With the help of new, weekly study sessions with Dr. Sarah Lochner, Tranisha M. gained the skills and confidence she needed to pass her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam.
In 2015, Tranisha enrolled at Palm Beach State College with hopes of pursuing a major in nursing and a minor in pharmacology. At the time, Tranisha was taking care of her grandparents, as well as working part-time as a security guard and as a customer service representative at a call center. Between the demands of school, work, and taking care of family, Tranisha had to put school on the back burner.
After taking some time for herself, Tranisha was driven to pick up where she left off. Tranisha's mother, who completed the Home Health Aid (HHA) program through BHH, encouraged her to apply to the CNA program to jump start her career. The five-week CNA program gave Tranisha hope that she would soon be able to work in the industry she had dreamed of. However, she soon faced one more roadblock.
“I was having trouble studying for the exam,” Tranisha said. “I was reading the textbook but wasn’t passing the exam.” In early 2023, BHH Volunteer and Job Mentor Dr. Sarah Lochner began offering weekly study sessions for CNA and HHA students to prepare them for their upcoming exams. “Dr. Sarah taught me how to find the questions in the book,” she said. “I found myself taking better notes and understanding what to look for.
Tranisha was determined to pass the exam on her second attempt. “Dr. Sarah reminded me how important getting a full night’s sleep and arriving early to the testing site was,” she said. “It made a huge difference.” After passing her exam in July, Tranisha plans to work as a CNA to help put herself through school, finally completing her studies and goal of becoming a registered nurse.
