West Salem High School is proud to offer a CNA course which stands for Certified Nursing Assistant. CNA is a class for students who want a future career in the medical field, or for students who just want to test the waters of healthcare. “CNA gives students the stepping stones for their future in the medical field,” says school nurse Kate Brohmer who teaches CNA. 

“I choose to be a part of CNA because I plan on becoming a nurse, and CNA is a great way to start getting into healthcare,” says senior Kendal Skrede. “My favorite thing about the CNA class was how easy it fit into my schedule. We got it done right away in the morning, so I did not have to worry about other things after school.” 

One of the most valuable parts is being able to learn how to do different skills that will help students’ future careers. “My favorite thing about the class was going to clinicals. It was rewarding to use the skills we learned to help out at Lakeview,” says senior Ethan Schwarz. 

The class recently took their final test to become official nursing assistants right before winter break. “The test itself was easy and not super stressful, but the few days before the test were a bit stressful because I wasn’t sure what to expect,” says Schwarz. 

West Salem High School offers two semesters of CNA. Mrs. Key and Mrs. Brohmer work together to offer the CNA course. Students must be 16 years old and are required to have taken Physical Science and Biology, although Anatomy and Physiology and Medical Terminology are recommended as well. The class meets early in the morning for lab days and has regular classroom instruction as well. “I love to see the kids learn, grow, and become more comfortable with what they are learning,” says Brohmer.