At Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center and Covenant Health, we celebrate and cherish our employees’ reasons for working in healthcare. Today, learn about Tamara Carroll, a Certified Nursing Assistant at Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, and her “why.”
I never thought I would become a CNA, but in 2016, I had a rough year at the job I was working at. As I was going through this rough time, I couldn’t stop thinking about some family and friends who had recently gone through a “work and train” program to earn their CNA license. I decided to find out more about CNA classes so I could pursue this new career path.
I got more information at the Tennessee Career Center and then prayed because I knew that I couldn’t afford the classes without working. I asked God to help me find a way to pay for the classes if He really wanted me to be a CNA. Thankfully, the career center called me and said that they were able to cover the full cost of my classes.
I knew then that this is what God wanted me to do and that He would guide me to where I needed to be. I interviewed at Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, and now I absolutely love working here! This place has helped me develop into the healthcare worker I am today and continues to impact who I strive to be in the future.
Rehabilitative nursing has special significance to me because my 7-year-old had to go to outpatient rehab three times when he was young. Seeing him grow and progress with the help of his therapists really made me appreciate all that therapy can do for people.
I used to say “I could never be a CNA.” Then, “I could never be a nurse.” Now, I’m taking my first prerequisite class for my nursing degree. Thank you Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center for giving me a chance, helping me grow in my career and helping me realize what God meant for me to do!