Ep. 10 - From Culinary to Care: Tiffany’s Path to Becoming a CNA

Ep. 10 – From Culinary to Care: Tiffany’s Path to Becoming a CNA

May 21, 2025

About This Episode

From culinary staff to CNA at Hillcrest Communities Island Homes, Tiffany Schuster discusses the 7-week CNA course and the benefits of diving into the people-first business of healthcare. Hear how the hands-on experiences and present instructors made all the difference in her path toward career advancement.

Transcription

Intro
You’re listening to Certify It the podcast for advancing your career in care. Powered by the Mason Center for Healthcare Education. Hear news updates and discussions from thought leaders in health care around advancing your career through continuing education.

Doug 00:17
Welcome to certify the podcast for advancing your career in care. So I’m here today with Tiffany Schuster.

Tiffany 00:25
Hi.

Doug 00:25
Hello. How are you?

Tiffany 00:27
I’m doing wonderful.

Doug 00:28
Good. Thank you for coming in today.

Tiffany 00:30
Absolutely. I was really excited when you guys asked me to do this.

Doug 00:33
So we talked on our last podcast with a student that came through our Medication Aide, and we’re trying to really show people the impact that we’re trying to have in Knox County, not only on the county and healthcare in Knox County in general, but on the people that we are educating and helping upskill and and find new skills so that they can advance their careers. And Brandi and Sue said, if I talked to anybody that had been in a CNA class that I needed to talk to you.

Tiffany 01:03
Oh, that means a lot. I love both of them. They were really great and really helpful through the whole process.

Doug 01:07
So one of the stories that they told me about you before we get into this is now you have to tell me what you did with the class on the first day.

Tiffany 01:17
On the first day.

Doug 01:19
And if you don’t remember it, I’m going to have to prompt.

Tiffany 01:21
You’re going to have to.

Doug 01:23
So I was told this story that on the first day of class that you got up in front of everyone. You know what I’m talking about now.

Tiffany 01:31
Yes. Continue and oh continue.

Doug 01:36
And you became like the class cheerleader.

Tiffany 01:41
I loved everyone that was in the class with. It’s a very small class if people don’t know. There’s only six of us in the class and miss Sue our teacher. And so my biggest thing is, I know I was so nervous taking the class because I haven’t taken a class since I was in high school. I haven’t done anything like that in a while.

And so I wanted to make sure that the other girls knew that we could all talk to each other and help each other out and study together, if need be, anything like that. I still talked to two of the girls I was in class with.

Doug 02:13
So the speech I heard that you gave was. This is going to be tough, but we’re going to be able to do this. And now look at you today. You’re sitting here. You’ve already passed your test. You’re working as a CNA. The whole month now. I’ve been working as a senior.

Doug 02:27
So let’s go back in time a little bit. I just had to I had to go ahead and tell you, ask you about that because I was afraid I was going to forget it once we get in the thing. So tell us a little bit about how you got into health care and how you found health care.

Tiffany 02:39
It’s really funny, actually, because, before I started working as a CNA, I worked in the kitchen at Island Home, and I started working there because, I was out of a job and my fiancé works with Brandi’s husband, and he was like, you know what? Let me put you in touch with my wife. She might love to meet you.

And I started talking with Brandi, and she got me into it because I wasn’t sure what I would do at first. And she was like, well, why don’t you start somewhere small and see what you want to do from there? And she had actually told me about the program at first that I could start the program after I’ve been there.

I think it was 90 days. And I was like, okay, well, I’ll feel it out in the kitchen and see how I like it. And it’s just it’s a warm place. The people there are so nice. The administration is wonderful. And specifically Trudy. She made me feel very comfortable and, like, I can always talk to her.

And same with Ellen. They’ve been wonderful the entire time I’ve been there. And everyone was very encouraging that, hey, try out the class, like, just see if you like it. And so I did it and I enjoyed every second of it. It was, of course, it’s not easy. You’ve got to push yourself to learn and, learn new things and do them the right way. But you get proud of yourself for pushing through it.

Doug 03:56
What was it specifically that drew you to the CNA? Because I know that I Went Home is one of our health care partners that helps bring people in and upskill them so that they can grow their staff and give them educational opportunities. But, you know, there’s a lot of opportunities that are available in long term care. What was it about the CNA that really drew you to that?

Tiffany 04:20
When I was in high school, my grandfather had cancer. He had, throat cancer, and he had a tracheotomy. And so I spent a lot of time helping my mom and the CNAs that would come to our house to help take care of him. And so a lot of what they do and how much they cared for people.

And when I saw the same thing when I was working in the kitchen there, I was like, you know what? I want to be one of those people. I want to be one of the people that helps more. Because yes, handing out food is so helpful. It is wonderful to feed those people, but being able to do just that little extra more is more fulfilling.

Doug 04:56
So tell us a little bit. You did come to the class after you had been working for, I think you said with Island Home, it’s 90 days. So tell us a little bit about your experience in the class. You shared a little bit about the class size, but what was it that you found the most helpful while you were in the class, and that you found the most challenging?

Tiffany 05:15
The most challenging is that, of course, a lot of information, and you need to make sure that you get it right because it’s important. This is people’s lives you’re taking care of, and that’s the hardest part is remembering that like book. Yes, remember that. But these are actual people. You have to remember that while you’re remembering those facts and remember the heart behind it.

But, the best thing was how helpful miss Sue, our teacher, is. She’s very honest. And if you need help, she’s the first person there behind you to back you up. And like when we were in clinicals, she was always remind us, if you need me, you know where I’m at, please come get me. You can always ask me any question you need.

And I asked her so many questions. I probably talk to her. But she helps so much throughout the whole thing. And Brandi, also, she told me and the other girls, if you guys have anything that you need, you can always come to me as well. If Sue’s not available and it’s that’s the best thing is having people behind you to support you and answer those questions when you’re stuck in a hard place.

Doug 06:22
So how did the fact that we have a full lab help you through the classwork and prepare you for the exam?

Tiffany 06:29
I’m very hands on person, so when doing the things in the lab and the exam and going to clinicals was the best part for me because it felt like I was actually doing it, rather than just kind of picturing it while I was studying and things like that. So I feel like that hands on learning really like sticks it in people’s brains so that when they go to do it, oh, I’ve already done this before. It’s just muscle memory at that point.

Mid Roll
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Doug 07:17
So can you share a little bit about your clinical experience? Yeah, I think you all have two weeks of clinical. Yes.

Tiffany 07:23
And two weeks of clinicals for CNAs. It was really wonderful. It was, of course, really jarring at first because you it’s hard to remember that like, oh my gosh, this is I’m doing this now. It’s real. And but the seniors are wonderful about being there and helping and showing you and especially like I, like I’ve said about Island Home, I’ve got a soft spot for them.

But the ladies there were so helpful about making sure to show you the right way to do things, ways that are good on you. Proper body mechanics, especially the ladies that have been doing it for 20, 30 years. They’re like, honey, please don’t hurt your back. Make sure you’re in a good position and that you’re not hurting yourself or them.

And just that constant help and reminders like, to this day, if I need help with something, I can go grab one of the other ladies and be like, hey, can you answer this question really quick? And that’s the thing. Like I said before, support is wonderful when you’re in a position like this.

Doug 08:19
Some of the feedback that we get, about our CNA class particularly is that it is seven weeks, it is five weeks of didactic book work and lab work, and then it’s two weeks of clinical, which is long for a CNA classes. What to some to what some CNA classes are that are out there. There are some out there that are 2 or 3 weeks. How did you how do you think that that extra time?

Tiffany 08:46
I thought it was wonderful. I thought it was it felt like it flew by still. But I had time to be prepared and know everything. And we got to go over things at the end just to make sure that everything was clear. So we, like I know I went home every night and studied, so I would make sure that I would separate things that I wasn’t super clear on, and we would talk about them in class so that everyone was clear on them. And having extra time just means more time to be prepared and more time to make yourself know everything.

Doug 09:18
And with a smaller class size.

Tiffany 09:20
Oh yeah, the intimacy of it and being able to like we’ve got putting like pairs in groups a lot like where she would put three of us and three of us together and being able to go off of one of another. And because maybe I don’t know something, but another girl does, and then it’s like, oh, wow. Yeah.

The way you describe that helps me remember it like, certain body positions and things, different shapes and things like that is how people remember them. And it’s really helpful to hear what other people think.

Doug 09:48
So for future students or students looking to go through the CNA class, tell me a little bit about your experience. Once you went to test, where did you go test?

Tiffany 09:57
We were actually the first set of students that got to test here at the Mason Center, and that was the best experience possible, I think, because of course, the the testing, they always tell you like, oh, this is where this is going to be and show you everything. But we were already so physically prepared. We knew this place like the back of our hands.

By the end of these five and a half weeks, we were in this building. So being able to do it where we actually learned it, it was even more comfortable. And, the people who did the test were so kind and made sure that we were comfortable beforehand and reminded us, just know you’re comfortable. You guys got this. You’ve been studying this for this the whole time, and it was a great experience.

Doug 10:39
That is unique to the Mason Center that you do end up. You can you have the opportunity to take your state exam for CNA and for our med tech class.

Tiffany 10:48
They did that before we did ours. I think it was a couple of days before we did ours that they did theirs.

Doug 10:53
I’ve heard stories of people that took their class like at other places. Even before we were testing center. We would have to find a testing site for AP and just hearing them say the nerves are already out the roof when you’re going to test anyway, but trying to figure out and remember where things are at a new place you’ve never been.

Tiffany 11:14
And then you feel lost because you’ve never been to this place and people to turn. And then all of a sudden you’re panicking and then you forget everything because you’ve been panicking the whole time. And we didn’t have to deal with that here. And even like there was a girl who came to take the test. Same days our class did, and she was from a different place, and she was talking about how nice it was that she was welcomed. And like when we all sat together in the waiting room, we were very nice. And she felt comfortable here too.

Doug 11:42
Tell me a little bit about if there’s people out there that are on the fence about whether they want to do this or not, or they’re trying to figure out where they, you know, maybe they’ve decided I want to become a CNA, but there’s so many options out there. Why would you recommend someone come in and do it here at the Mason Center?

Tiffany 12:01
This place feels like you guys are a family you like. You talk to each other like you’ve known each other for years, even if you haven’t. And every person who comes into this place is welcomed with a smile and made sure to feel comfortable. And so I think that it’s even if you don’t actually continue to do the work because it’s not for you, it’s always worth it to try something new. And especially when you’ve got so much support behind you to make sure that you can just try to succeed, I think it’s worth a shot.

Doug 12:34
Well, thank you so much for coming by today and spending time with us. To tell us a little bit about your experience. I know that you have big plans for the future. You’re not just going to stay, in this area of CNA work, you’re thinking about either nursing or Med Tech.

Tiffany 12:5
I’m hoping to expand.

Doug 12:56
Well, we look forward to helping you. In what? Wherever that journey takes you. And we were so excited to be a part of the beginning journey that you’ve had in health care.

Tiffany 13:03
I wouldn’t have wanted to be with any other place.

Doug 13:06
Well, thank you so much for coming by today.

Tiffany 13:07
Thank you.

Doug 13:08
You’ve been listening to Certify It the podcast for advancing your career and care. We’ll see you next time.

Outro
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