You could say the Fieldstone School is a family affair for the Kimanis, all four of whom obtained their dual Nurse Aide/Home Health Aide certification after graduating from the program during 2022.

“I feel it was an opportunity to learn something new every day, instead of staying home,” said Eden, who is in a gap year between high school and college.

It was Eden’s mother who first learned about the healthcare programs at Fieldstone, enrolled and graduated.

Everyone in the family is now employed in the healthcare field or will be soon. Eden’s older brother and sister both work for an organization that provides clinical, educational and community-based supports to people with disabilities.

For Eden, the course at Fieldstone was “pretty easy. I’m a fast learner. It was not so hard,” she said.

She had experience working as a support advocate at Seven Hills, so she knew what to expect, explaining that a support advocate helps with daily tasks in a residential group setting, helping residents dress, assisting with their toileting, preparing them for appointments and sometimes preparing meals.

The teachers at Fieldstone covered the material “pretty fast,” she said. “They show you once, give you one try and you have to learn by yourself – practice, practice.”

That meant role-playing in class.

“We had to get comfortable with each other in class as we practiced on each other,” Eden explained. “One would be the CNA, one would be the patient.” That could get awkward sometimes, she noted, such as when using bed pans.

During class demonstrations, the teacher often asked Eden to play the part of the patient.

“I was the smallest,” said Eden, who is 5 feet 2 inches tall. Because she could see what everyone was doing, she believes she had a better learning experience from taking on that patient role.

After finishing her classroom studies at Fieldstone, Eden completed her clinical work at Christopher House in Worcester. She recently moved outside the area and is considering employment options.

All four family members were motivated and eager to work in the healthcare industry. The Fieldstone School’s top-notch courses and instructors made their new careers possible.

Visit the website at www.thefieldstoneschool.net to learn more about how the Fieldstone School can help you achieve your healthcare ambition.