From Nursing to Teaching: CNA Instructor Joins MMACHS

By Leslie Sotelo & Haedyn Smith

After nearly 20 years of nursing, Hillary Chitwood is beginning a new chapter, this time in the classroom.

As the new CNA instructor at MMACHS, Mrs. Chitwood brings nearly two decades of experience in health care. Although becoming an educator was not always part of her plan, her experiences as a nurse gradually led her toward teaching.

“I enjoyed my nursing career. I’m just kind of ready to do something different,” she said.

While taking a health-related class at Northwest Nazarene University, Mrs. Chitwood became interested in nursing. She enjoyed the supportive environment of the smaller program and soon discovered that nursing offered something she valued: the ability to help people while having opportunities to explore different areas of healthcare.

Over the course of her career, she worked on a general hospital floor, cared for cancer patients in oncology and clinics, and eventually moved into public health. One of her most meaningful roles involved visiting new mothers in their homes, particularly mothers who lacked a strong support system.

Mrs. Chitwood's work involved helping mothers learn how to care for themselves and their babies while providing encouragement and guidance during a major transition in their lives.

“You’re kind of showing them how to be healthy, how to be a healthy mom, how to help your baby be healthy," she explained.

That experience also prepared her for her current role as an educator. Rather than teaching in a traditional classroom, she had already spent years helping people learn skills they could use in their everyday lives.

Her nursing career also taught her lessons that she carries with her today. Working in oncology, in particular, challenged her both professionally and emotionally.

“It just really, really stretched me all the time,” she said. “Every single workday, I would just be exhausted, but it’s fulfilling.”

One of the biggest lessons she took away from working with patients was the importance of avoiding assumptions.

“You don’t really know what people have been going through,” she said. “...If you try to keep that open mind, it’s helpful to keep you moving through the day and having that empathy that you need to care for them.”

Her decision to leave hospital nursing was influenced in part by her experiences during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The environment felt more stressful and less secure, prompting her to consider a change.

The move into education also brings her closer to her family background. Interestingly, although she never expected to become a teacher, many members of her family are educators.

“So, yeah, eventually, here I am,” she said with a laugh.

Outside of school and work, family is an important part of her life. She has three children. In her personal life, she likes spending time with her family and sitting down with a good book.

If she could go back and choose her career again, she said she would still choose nursing.

“I can’t say I have any regrets at all,” she said.

Now, however, she is excited to help students begin their own journeys.

Although she is currently getting settled into her new role and shadowing other teachers, she is looking forward to teaching CNA classes and guiding students through the skills they will need for the certification exam.

“I think it’s fun to see people get inspired by something or they’re motivated to learn,” she said.

Her hope is that students leave the CNA program with more than a certification. She wants them to gain experience that can help them determine whether healthcare is a path they want to pursue.

Mrs. Chitwood will begin teaching CNA in the spring semester. This semester, she has been working with other members of MMACHS' clinical program, including Medical Assisting instructor Sherry McCluskey.

"I think she's going to be a great addition to MMACHS. She's very patient and understanding. I think she's going to do wonderful things with the CNA course," McCluskey said.