Nursing Assistant    In Macedonia, Stojana was a technician in a chemical company. When she came to the United States, she attended a JTPA English as a Second Language class, four days a week, and progressed from beginner to advanced levels. While attending English class, Stojana worked evenings on the housekeeping staff of a hospital. Stojana and her nine-year-old daughter on "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day" at the hospital where she works as a nursing assistant          --------->

An Interview with Stojana:
Students: Where do you work?
Stojana: I work as a nursing assistant in a hospital.

Students: What training was required?
Stojana: I attended a training program, five days a week, full time, for two months. Then I had to take a state test for my license. It took about one hour on the computer.

Students: How did you get your job?
Stojana: I volunteered at the hospital where I wanted to work as a nursing assistant on Friday mornings, my day off from English class. I worked as a courier and carried things from one part of the hospital to another, papers, specimens, etc. The rest of the time, I was assigned to talk to patients in the open-heart surgery recovery unit. I got them ice chips and asked them how they were. Giving the time was difficult, but I got to know about the hospital and the people there got to know me.

I filled out an application for a job as a nursing assistant while I was in training. After I passed the state test, I applied again. First they offered me part-time work, but I refused. I was already working full-time as a housekeeper in another hospital. When I mentioned my volunteer work, the interviewer called the open-heart surgery recovery unit and asked them if they needed anyone. They said they would like to have me work there. I had an interview with the head nurse and then with someone in personnel. He discussed salary, shift and benefits. That's how I got my job!

Students: What hours do you work?
Stojana: I work the second shift, 3:00pm to 11:00pm. That's where they needed me, and I get extra money for working the second shift.

Students: What do you like about your job?
Stojana: I like working at this hospital. I knew it was a good hospital, so when I decided to train for nursing assistant, I knew I wanted to work here. I like to help people.

Students: What are your duties at the hospital?
Stojana: I stock the rooms with the things that the patients need and change the linens. The nurses check the tubes, but if  I see warning lights or hear beeps, I call the nurse. Sometimes I feed the patients or help them walk around the unit. I give bed pans or help them to the toilet.  When the patients are recovering from anesthesia, we check their vital signs and blood pressure. I stick their finger to check blood sugar and take their temperature. I assist the nurse in bathing the patients and attending to their needs. Sometimes, I transport the patients to appointments around the hospital.  I talk to the anesthesized patients and reassure them when they are confused.

When the patients are feeling better, they always ask me about my accent. It is a good conversation starter. They have all heard about Macedonia in the news. Sometimes the administrators in the hospital will ask me to translate. If we get people in admissions or the emergency room who only speak the slavic languages, I am happy to help.

Students: What part of your job do you find difficult?
Stojana: It is not really difficult, but you need much patience with people. It makes them happy. When they are feeling better, they appreciate it.

Students: Do you have any problems working with your co-workers?
Stojana: Not really. Most people are nice. Sometimes they are very tired. Different people have different personalities. I understand that something may have happened. Sometimes people are not in a good mood, so I ignore it. I avoid arguments. The next day they are in a better humor.

Students: Would you recommend this job to other people?
Stojana: Yes. In my country I worked in a laboratory, but I like this job better because I like helping people.

Return to Careers Home
This web page was created by Kerren Vallone and the adult ESL students at Bergen County Technical Schools,
Bergen Workforce Center, 540 Hudson Street, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601     mailto:kerval@bergen.org
Last Updated  8/10/99
This project was funded by a Northeast Lit-Tech mini-grant.