Today we would like to introduce you to Mrs. Salena Neal, the Director of Nursing of our Practical Nurse program here at Dorsey Schools.
We had the chance to catch up with her for a Q&A style interview to learn a bit more about her background as well as the Practical Nurse program at Dorsey Schools. Check out what she had to say below.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
A: “I spent 8 years in the United States Air Force. After discharge, I began nursing school; graduating in 2000. This coming July is my 20-year nursing anniversary. My background is Maternal-Child. I’ve worked in Labor and Delivery, High Risk Antenatal, Postpartum and the OB-Gyn Clinic. I’ve had the pleasure of caring for mothers and their families from conception to delivery. My academic nursing career where I began teaching started in 2017. I taught in the classroom until relocating back to Michigan in 2018, where I became a part of the Dorsey Schools family as the Campus Support Center, Director of Nursing.”
Q: Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?
A: “I know this is going to sound like a cliché, but from the time I was a little girl, I have always wanted to go in the military, be a nurse and a teacher. It has always been a part of me as far back as I can remember. I’m certain this was God’s plan for me. I don’t know any other way to explain it.”
Q: What advice would you give to students who want to become an LPN?
A: “I would tell them that nursing is not something you wake up one day and decide that you want to do. Nursing must be in your core, in your heart. Only then, will what’s inside of you spill over in characteristics, your integrity, to your patients/families, your profession, and in everything that you do.”
Q: Tell us a little bit about your role as the Director of Nursing at Dorsey Schools.
A: “My role as the CSC Director of Nursing is simply a liaison between CSC and the campuses. If a campus does not have a Director of Nursing (DON), I fill in. If the DON goes on vacation, I fill in. I also field any questions/concerns/accolades from the campus, back to CSC and vice versa. I am proud to have a working relationship with the faculty, adjunct, DON’s, and the students.”
Q: What are some of the best things about the Practical Nurse program at Dorsey Schools?
A: “The Practical Nurse (PN) program has adopted the vision: Holistically Changing Lives One Student at a Time. What I love about Dorsey’s Practical Nurse program is that we pride ourselves on providing opportunities and second chances. I witness and have been a part of lives being changed, daily.”
Q: What topics will students be exposed to in the Practical Nurse program at Dorsey Schools?
A: “Students will be exposed to basic courses such as nursing fundamentals, medical terminology/anatomy and physiology, and math. Core courses such as medical-surgical and pharmacology. Students will also be exposed to specialty courses such as obstetrics and pediatrics. Students will end the program with exposure to leadership classes and courses that prepare them for the NCLEX-PN. Students will have the opportunity to practice what they are learning in clinical sites on actual patients. Dorsey has great instructors willing and ready to assist the students through the program.”
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your nursing career?
A: “When the connection is made for the student, when the light bulb comes on, and when you see them walk across the stage during the pinning ceremony, my heart melts. When graduates verbalize to me during the time they are in school, as well as, after graduation, the impact I had on their life, I feel as though I am living Dorsey’s vision – Holistically changing lives one student at a time – there is my reward as a nurse.”
The Practical Nurse program at Dorsey Schools
The Practical Nurse program at Dorsey Schools is designed to include classroom instruction and practical, hands-on training to help students prepare to pursue a new career in the nursing field.
Classes in this program include:
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Practical Nurse Fundamentals
- Pharmacology and Medication Delivery
- Mental Health Concepts
- Medical/Surgical Nursing
- Maternal/Newborn Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Geriatric Nursing
- …and more!
The Practical Nurse program is offered at the following Dorsey Schools campus locations:
- Madison Heights, MI (Main Campus)
- Roseville, MI (A branch Campus of Madison Heights)
- Saginaw, MI (A branch Campus of Madison Heights)
- Wayne, MI (A branch Campus of Madison Heights)
- Woodhaven, MI (A branch Campus of Madison Heights)
Take the next step in pursuing your nursing career. You can request info online or give us a call at 888-422-1188.
