March 8th marked a new milestone for a group of compassionate and caring individuals graduating from the Certified Nursing Assistant Program at Cortland Acres. With hearts full of empathy and minds filled with knowledge, these graduates are poised to make a difference in the lives of residents at Cortland Acres.
Nikki Nelson, RN, BSN, Staff Development Coordinator and Clinical Instructor said “We are proud of our graduates and the journey they have undertaken to reach this occasion. These Certified Nursing Assistants (CAN’s) are prepared to provide essential care and support to our residents at Cortland Acres”.
The graduates are Haylee Ketterman, Jessica Stemple and Brooklyn Lambka. Haylee has been working at Cortland as part of the Resident Support Team for a few months while waiting for the CNA class to begin. Haylee stated “I now have the additional skills to provide quality care to the residents”. Jessica choose to take the course at Cortland because she had family members in the facility and knew it was a good place. She stated, “I am happy to start my career in the medical field at Cortland, in the future I plan to get my nursing degree. Brooklyn said “I want to make a difference in the lives of the residents, I thought this was a good way to dip my toes into the medical field to prepare myself to become a nurse”.
As they embark on their career, these CNA’s carry with them a sense of purpose and understanding of the impact they can make in the lives of those they serve. Whether providing direct patient care, offering comfort and companionship or assisting with daily activities, they will play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for residents.
“Their dedication to the program and commitment to serving others truly exemplifies the values of our facility. We welcome the ladies to the Cortland family and wish them success in their new career” said Robin Eye, Director of Nursing.
If you have an interest in a career filled with purpose, compassion and endless opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others contact the Human Resources Department at Cortland Acres at 304-463-4181 or apply online www.cortlandacres.org/cna-training-application.
The Cortland Acres campus includes a 94-bed long-term care facility, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs, rental apartments in Pineview and garden and patio homes in The Pines. For more information about The Pines or Cortland Acres or to set up an appointment for a tour of the facility, call 304-463-4181 ext. 203, or visit www.cortlandacres.org.