The medical field is one of the hardest paths a student can pursue, but with Kimberly Grivner–a registered nurse with 26 years of experience and 13 years of teaching–high schoolers in Watertown can get a head start on their journey. Mrs. Grivner teaches a CNA course at WHS, where students are immersed into nursing in three primary stages before getting testing for a registered Nurse Aide Certification. Initially students establish a strong foundation of knowledge through lectures and lessons covering the body and all its systems. Students are then exposed to labs where they utilize the mock hospital setup in the room to demonstrate specific skills such as accurately taking blood pressure or weighing a resident. The course is wrapped up with direct exposure to the field in clinical settings. After students practice and refine their lab skills they’re able to visit clinics where they’ll be assigned residents to look after under the guidance of care plans and the surveillance of Mrs. Grivner. 

The CNA course is a college level course with the expectations to match. As Mrs. Grivner clarifies, “if you’re just taking this class because you want to hang out with your friends, this class is not for you.” Her point underlines the significance of CNA as the course is beyond just understanding nursing and working with your peers. Students will have the opportunity to take a state exam and get their certification before they even graduate high school. Having this certificate can greatly set students apart from any others as a lot of prestigious medical schools and programs require certification and in many cases won’t even consider applicants without one. If any students believe nursing is the path they want to take then this class is an opportunity that should not be overlooked.