CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Hannah Cheeseman has worked in a nursing home for nearly four years and is preparing for her graduation in October.
The soon-to-be licensed practical nurse plans to work at a long-term care facility.
“I’ve watched all my friends go to school. And I just want to get more involved within health care,” said Cheeseman.
Cheeseman, a Lancaster native, is getting ready to graduate in October and plans to work at a long-term care facility.
But she also has aspirations of earning a registered nurse license through the one-year Pickaway-Ross Adult Education program.
“The first year they are only choosing the top 25 people, which is understandable. It’s a new program, nice class size,” said Cheeseman. “You honestly become a family with pretty much everyone you go to school with.”
Angela Larson is the Curriculum Developer at the Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center.
She said the LPN to RN program will provide much-needed training for an in-demand career.
“There definitely is a nursing shortage throughout the whole entire country. Our area feels that impact,” said Larson. “Most facilities in the area are in high need and high demand for nurses. So we’re hoping this program can help alleviate some of that.”
Cheeseman said she plans to take a year off, work and save up money for the next step in her career.
She looks forward to what the future holds and knows helping others has always been her dream.
“So we have to be their advocates for them,” said Cheeseman. “We have to want to help them and seeing them end up happy. It just feels great.”
The Pickaway-Ross CTC program starts on evenings and weekends in November and requires students to complete 1,026 hours and an exam.
The top 25 will be chosen from each class and the one-year program costs $12,000.
According to the job site nurse.com, there are currently over 11,000 open nursing jobs in Ohio.
