Wylie High School students in Dr. Hood’s Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) class recently received a visit from someone who once sat exactly where they are—Wylie graduate and current nursing student Ashlynn Jenkins.
Ashlynn, a 2022 Wylie grad, is now in her third semester of nursing school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Abilene, where she is also employed as a nurse tech at Hendrick Medical Center. She first launched her medical journey right here at Wylie, as part of Dr. Hood’s very first CNA class.
Now, she returns annually to speak to students about her experience transitioning from high school to nursing school, offering valuable insight into the realities of patient care, college preparation, and hospital life.
“Textbook learning is one thing—but real life on the hospital floor is another,” Ashlynn told students. She even brought a practice IV arm for students to try, giving them a hands-on preview of the clinical work nurse techs can do.
Ashlynn also shared how her CNA certification opened doors for her early on, including acceptance into Hendrick’s Workforce Program, which covers $28,000 in exchange for a four-year work commitment after graduation. The program isn’t limited to nursing—it supports a wide variety of medical career paths, including:
Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN)
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Certified Surgical Technologist
Histotechnologist
Medical Technologist
Occupational Therapist
Pharmacy Technician
Doctor of Pharmacy
Physical Therapist
Radiology/Sonography
Respiratory Therapist – Associates and Bachelors
Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Assistants
Thanks to this program and the flexibility of her nurse tech role, Ashlynn is gaining real-world experience while earning a dual degree in Nursing and Human Science.
Wylie ISD is proud of Ashlynn’s accomplishments and grateful for her continued connection to the district. Her story is a powerful example of how career and technical education programs like Dr. Hood’s CNA course can set students on a meaningful, successful path.
For more information about Wylie’s CNA program, contact Dr. Hood at lex.hood@wyliebulldogs.org.
