BY KARISSA MILLER

Statesville High School students who are interested in a career in nursing do not have to wait until graduating to begin their education and clinical training.

On Wednesday, students in the Nursing Fundamentals class received training on how to check blood pressure and got plenty of practice by checking their classmates.

“They have to get accustomed to knowing what it sounds like — instead of watching — they have to learn to listen to the sounds,” explained teacher Tiffany Cranford.

The Nursing Fundamentals class is part of Statesville High’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, which launched in 2021. SHS nursing students have a 100-percent pass rate on the state exam.

The curriculum is designed to motivate students with real life experience and hands-on learning as it prepares them to pursue a career as a health care professional. There is no cost for students to participate in SHS’s Nursing program. The Career Technical Education (CTE) program pays for the course, written examination and skills examination.

The program has helped some students begin preparing for their dream jobs.

“I’ve always wanted to go into the medical field, and I would like to be a travel nurse or a sonography technician,” student Nyla Jones said.

Jones said that she first learned about travel nursing by watching “Grey’s Anatomy” on TV and also through social media.

“Once I started looking into it and researching travel nursing, I liked the idea and thought it would be fun,” she said.

The program is challenging, Jones said, but it is worth it.

“I’m really happy to be in the nursing program. I feel like it gives me a step ahead of everybody,” she said.

Student Emily McIntosh hopes the CNA program is the first step toward becoming a neonatal intensive care unit nurse.

“I like children and I’ve always wanted to help people. My sister is going down the same path,” McIntosh said.

For Ke’Miyah Cowan, watching her grandmother undergo dialysis and then a kidney transplant sparked a passion to work with elderly. She wants to work at Iredell Memorial Hospital.

SHS nursing students have learned that there will always be job opportunities. Their teachers hope to inspire them to continue their education or even become nursing educators in their career.

According to Cranford, students will start clinicals on March 18. The students are excited and said it will allow the students work on practical nursing skills in various health care settings, such as a nursing home or hospital, under supervision.

Cranford worked as a bedside nurse prior to beginning as a teacher this year.

“I like seeing my students grow every day. I have enjoyed watching them bond and have liked building relationships with them,” she said.