Fauquier High School (FHS) offers a unique opportunity for students interested in healthcare careers: the Nursing Aide Program, led by Sandra Shipe, the vocational health/medical teacher. Through a rigorous curriculum blending classroom instruction with real-world experience, the program equips students with essential skills for patient care and prepares them for future careers in healthcare.
The Nursing Aide Program is a Board of Nursing program where “students interested in health-related careers can actually learn basic healthcare concepts,” explained Shipe. The program covers everything from understanding body systems to hands-on patient care techniques such as bathing, catheter care, helping patients walk and more. Students also practice therapeutic communication, cultural sensitivity and patient dignity; all critical components of providing compassionate care. “We focus a lot on client rights and how to interpersonally approach people in compromising situations,” Shipe added. A key component of the program is a partnership with White Springs Assisted Living Facility, where students complete 40 hours of hands-on clinical care. These rotations give students invaluable exposure to real-life scenarios, from assisting memory care patients to performing strengthening exercises with residents.
One of the program’s most notable benefits is that students graduate with the opportunity to become certified nursing assistants (CNAs). “At the end of the course, they sit for the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program…It’s paid for by the school,” said Shipe. “The students are essentially taking a course worth $1,000 elsewhere, for free.” Earning the CNA certification opens doors to employment in hospitals, assisted living facilities, long-term care centers and doctors’ offices. It also allows students to work while pursuing advanced healthcare degrees, gaining both financial support and valuable experience. For students like Julia Green, a senior at FHS, the program solidified their passion for healthcare. “Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to do something in healthcare,” Green shared. “Being able to work with patients during clinicals has made me more confident in my abilities,” she continued.
The program doesn’t just teach technical skills—it also builds resilience, teamwork and leadership skills. “You’re walking into vulnerable situations with patients, and it can be overwhelming,” Shipe said. “But it helps students handle these situations with elegance and finesse.” For senior Heidy Aguirre-Valenzuela, a current participant, the experience has been transformative. “I’ve always been an awkward person, but this program pushed me to communicate better,” she said. “I feel like I’ve grown as an individual and as a leader.”
Role-playing and class discussions also help students prepare for the realities of caregiving. Shipe often shares stories from her 40+ years in healthcare to illustrate the challenges students might face. “We talk about things nobody wants to talk about,” she said, “and we role-play scenarios to ensure they are ready.”
Many graduates of the program go on to pursue advanced healthcare careers. Shipe recalled one former student who is now a leader in a local healthcare agency and another who she recently encountered working at a hospital while pursuing a nursing degree. For students unsure of their path, the program offers valuable insights. “Even if you learn that patient care isn’t for you, it’s better to find that out here than after committing to a nursing degree,” Shipe emphasized. The Nursing Aide Program at FHS is more than a class—it’s a stepping stone for students to explore the healthcare field, gain practical experience and develop skills that will serve them for a lifetime. For those considering it, the advice from students is clear: be prepared to work hard, but know that the rewards are worth it. As Aguirre-Valenzuela put it, “Be very open and build relationships. You’re going to learn a lot, and you’ll grow—not just as a healthcare worker, but as a person.”
