Nursing: Is it for you?

Nursing is a calling. It’s not something anyone can do. It takes a special person who is willing to be hands on and help those who are not able to help themselves.

“At the time when I was choosing a career, there weren’t many options available for women. I knew that I wanted to be hands-on … on the go and not sitting in an office,” said Karen Arnett, who is a trainer for the STNA program at Green Hills Community.

Fresh out of high school, Karen was hired at Green Hills Community as a nurses’ aide, before licensing was required.

“Green Hills hired me and trained me for the position. After a year, I decided that I liked it and wanted to do more,” she said and was enrolled in the first LPN class that was offered at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center.

A career in nursing allowed her the flexibility to take time off, about 20 years, to raise a family. After the children graduated from college, she decided to go back to school to become a Registered Nurse.

She has spent a total of about 10 years in nursing, some years at Mary Rutan Hospital and the remainder back at Green Hills.

“Being an STNA is hard work. You have to be able to pay attention to those you are caring for and be able to handle the care of several people,” she explained adding, “You have to be willing to do what needs to be done for someone who can’t do it themselves,” she explained.

Do you think that you have what it takes to be a nurse? Are you flexible with your time? An STNA can’t cure someone but they can make a difference for those who can’t care for themselves.

"Of all my years in nursing, my true passion was being an aide. As Director of Staff Development, I get to pass that passion along to others," she explained.

The next STNA course is from Jan. 9 to 20. Classes are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Green Hills Community. At the conclusion of the course, students are eligible to sit for the state test for nursing assistants.

STNAs are permitted to work in long-term care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation care settings.

Is nursing for you? To find out more, ask about the course or to register call Karen at 465.5065. If she is busy with a resident, call Stacie Cingle, Director of Human Resources at 465.5065.

Karen Arnett, left, with Evie Hostetler, right, reviews a list of medications with those stored in the med cart.