Student Stories
Jack Kowalski, CNA
Nursing Assistant graduate
Certified Nursing Assistant, Partners in Care Hospice House
When Jack Kowalski began the clinical training component of his Nursing Assistant training at COCC, he started to see what he wanted from his career. Having completed clinicals at two different health care facilities — an assisted living facility and a St. Charles hospital — he found it incredibly valuable to see how the role of a CNA varied between places.
“It gave me perspective on the different tasks and duties that are required based on your place of work,” he shares. “I learned that while you may have the same job title, your duties can vary widely depending on where you work.” He now works in hospice care.
Having gone back to school after earning a bachelor’s in biohealth sciences from Oregon State University, Kowalski is readying himself to apply to medical school, gaining experience and growth from his certified nursing assistant training and work.
“I am thoroughly proud of my decision to become a nursing assistant.”
“What I really enjoyed about the program was the passion that the teaching nurses have for the course,” he says of his time at COCC. “The instructors genuinely wanted us to be the best versions of ourselves that we could be — it made the time spent with them extremely fun and engaging, never felt like it a chore.”
“Working in hospice has been an incredible experience that has given me so much perspective,” he adds. “I am thoroughly proud of my decision to become a nursing assistant.”
Eva Bell
Certfied Nursing Assistant
“I love the team atmosphere and comrades you get in health care,” says Eva Bell, who
was nervous about the amount of schooling — and competitive admissions process — a
Nursing degree required, and chose to start with the COCC Nursing Assistant route
instead.
She completed the program several years ago and was hired at St. Charles Health System,
later augmenting her skills to become an emergency department technician. “The COCC
instructors are incredibly knowledgeable and do a wonderful job teaching best practices,
clinical judgment and the skills needed.”
"I love caring for people, and I love being an advocate"
“I love caring for people, and I love being an advocate,” adds Bell, who went on to become a nursing student at COCC. “So nursing was really the best career for me. I would encourage anyone considering a career in health care to go for it.”