After years of setbacks, this CNA apprentice is finally getting the hands-on training and support she needs to prepare for CNA certification and launch her career in skilled nursing facilities.
When she was just in her twenties, Zanobia Pernell dreamed of becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). While working as a housekeeper in a skilled nursing facility in Reno, Nevada, she kept her eyes open for training opportunities. She hoped for training in skills that would help her enter the healthcare field. When a CNA training program was announced at the facility, she rushed to apply—only to be told she was too young for the program.
A CNA Dream Was Deferred, But Never Forgotten
Disappointed but not discouraged, she spent years working in other jobs, always keeping that dream alive. “I really wanted to be a CNA,” Zanobia recalls. “But after that discouraging experience, I had to focus on other opportunities.”
Even after relocating to California due to a family emergency, she continued to search for an affordable entryway into the nursing field.
Now, at 33 years old, she has found her second chance, thanks to a unique opportunity to work as a nursing assistant trainee at Westview Healthcare Center in Auburn, California.
While browsing job listings on Indeed.com, Zanobia discovered a posting from Westview for the CNA apprenticeship program as a special perk of being hired as a nursing assistant trainee. It seemed to Zanobia like her early career dream might be possible. “It sounded like a great opportunity,” she says. “I’m so glad I found it.”
Westview is a member of both the SEIU Local 2015 labor union and The Education Fund. These organizations often collaborate with training providers like the Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA) and nursing home employers like Westview to offer worker education and skill development programs. Westview was able to enroll Zanobia and some of their other eligible workers in the CNA Registered Apprenticeship Program (CNA RAP) provided by CCA.
A CNA Apprentice Finds the Right Path—And the Right Support
Once Westview Healthcare Center hired her as a nursing assistant trainee, Zanobia became eligible for the free CNA apprenticeship program. Zanobia received fully supported training. Through CCA’s training program, she receives tuition-free Zoom classes led by a live instructor, a laptop computer, a uniform to wear during her clinical hours at the nursing home, and additional stipends to cover her materials fees, transport, and other expenses.
The support from my employer and the training partners makes it possible for me to attend classes without any hardship,” she explains. “By paying me for my work as a trainee while also covering the cost of my classes, they’re doing everything they can to help me succeed.”
Real Learning Happens in the Nursing Home
Classroom theory is one thing, but the clinical experience at the nursing home is where everything clicks for Zanobia. As part of her CNA apprenticeship, Zanobia works alongside experienced nursing staff. She is learning critical hands-on skills like assisting with catheters, giving residents showers, helping with mobility, and feeding residents properly.
I’ve learned how to take vitals, use a lift safely, and even observe wound care,” says Zanobia. “It’s amazing how much we learn just by being here and working side-by-side with experienced CNAs.”
She’s also gaining insights into emergency preparedness and resident engagement—skills that are often overlooked but essential in a nursing home environment. “We even help with activities and learn how to chart and document meals,” she adds. “This training has shown me how much care and attention every resident needs and deserves.”
A Future in Professional Nursing That Is Rooted in Family Tradition
Zanobia’s entry into healthcare is more than professional—it’s personal. Her aunt worked as a CNA at Kaiser Permanente for over two decades. Now, she’s proudly walking a similar path.
“This program is opening the door to my dream,” she says. “My family is so happy for me. They see how this is helping me.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) and eventually explore training in ultrasound technology. But for now, she’s focused on gaining every bit of experience she can as a CNA. “This is the career I always wanted,” she says. “I just needed the right opportunity.”
A CNA Apprenticeship That Changes Lives
Zanobia’s story is one of persistence, hope, and the power of second chances. She knows firsthand how hard it can be to find and access an affordable, supportive path into the healthcare field. That is why she believes CNA training programs like this need to continue.
“There are a lot of people out there who want to be CNAs but can’t find a way in,” she says. “This kind of training could help so many people get started in the medical field. And the nursing homes really need more of us.”
And as her journey shows, it’s never too late to return to the path you were meant to follow—especially when it leads to providing older adults with high-quality long-term care in a nursing home. Zanobia is well on her way to a career as a CNA who truly makes a difference.
Learn more about CCA’s nursing home caregiver training programs.
Find stories about other caregivers here: https://advancecaregivers.org/impact-stories/
Image credit: Photo by Yuri Arcurs, Freepik
