• Courses
    • Professional Certificates & Courses
    • Corporate Learning
    • Online Courses
    • Executive Education
    • 50+ OLLI Program
    • Personal Enrichment Classes
    • Summer Camps
    • Intensive English Program
    Our Community Catalog
    OLLI Catalog Winter 2023
  • Events
    • Graduation
    • Book an Event
  • Student Resources
    • Career Development Resources
    • Catalog
    • Financial Aid
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • KSU Discounts
    • Military Education Benefits
    • Scholarships
  • About
    • Blog
    • Contact
    • Instructor Application
    • Give to CPE
  • Login
    • Login to Register
    • Login to Moodle

Community and Professional EducationCommunity and Professional Education
  • Courses
    • Professional Certificates & Courses
    • Corporate Learning
    • Online Courses
    • Executive Education
    • 50+ OLLI Program
    • Personal Enrichment Classes
    • Summer Camps
    • Intensive English Program
    Our Community Catalog
    OLLI Catalog Winter 2023
  • Events
    • Graduation
    • Book an Event
  • Student Resources
    • Career Development Resources
    • Catalog
    • Financial Aid
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • KSU Discounts
    • Military Education Benefits
    • Scholarships
  • About
    • Blog
    • Contact
    • Instructor Application
    • Give to CPE
  • Login
    • Login to Register
    • Login to Moodle
  • News

    • Home
    • Blog
    • News
    • Healthcare Grad Saving Lives

    Healthcare Grad Saving Lives

    • Categories News
    • Date November 14, 2016

    Sometimes, “Plan B” ends up being the best option. For Melissa Amavisca, her contingency plan put her on an alternate path to the same destination. The Harrison High School graduate knew from an early age she wanted to enter the healthcare field. “I’ve always had a passion for people and helping others,” Melissa said. “I always wanted to become a nurse.”

    After graduating high school, she took the conventional route and enrolled at KSU and began working on her undergraduate core studies. The original plan was to enter KSU’s renowned WellStar School of Nursing. However, after several years of applying to no avail, Melissa began to explore other options. Upon receiving our Course Catalog magazine, she attended one of our Open House events to learn more about the continuing education route.

    “I was interested in the CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) program at first because I wanted to work in a nursing home to gain some experience,” she said. “I took the CNA program with no intent of taking anything else.”

    A Rewarding Discovery
    What happened next was not part of Melissa’s plan. “I fell in love with KSU’s College of Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE) and the staff here,” she said. “I came back and took Phlebotomy Technician and EKG Technician.” Her drive and determination didn’t stop there. After completing each certificate training course, Melissa successfully passed the state and national exams for each program. Additionally, she acquired a CPCT (Certified Patient Care Technician) certification to boost her résumé.

    Hands-On Training to Real-World Experience
    As a result of the skills and knowledge she learned through her coursework, Melissa landed a job as a phlebotomist at a local blood lab after a classmate alerted her of it. She later was promoted to office manager before the lab shut down. A few days after losing her job, Melissa received a phone call from WellStar Paulding Hospital in Hiram and was hired as an emergency department technician. She says she can do everything a nurse can except medicate patients.

    Melissa Amavisca

    “[Working in the emergency room], we touch patients more than anybody,” she said. “We are the eyes and ears of the floor.”

    Melissa said working in the ER has been an eye-opening experience in that you realize how many sick people are in need of care. She lists her favorite parts of the job as getting to see people get better. Melissa also appreciates the camaraderie of the close, family-oriented staff and she thrives in the chaos and unpredictability of the ER environment.

    Melissa Amavisca, Healthcare graduate
    Melissa Amavisca is our featured graduate for the new January–March 2017 catalog.

    Options Aplenty
    Melissa is planning to go back to school to receive an associate’s degree in nursing or surgical technology. She said, “I eventually want to be a traveling nurse.”

    Forever grateful of her CCPE education, Melissa said the real-world, hands-on training was the most valuable aspect of the programs. “These classes are a stepping stone to entering the healthcare field,” she said. “I’ve discovered that companies really appreciate the KSU logo on your certificate.”

    Healthcare Certificate Programs:

    • Certified Nursing Assistant
    • EKG Technician
    • Health Coach
    • Medical Assisting
    • Medical Billing and Coding
    • Medical Office Assistant
    • Pedorthist
    • Personal Trainer
    • Pharmacy Technician
    • Phlebotomy Technician

    Tag:catalog, certified nursing assistant, EKG Technician, health, phlebotomy technician, students

    • Share:

    Previous post

    Businesses Empower Students with Real-World Training, Jobs
    November 14, 2016

    Next post

    CCPE wins 13 awards at national marketing conference
    November 16, 2016

    You may also like

    Phlebotomist checking line whle patient donates blood in hospital
    Phlebotomy Graduate Lands WellStar Job
    10 January, 2022
    demo_image
    Revit Architecture Essentials Certificate Program: Begin or Advance Your Career!
    5 January, 2022
    Screen Shot 2021-12-06 at 3.30.30 PM
    Meet Our Pathway Advisors!
    6 December, 2021

    Categories

    • Events
    • News
    • OLLI
    • Personal Enrichment
    • Professional Education
    • Uncategorized
    • Youth

    Recent Posts

    • Paralegal Courses Increase Price To Support Online Learning January 19, 2022
    • All About Becoming A Pharmacy Technician January 19, 2022
    • Phlebotomy Graduate Lands WellStar Job January 10, 2022
    • Bilingual? Learn Everything About How to Become A Medical Interpreter! January 7, 2022
    • Revit Architecture Essentials Certificate Program: Begin or Advance Your Career! January 5, 2022
    CPE Logo

    Kennesaw - KSU Center

    3333 Busbee Drive, #3301
    Kennesaw, Georgia 30144

    (470) 578-6765

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Linkedin
    • YouTube
    • Blog

    Courses

    • Graduate College
    • All Courses
    • Professional Certificates & Courses
    • Online Courses
    • Personal Enrichment Classes

    For Students

    • Career Development Resources
    • Catalog
    • Financial Aid
    • Military Education Benefits

    Quick Links

    • Blog
    • Contact
    • Corporate Learning
    • Open House

    © 2022 Kennesaw State University - Community and Professional Education

    • Privacy
    • Policies
    • Sitemap
    • Text Only