New and exciting things are happening here at Dorsey Schools! As many of you may know, our Southgate, MI campus recently relocated to Woodhaven, MI. With this new location comes new opportunities, and some new staff too! Today, we are excited to introduce you to the new Director of Nursing at our Woodhaven campus! Say hello to Ms. Nekisha Bailey!
We recently sat down to talk with Ms. Bailey in hopes of finding out more about her professional background, and the Practical Nurse program. Here is what we talked about:
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your background (education and work history)?
A: “I started my career in healthcare as a Certified Evaluated Nursing Assistant (CENA) over 20 years ago. After working several years as a CENA, I decided to enroll in community college to further my education. During my last year of nursing school at Schoolcraft Community College, I started working as a nurse technician at Beaumont Farmington Hills (previously known as Botsford Hospital). Once I completed the ADN program, and passed my NCLEX I started working in my new role as a Registered Nurse.
Some of my work experience as a Registered Nurse over the past 12 years includes Medical Surgical, Outpatient OR, Inpatient rehab, travel nursing, Resource Pool Nurse, Nurse Preceptor, and Clinical/Didactic Instructor. I started working at Dorsey Schools as an Instructor at [the] Wayne campus approximately 2 years ago.
Now, I am the Director of Nursing at the Woodhaven campus. In addition to being a Registered Nurse, I completed the MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Walden University. Earlier this year I passed my Family Nurse Practitioner exam. I am officially Nekisha Bailey, MSN, RN, NP-C.”
Q: Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?
A: “I knew as a child I wanted to care for others. I had no idea in what capacity that would be until I became a nursing assistant. Both the good and [the] bad experiences in healthcare prompted me to become a change agent. I personally felt that becoming a nurse would help me fulfill my purpose in life.”
Q: What advice would you give someone considering a career in nursing?
A: “My best advice would be, for those seeking to join the profession, is to understand we are in this profession to help and serve others. It is a very rewarding career, and [the] opportunity for growth is limitless.”
Q: What are some of the best things about the Practical Nurse program at Dorsey Schools?
A: “Our students come from all different walks of life, and have faced many challenges prior to making a decision to come to the program. Some of the best things about the program comes from testimonies given by PN graduates at the Pinning Ceremony. Most often their speeches give the audience a peak into the sacrifices, obstacles, and challenges they overcame to complete the program. The enormous growth, increase in self-esteem, and self-worth our students’ exhibit in the end is priceless.”
Q: What topics will students be exposed to in the Practical Nurse program at Dorsey Schools?
A: “The topics covered in the Practical Nurse (PN) program range from the basic Fundamentals of Nursing to more complex areas such as Pharmacology, and Medical Surgical nursing.”
The Practical Nurse program at Dorsey Schools
The Practical Nurse program at Dorsey Schools is a certificate program, and is designed to be completed in a year. The program combines comprehensive classroom experience, and hands-on training to help our students prepare for a rewarding career in the field of healthcare.
Training in this program includes:
- Clinical training that allows for classroom theory to be put to practice.
- Practical nurse skills and responsibilities including patient education, patient care, the supervision of unlicensed assistive personnel, and managing team nursing care delivery.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with a focus on ethical, moral, legal, and cultural issues in the current healthcare environment.
- Comprehensive coverage of cognitive, psychomotor, and behavioral learning disciplines.
- Those who successfully complete the Practical Nurse program at Dorsey Schools will receive a Practical Nurse certificate and be eligible to challenge the NCLEX-PN exam. Upon successfully passing the NCLEX-PN exam, they may become licensed as a Practical Nurse (LPN). Licensure as a Practical Nurse is required for employment by the State of Michigan.
If you are interested in learning more about this program, or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us here by filling out a ‘Request Information’ form on our website. Someone will contact you soon after. If you prefer, you can also give us a call at 888-422-1188. We’d love to speak with you!
