Chelsea Hill, Program Manager, Nile Sisters Development Initiative

When Gift Onyenwe came to the United States from Nigeria in November of 2021, she knew she wanted to pursue nursing but needed help getting started.

“I have always had a passion to be a nurse,” she stated in an interview with LearnMore staff, “I can remember vividly when my grandma was feeling ill when we were still in Nigeria, and my mom and sister and I took care of her. That made me want to pursue nursing. I have a passion for taking care of people, elderly people, children.”

Her mother learned about the LearnMore Nurse Assistant Training Program (NATP) and encouraged her to apply.

LearnMore is a private, nonprofit career-training school specializing in quality, accelerated courses to equip participants with skills for employment in high-demand sectors. The program offers enhanced instruction and hands-on training to develop new skills or advance previously obtained skills to meet the needs of hard-to-reach and underrepresented populations.

Nile Sisters Development Initiative created the program to help participants gain employment in the healthcare field. Nile Sisters’ mission is to educate, support, and offer training to refugee and immigrant women and their families to help them overcome barriers to social and economic self-reliance.

Gift is a recent graduate of LearnMore, and the program has made a significant difference in her life. Enrolling in LearnMore and obtaining her Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA) certificate has helped her feel more secure since coming to the United States because she can get a job in a field that she is passionate about.

“I have gotten a job at the Montera Assisted Living Center in La Mesa. I like working there. It’s perfect,” she says with excitement, “I can use all the skills I learned and put them into practice.”

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a nurse shortage in the state of California, and Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA) are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California employs more CNAs than any other state, with 97,970 CNAs. On the national level, projections estimate an 8% growth rate between 2020 and 2030, translating to over 192,800 jobs.

Many turn to the healthcare field for job security. For Gift, it provides that and much more. Being in the nursing field allows her to nurture her dedication to caring for others.

“I am so happy that I completed the class and passed my CNA,” she exclaims, “My favorite part of the program was all the skills I learned. I really learned so much, and I am grateful.”

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a CNA, visit https://learnmorefast.org/apply-to-our-programs-at-learn-more-fast/.