WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) When a new job opening became available at Ascension Medical Group, physician practice manager Victoria Parris had a great candidate in mind already.<\/p>\n
Amy Acuna, a CNA at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, was looking to broaden her nursing career and the job working the front desk for the Ascension Medical Group OB-GYN office seemed like a great fit. Acuna excelled through the interview cycle but the process hit a snag.<\/p>\n
I got a call from my recruiter to let me know that unfortunately, Amy was not qualified for the position, Parris tells KSN.<\/p>\n
Acuna became a mother at age 15 and dropped out of school so she could financially provide for her son. Her job as a CNA at various assisted living facilities and St. Francis did not require a high school diploma or GED, but the new job she applied and interviewed for did.<\/p>\n
Parris asked Acuna if she would be willing to put in the work to qualify for her job, not knowing what her answer would be as Acuna is now a busy wife and mother of three children.<\/p>\n
Within 29 days, Acuna secured her GED.<\/p>\n
She says resources typically available to help adults with their education were largely unavailable to her due to COVID.<\/p>\n
I kind of just went online and YouTubed everything from the beginning. I started over and taught myself, and I was nervous. So nervous, but I did it, Acuna said.<\/p>\n
The curriculum changed in the years since Acuna, now 32, was in school. She admits she had to ask her son for some help understanding quad polynomials. <\/p>\n
Acuna let Parris know she secured the necessary education for this next step, which Parris was happy to brag about to anyone who would listen. <\/p>\n
Parris notes, we are not all given the same circumstances in life and she feels it is her duty as a manager to recognize those differences.<\/p>\n
Lifes not about being fair, we cant make everything fair, but we can do our due diligence to make things equitable, Parris said.<\/p>\n
The GED is just the start for Acuna, who has decided to go back to school this fall to pursue further nursing dreams. <\/p>\n
The son she gave birth to at age 15 is now 16 years old and considering a career in nursing.<\/p>\n
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Nurses Week: Ascension nurse helps another overcome circumstances, secure new role - KSN-TV<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) When a new job opening became available at Ascension Medical Group, physician practice manager Victoria Parris had a great candidate in mind already. Continue reading