Clay County High School offering students a path to earn a nursing assistant certification before reaching college.
Advisor Brooke Burchett said TCAT Livingston partnered with Clay County to provide a hands-on approach to students. It allows students to visit local clinics like Celina Health and Rehab and Overton County Rehab to complete clinical hours and receive a certification.
“I see, always see, high school graduates that are working there as a CNA or even LPNs or RNs,” Burchett said. “So it gives them an opportunity to make a good living in our community so they can stay home and work.”
Burchett said students are required to take a series of classes before they graduate to learn the material. Burchett said students begin in freshman year, taking Nursing I, then continue through Nursing II, Nursing III. Students graduate after passing a final CNA certification class.
Burchett said the program provides a foundation to enter the workforce or continue a student career at TCAT, a community college or a four year institution. Burchett said the certification can provide students with an opportunity to make money once they graduate.
Burchett said the school will offer phlebotomist certifications next month, as these students will be certified to draw blood. There are currently ten students that will begin this program.
“It’s a good opportunity for a summer job, you know, if they wanted to work there at a nursing home or health care facility while there going to college,” Burchett said. “You know, they’re going to make more money as a CNA or a phlebotomist then somebody else might make that doesn’t have certifications.”
The high school has graduated hundreds of students over the 15 years the program has been active.