Five Hobart and William Smith Colleges students spent part of their summer training as certified nursing assistants, gaining clinical experience before pursuing careers in health care.
The four-week program at Finger Lakes Community College combined daily classroom and simulation work with patient care at Thompson Continuing Care Center in Canandaigua, according to HWS.
Students spent seven to eight hours a day in training and completed 32 clinical hours under a nurse instructor. Their work included helping people with daily activities while learning how to protect patients' privacy and safety.
Jeremy Elliott-Engel, HWS associate director for STEM employer development and engagement, said the nursing assistant experience helps students understand how health care works through direct participation.
An HWS partnership with Finger Lakes Health connects students with local employment opportunities. Some participants return home for work, while others continue gaining experience near the Geneva campus.
Training connects coursework with patient care
Ava Lobozzo, a member of the Class of 2027 studying biology, plans to become a registered nurse. She said the program connected what she studies in science classes with the responsibilities of caring for people.
The experience also emphasized skills that extend beyond scientific knowledge: communication, patience, attention and responsibility. Students had to apply those skills while meeting patients' day-to-day needs.
Amalia Olivieri, a member of the Class of 2028 studying public health, entered the program considering a career as a registered nurse or physician assistant. It was her first job experience in health care.
Olivieri said the clinical work helped connect her academic interests with the care patients receive. Rather than learning about health systems only through coursework, she was able to take part in that work directly.
She is continuing as a nursing assistant at Geneva General Hospital while completing nursing prerequisites at HWS.
The other participating students were Kayla Mosqueda and Maya Mahoney, both members of the Class of 2027, and Fiona Gibbons, a member of the Class of 2028.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.
