Fernandina Observer: Area’s newest nurses share background in high school's CNA Program

Submitted by Brent Lemond

Director of Career and Adult Education
Nassau County School District

A visit to FSCJ’s graduation ceremony on December 14th illustrates that point. In the audience was Sharon Belcher, FBHS’s Certified Nursing Assistant instructor, and walking across the stage receiving nursing degrees were her former students Carrington Fussell, Ally Taylor, and Kalie Day. While their degrees and earning potential are an outstanding outcome, a closer look at the journey illustrates the importance of taking the first step in high school.

Programs like Mrs. Belcher’s are sometimes misrepresented as “electives”, a generic term that fails to convey the program’s rigor and life-changing potential. “When you consider everything that students receive from these programs, career education, more often than not, should be the focal point of high school rather than something ancillary. Students don’t just learn about related career options, they build the foundation of their resume,” said Brent Lemond, the district’s Director of Career Education. Many students pay college tuition to earn their Florida Nursing Assistant’s License (CNA), but Nassau students can earn it in high school. Belcher’s students have used this license and their network from high school clinical experience to launch full-time careers. They also move ahead on waiting lists for programs at colleges such as FSCJ where points are awarded for credentials and work experience.

Perhaps the most important benefit is the support network and fallback plan that career education students receive. For example, when financial challenges arose, Fussell was able to use her CNA license to work full-time at Osprey Village and Dr. E. William McGrath’s office to stay on her path to becoming a nurse. Their relationship with their high school teacher has been a factor for all three. For Day, sharing her observations in clinical experiences with Mrs. Belcher has provided additional perspective throughout her college experience. When Taylor transferred home to FSCJ from the University of West Florida, her mentor helped her to stay focused on her career outcome. Said Belcher, “I kept telling her, ‘If this is what you want, you can’t give up!’” Many people can point to a teacher that made a great impact and Belcher’s name will be mentioned in that type of discussion for years to come.

Immediately after graduating the program, students can earn a living wage as a CNA. Many organizations like Osprey Village also offer tuition assistance for these employees that wish to earn a degree in nursing, or anything else. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median salary for a registered nurse was $66,220 in 2013, and that’s only one possible career paths open to these. Wesley Wingate, a 2010 graduate of Belcher’s program, enters medical school in May.

Selecting a high school schedule is worth time and effort researching options. In addition to a college-ready diploma, choosing to include career education creates numerous opportunities and a clear path forward upon graduation.