contribute”. Mrs.Schuster has been teaching the CNA program for 9 years and has been a nurse for 16 years. Needless to say, she has more than enough experience to teach the class, leaving her students in good hands.
The CNA program is a hidden gem in Dinuba High School that provides an opportunity for students to help out the community and give valuable experiences to the students who go into the CNA program.
