Nikki’s healthcare journey began in 2013, when she earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification. Since then, she has served in nearly every corner of the healthcare field — from nursing facilities and home healthcare to dialysis clinics and hospital settings. She went on to earn her RN degree, working in medical-surgical and step-down units, all while continuing to grow as both a clinician and an educator.
Teaching the Frontlines of Healthcare
Now, as part of the instructional team at Legacy Medical Academy, Nikki draws on that wealth of experience to teach both adult learners and high school students pursuing CNA certification. In the mornings, she leads classes at Washington High School, and in the afternoons she’s at Portage Career Academy. In each setting, she guides her students through the classroom, lab, and clinical portions of the CNA curriculum, ensuring they are prepared for state testing and real-world practice.
For Nikki, education is more than teaching skills — it’s about shaping future nurses and healthcare workers who understand the critical role of the CNA. “Some of the best nurses started as CNAs,” she explains. “The CNA role is undervalued, but it’s so vital. CNAs are the eyes and ears at the bedside. They’re the first to notice when something changes with a patient, and that makes them indispensable to the healthcare team.”
Her teaching philosophy is rooted in realism. She treats student skill sign-offs as if they were actual state tests. “I don’t want to do them a disservice by holding their hands through it,” Nikki says. “I want them to be truly prepared.”
Balancing Nurse, Educator, and Student
Even while she teaches, Nikki is still a student herself, working toward her bachelor’s degree. She views this balance as an advantage: “As a student, I understand what my learners need from me as an instructor. And as an instructor, I take lessons from my classroom back into my own education. It gives me a perspective from both sides.”
A Foundation of Compassion
At the heart of Nikki’s work is empathy — something she once struggled to understand in herself, but has now embraced as a strength. “I’m Nikki before I’m a nurse,” she says. “When people are in the hospital, they’re at their lowest. I meet them with transparency, hope, and understanding. That’s what I try to instill in my students too: this isn’t just about tasks, it’s about people.”
She often reminds her students that caregiving demands humanity and humility. “Our residents live in these facilities — it’s their home. We’re visitors there. Treat them the way you’d want your loved ones to be treated. Let that be the foundation of your care.”
Looking Ahead
For Nikki, joining Legacy Medical Academy is an opportunity to make an impact at scale — equipping the next generation of caregivers with not only technical skills but also the compassion and perspective to change lives. “This is my purpose,” she says. “And every day I have confirmation that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
For more information about Legacy Medical Academy or to inquire about their programs, visit www.legacymedicalacademy.com.
