Nyla Hassel (12) is in the CNA program/pathway where she is able to participate in clinicals along with her classmates. The CNA students help the elderly by changing them, cleaning them, and just being someone to talk to.

“Having to change them and give them showers can be difficult because some of them do not want you to touch them at all,” Hassel said.

From working as a CNA, Hassel has been mentally challenged through it but also mentally strengthened most notably during clinicals.

“It was very hard because I wasn’t used to helping them as much as I needed to because I have never really helped someone older and they are all dependent on you. Having to change their clothes and wash them puts you in a place you have to push yourself in because you have to get through it, you have to keep pushing, you have to make sure everything is okay with them,” Hassel said.

Helping through the CNA pathway has shown Hassel the commitment and passion needed to be in the healthcare field.

“Some of them have wounds and some people don’t get visited a lot, so with them being by themselves and lonely all the time you have to make sure you check in on them to make sure they are mentally stable. You have to always be encouraging because sitting in a nursing home for the rest of your life can be depressing,” Hassel said. 

The CNA program shows a whole other side of the healthcare field outside of the classroom which has improved Hassel as an individual mentally.