Career changes can be frightening, no matter if you are right out of school or later in life looking for something new, but for a Newton woman, the change to work in healthcare was worth it.
Barb J. spent her life caring for others. She drove a school bus for 20 years and in 2010, she added caregiver to her title as she helped her mom with some health struggles.
It’s clear that Barb has a passion for helping others. And in 2020 at the peak of the first COVID-19 infection wave, she decided to make a later-in-life career change.
“During shutdown, everything stopped. School stopped; my part time job stopped; mom passed away. I don’t like doing nothing. I like to be busy, on the go, doing things. So I thought, oh, ‘I’ll get my CNA license.’”
At 53 years old, Barb made the transition to working in healthcare as a CNA or Certified Nursing Assistant.
“I enjoy working with people. You meet new people all the time.”
How to get a CNA license in Kansas?
Qualifications:
- High School Diploma or GED
- Be 18 years old or older
- Pass a drug test and physical exam
- Complete a 90-hour course
Barb has found joy working at NMC Health. Learn what others are saying about working at NMC Health, check out more careers at NMC Health, and learn how NMC Health helps support your career growth.
“I wish I would have done it way before now,” she shared. Being able to help people in the hospital, get them well and get them home can be very rewarding work.
NMC Health has programs that can help you grow your career. On-the-job training and tuition reimbursement are ways you can advance from one level of nursing to the next.
More importantly, a low patient-to-staff ratio at NMC Health not only lets you spend more time with your patients, but also gives you the opportunity to provide the kind of care that really makes a difference. We also have a good work culture where our staff aren’t only helpful, but legitimately friendly and caring for each other; this is one of the things Barb noticed when she first started.
“It is family oriented. Everybody is there to help everybody.”
Barb is proof that if you have a passion for helping others, it isn’t too late to find your calling. No matter what stage you are in your career, you can make a change. If this sounds like something you are interested in, please reach out to us and see what a career at NMC Health could look like.
"Do you go higher up from within? Absolutely this place does."
How to get a CNA license in Kansas?
Qualifications:
- High School Diploma or GED
- Be 18 years old or older
- Pass a drug test and physical exam
- Complete a 90-hour course
