Abbas Opeyany, Student and CNA

Abbas Opeyany, a junior in the Medical Careers Academy at CVCHS, has served a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility as a certified nurse’s assistant (CNA) for nearly a year.

Opeyany is responsible for direct patient care and assistance with daily activities like dressing, bathing, and eating. Opeyany coordinates with nursing staff to monitor and chart patient conditions. He acknowledged that the position can be mentally and physically stressful, though he finds it rewarding to build relationships around care with hospital staff and patients.

“I am extremely grateful to be a CNA since it allows me to help people in need in my community and make a positive effect on people’s lives,” Opeyany said. “I hope to make sure patients know there’s someone there for them and they have someone that loves them if they have no one.”

Opeyany also highlighted how being a CNA has advanced his understanding of healthcare workers like nurses and physical therapists. “I became a CNA to gain experience in the healthcare system and help others,” he said, and in his current role, he can “ask any questions I want and learn from” them on behalf of his own curiosity and patient care.

“My favorite part of being a CNA is helping others improve and not regress,” Opeyany explained. With a team of other professionals, he can “help a patient improve and become better over time.”

Meanwhile, the balance of academics and employment is fairly flexible, Opeyany noted. “My job is very open to whenever I want to work, which I’m very thankful for.”

The process of attaining certification, on the other hand, was far from simple. “There was a lot of paperwork to be filled out and places I had to go to make sure I could do my program. Once I finished my program, I had to do a state test, which requires more paperwork as well as passing two tests, ” he recalled. Certifications in basic life support and CPR, he mentions, were also required.