A desire to help people and firsthand experience as a patient are a couple of reasons that Stilwell High School senior Windi Holmes chose to get involved in the Health Career Certification Program at Indian Capital Technology Center in Stilwell.
“I’ve always wanted to be in the medical field, and I love helping people. I particularly like studying the heart and the cardiovascular system because I had heart surgery when I was about nine and my little brother had open heart surgery when he was a baby. It’s just really interesting to study how your body works and then actually getting hands-on experience to watch it for real during clinicals,” said Holmes who plays basketball and runs track for the Lady Indians.
The one-year program is under the direction of Kerrie Worley, now in her eighth year at ICTC after spending over 20 years as a registered nurse dealing in long term care and home health.
“During the first part of the program we study medical terminology and anatomy and then we teach them over 70 skills needed in long term care. After that they spend 16 hours doing clinical work at the Stilwell Nursing and Rehab Center,” said Worley. “The goal is to obtain their Certified Nurse Aide certification so they can go to work right away if they so choose. Many of the students use this course as a steppingstone to whatever their next goal might be in the medical field.”
Windi is one of the current students that Worley says has really bloomed in clinicals.
“She’s one of those students you love in class. She’ll ask questions when she needs to but is mostly a quiet leader though very competitive. Despite missing time with her athletics and Cherokee Club activities, she always makes deadlines. She’s really come alive in clinicals, and she’s done very well.”
Windi says it’s been great to be a part of the program at ICTC and would recommend it to anyone.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this program knowing they only bring in a certain number of students to take part. The instructors are very helpful and prepare you to get your foot in the door to achieve your future plans.”
Her future plans include further education either in the radiology program at ICTC or taking part in a med-surg program through the Cherokee Nation.
