Ep. 13 - How Our Courses are Changing Lives: Real Student Stories

Ep. 13 – How Our Courses are Changing Lives: Real Student Stories

November 5, 2025

About This Episode

In this inspiring episode of Certify It, host Doug Bryant sits down with two students on different steps of their healthcare certification journeys at the Mason Center for Healthcare Education to hear their stories and how continuing their education is making their dreams a reality.

Transcription

Intro
In this episode of Certify It, you’re going to hear from two students who are currently in class. These students have not been certified yet. They’re both in the middle of preparing to be certified. Our first story is going to be with Brittany, who is currently in our CNA class, about her experience here at the Mason center for Health Care Education.

And then we’re going to transition to another Brittany, who has actually been a CNA for 17 years. And we’re going to talk to her about what it’s like going back to advance her career in care as a med tech. I hope you enjoy the show.

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

Doug 00:48
Welcome to Certify It, the podcast for advancing your career and care. Joining me today is one of our current Sienna students still currently in class. We just grabbed her out of class and her instructor name. So everybody’s fine. We’re fine. But her name is Brittany Burris. And Brittany, thank you so much for talking to me today. I’ve just got a few questions. For anybody that’s out there looking to take a CNA class, what was it that got you interested in taking a class?

Brittany 01:20
So I always wanted to know, like, what I wanted to do when I grew up. Like, I’ve always been searching for that. So, my mom was in the hospital, and I saw the CNAs and LPNs coming in and out in the arms, and I could kind of see myself doing that in the future.

So I didn’t like, initially start looking for a CNA program because I didn’t know that there was, places like this that would sponsor us. So, a girl posted about it on Facebook, and she was like, you should do Hillcrest, and they’ll sponsor you. And that’s kind of where I started. I didn’t look at any other programs.

Doug 02:00
What I love the fact that you said you weren’t actually looking for it, because anyone who works in long-term care, their story usually starts with, I wasn’t looking for long-term care. Long-term care found me. And that’s exactly what’s happened with many people who go on and do great things in long-term care is it’s one of those things that you never see yourself actually doing, but you fall in love with it. So that’s great. So what drew you specifically to the CNA role?

Brittany 02:32
I could see myself doing that position from what I saw, like firsthand, but I didn’t really know for sure. I’ve been out of school for a while, so I thought I could at least get that baby step. And if I could see myself growing from there, I would. Or if I like being a CNA, I could stay there.

Doug 02:50
So you joined the class through one of our health care partners, Hillcrest, which is sponsoring you in the class? And then s,o you already have a job?

Brittany 02:58
Yes.

Doug 02:59
Well, look at you. You’re going to leave here as a CNA and already have a place to work. Yeah. So that is great. So how has the CNA experience been so far? How have your classes and training been?

Brittany 03:09
It’s been great. I didn’t feel like I was too rushed. I mean, it’s a short program, but it was all step by step, so I didn’t feel like I was overloaded with information right off the bat.

Doug 03:21
So what has been the biggest struggle?

Brittany 03:23
Probably the skills so far are, I think, what we’re all most focusing on now. Sue taught us great further knowledge. I feel like we all have our heads wrapped around that, but it’s just learning all of the proper steps. Keep the present safe and

Doug 03:40
So, looking back at your journey up to this point, because you’re not finished yet, you start clinicals on Monday. So we’re excited about that. What’s been the biggest success in your eyes that you’ve seen for yourself?

Brittany 03:53
Probably. To this point, I feel like the test has been my biggest success because I got my first test back. I was like, oh my, I missed like two. I was like, I didn’t think I was that smart, that I could do it. And then it just kept getting better and better.

Doug 04:09
So, how long had it been since you had taken the test? Lord, if somebody gave me a test right now, I would freak out. Just because it’s been so long since I’ve had to take one.

Brittany 04:17
Probably been like ten, 12, 13 years. So I definitely wasn’t in that mindset of right off the bat.

Doug 04:25
So Sue has helped you get there?

Brittany 04:26
Oh, for sure.

Doug 04:27
We just had a conversation with her. And her passion for this business is unmatched. And learning from someone like her, I’m sure, has it’s just been invaluable. So, how does your instructor make a difference in your learning?

Brittany 04:43
So Sue has been absolutely great as an instructor. I feel like all of her experience mixed with, like, all the rules and all the procedures and a certain order that you have to follow, like it. I don’t feel like you could have one without the other. And I’ll be able to, like, learn as quickly as we have.

Doug 05:03
We have a hands-on skills lab here, completely set up, just like a resident room. How do you feel that the setup of our classrooms and the resources that we have available for students help you in preparation?

Brittany 05:16
Oh, it’s definitely great. Sue actually told us too, that some of the sheets and blankets and stuff we get from that are from actual facilities that they send us, so that the fact that we’re working with actual stuff that we’ll be working with in clinicals, that helps a lot.

Doug 05:31
The other thing, because the Mason Center is also a testing site, you’re going to do your test right here in the same classrooms and in the same lab that you’ve been teaching in. That has to be.

Brittany 05:43
Yeah. It’s reassuring. I don’t feel as many nerves about it.

Doug 05:47
Yeah, you’ll know where everything is. You don’t have to worry about going into a new place. So has this journey changed you personally in any way? Have you gained confidence? Have you seen your you know, have you done an inventory on your empathy and compassion towards others?

Brittany 06:02
Definitely. I guess putting me and like in, in my mind, like putting me as a resident, something you wouldn’t like, ever think of, I guess, until I got to this program and see how I would want to be treated. And it’s definitely built my confidence. And, I feel like if I wanted to, I could go to the next program.

Doug 06:24
So what are your future goals? Speaking of the next program, because we, love CNAs, we need good CNAs to stay good CNAs. But then I also know that a lot of times, CNA is a baby step. Yeah. To the next thing. So what goals is it that that you have for yourself?

Brittany 06:40
I could definitely see myself seeing a CNA if that’s if I get like into clinicals and feel comfortable that way. I see myself going up to an LPN also, but I don’t, I don’t know. After that, I feel like I would be happy with either of those two.

Doug 06:56
So what advice would you give to someone who’s considering becoming a CNA but isn’t sure that they’re ready?

Brittany 07:01
I guess just to do it anyways?

Doug 07:04
Oh, I can tell you’re one of Sue’s instructors. When I asked her about the same thing, she said, Just do it. Yeah, so if you could go back and tell yourself one thing before you started this training, what would it be?

Brittany 07:15
You’re capable of doing it too, just like anybody else.

Doug 07:18
And what’s one thing that you hope people understand about the heart of a CNA?

Brittany 07:23
I guess it would be because we want to take care of somebody, making the end of their life enjoyable as much as possible and comfortable.

Doug 07:33
And if you could leave one word of encouragement to other people who are getting ready to start this journey, what would it be?

Brittany 07:40
That you’re capable of doing it. And if you’re scared, just do it scared.

Doug 07:45
You can hear from Brittany and other students who have either completed their journey or started their journey in health care at themasoncenterknox.com. Brittany, thank you so much for being here today.

I know you were super nervous. That’s perfectly fine. Perfectly fine. And I also love what you said at the beginning, where you said, well, I didn’t really, I’ve always been trying to figure out what I wanted to do when I grow up. Yeah, well, I’m 40 now, and I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow. So welcome. And we’re so glad you’re here and can’t wait to see where this journey takes you.

Brittany 08:14
Thank you.

Doug 08:15
Thank you.

Mid-Roll
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Doug 08:38
Welcome to Certify It, the podcast for advancing your career and care. I’m here today with one of our medtech students at the Mason center for Health Care Education. Her name is Brittany Hudson. Brittany, thank you so much for being with us today. You’re welcome and for taking time to share a little bit about your story. So you’re in med tech class. So tell us a little bit about in what med tech is. What will you be doing once you graduate and get certified?

Brittany 09:04
Assisting the nurse with passing medication.

Doug 09:08
In a long term care facility? Yes. Okay. So in order to be a med tech, you had to obviously already be a CNA in the state of Tennessee. They require you to be a CNA prior to sitting for your medtech certification. So how did your healthcare journey start? Because here at the Mason center, we’re all about people. You know, we’re wanting to grow the next group of healthcare professionals in our area. So what got you started in health care to begin with?

Brittany 09:35
I was a CNA for 17 years.

Doug 09:38
17 years. You don’t even look like you’re 17 years old. Yeah, it’s 17 years. So what made you want to get into that? What made that the the career that you chose?

Brittany 09:48
Taking care of people. Just born to help other people.

Doug 09:55
is there a particular thing that happened in your life that made you say, hey, this is where I really want to serve?

Brittany 10:03
This working in a nursing home and working in home health and getting to know patients

Doug 10:08
So if you want to get to know patients, CNA work is a great way to do it. You all spend so much time, with the residents and you can make such a difference. In CNA work. So can you share a little bit about what made you decide? And if you have a story about why you decided, okay, I’ve been a CNA for 17 years, most CNAs that have been a CNA that want to go do something different would pursue LPN or R.N., but there is now in Tennessee this intermediate level between the two CNA and nurse that is called medtech. What made you decide that that route was the best for you?

Brittany 10:45
Being a single mother, have two kids and just a time. I don’t really have that much time to go to school for a whole year. So doing this program really helps me change and change my career.

Doug 11:01
So this program you’re talking about is time. This program is four weeks. So it’s three weeks on lots of bookwork, probably lots of homework.

Brittany 11:11
Lots.

Doug 11:12
Lots of homework logs, and then a week of clinicals. Correct. So you’re about two weeks in. Okay. So you to tell me, how’s it been so far?

Brittany 11:21
Stressful.

Doug 11:21
Stressful. That’s the only word you can come up with.

Brittany 11:24
Stressful, fun.

Doug 11:25
Fun?

Brittany 11:26
Stressful and learning different, different things.

Doug 11:31
Did you ever think there would be so much to learn to do this? Yes. You did. Well that’s good. You had realistic expectations coming in. So how’s how’s it been with your instructor? How’s the instructor been in helping prepare you?

Brittany 11:44
She’s great. Yeah, she’s a very sweet person and just teaching me different things and learning different things. She breaks it down, makes it more easier for me to be able to understand it.

Doug 11:54
So what’s the your most favorite thing that you’ve learned so far?

Brittany 11:59
The role of a medication aide, what you can and what you cannot do.

Doug 12:02
So what can you do?

Brittany 12:03
Pass out medication.

Doug 12:06
You’re still learning, right? So the lab that we have for medication Aids is different than the lab we have for CNAs. We have an actual medication cart with, fake I guess fake. I think it’s candy. But we have our old packs of medications and things like that. So how has that been? How’s that experience?

Brittany 12:30
A very big experience. Because you get to learn to court. You get to learn how to work the cart.

Doug 12:36
So, has your training for Med Tech, has it changed your view on health care at all?

Brittany 12:43
Completely.

Doug 12:44
And in what way?

Brittany 12:45
About learning a patient, learning and patient from the medication

Doug 12:49
From the medication part. So you’re able to pass medications, whichever, whatever the policy the facility allows you to pass and you work in, you will work directly with a nurse, correct? Yes. So how has Daphne? Daphne is your instructor. How is she preparing you for not just the exam, but for the realities of what this role will look like once you are certified?

Brittany 13:16
By showing me just the hands-on skills part of how it is in different facilities.

Doug 13:22
So do you see this as a stepping stone to becoming a nurse or?

Brittany 13:26
Most definitely.

Doug 13:27
What advice would you give to someone who’s considering becoming a med tech, but they’re not sure that they’re ready?

Brittany 13:32
Start as a CNA first and then work your way up. So that way, you get to know the feel of working in healthcare.

Doug 13:40
So what was your most valuable lesson that you’ve learned in 17 years of being a C and a? Because those lessons I found usually aren’t learned in the classroom. They’re learned with the service that we provide, the people we’re serving. So, is there a particular person that when you think back over the last 17 years, you think, you know, what that person right there, it was. It was that person who changed me.

Brittany 14:06
Just knowing that everybody’s different and treating people with respect, and knowing that everybody’s going through something. So I always come with a positive and great attitude.

Doug 14:18
So this is like we’ve had three of these recordings today. And instructors and students and empathy and compassion are something that’s been a running theme. A lot of people, when they think of school, think of the knowledge, and they think of the book work, and they think of working in a lab. They think of, okay, I’m going to learn how to pass medications, but it sounds like even from your perspective, there’s a little bit more taught here than just what to do. It’s the attitude I’m supposed to have when I do it. How important is it that people have empathy and compassion if they choose to do this?

Brittany 14:55
Very important, very important.

Doug 14:57
And for what reason would you think?

Brittany 14:59
Treat people how you want to be treated.

Doug 15:02
Okay, well, thank you so much for being with us today, Brittany.

Doug 15:07
Much success to you in the future. Excited about you getting certified. So you’ll start clinicals in a week? Yes, a week. So go out there and do great things.

Brittany 15:18
Thank you.

Doug 15:18
Thank you.

Doug 15:19
Thank you for joining us today. This has been Certify It, the podcast for advancing your career in care. You can find Brittany’s story, as well as stories of other students and instructors, at the masoncenterknox.com.

Outro
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Certify It by the Mason Center for Healthcare Education. Get connected with us on social media and at themasoncenterknox.com. If you haven’t yet, subscribe to this podcast on YouTube and anywhere you get your podcasts. And if you’re interested in sponsorship or donations to help further our cause of providing affordable, flexible health care certification programs for individuals seeking career mobility in skilled nursing, senior living, and long-term care fields. Visit themasoncenterknox.com.