An interview with Alicia Vaca, who graduated from a nursing program at MedVance Institute in Houston, Texas.

What program did you participate in?

The Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, specializing in emergency medicine.

What is your current career?

I am an RN in an ICU for Adult Care.

What’s a typical day in your career?

Normally I work a 12-hour shift in the Intensive Care Unit. I am also on the on the 24 hour on call list as a flight nurse. I range from having a patient load of 3-5 at any particular time. My duties include taking vitals, giving meds, and more.  I have been on two emergency flights in the last year. Now I am also on the list as a traveling nurse. That was my dream since I first heard about those kinds of opportunities in high school.

How did your training help you get into this career?

Well, I have always known that I wanted to go into nursing, but it wasn’t until my experience at college and living away from home that I saw how great it was to see new places and work at different types of medical institutes and hospitals. That is when I really knew I wanted to get into flight and traveling nursing. Any opportunity to save someone’s life or make a difference is worth the hard work it takes to get there.  What I learned at Medvance will stay with me forever, as well as the relationships and friendships I built. Obviously you cannot become a nurse without going to nursing school, and I wouldn’t be where I am in my career if it had not been for this school.

How would things be different for you if you hadn’t received this training?

Without going through a proper nursing program I wouldn’t be able to work as a registered nurse, and most definitely wouldn’t be able to work on medical flights. Employers prefer a traveling nurse to be either an RN or LPN. I worked in a nursing home facility before college, and I would still be there today, or perhaps even have given up on the medical career had it not been for this education.

Were you happy with the training that you received?

Yes. I was really timid going to a college so far from home. However, after learning the lay of the land, meeting new people, as well as dorm mates and classmates, things started going very well.  Houston was very welcoming and the training I received was fantastic. Not only did I get the education I needed, but I also learned how to apply it to my daily life, in and out of the workplace.

How long was the program?

I was there for roughly a year and a half. I had completed my pre-requisites while still in high school allowing me to jump right into the nursing program. I believe there are different programs and amounts of classroom time for everyone.

What were your favorite classes and why were they a favorite?

Clinicals were my favorite; you can learn only so much from a textbook. It was great hands on work with added pressure. That is how I learned, and it stuck!

What did you take from the program that you use in your everyday job tasks?

I don’t think that there is anything in my everyday life that I don’t use. As an RN you are responsible for someone’s mother, father, best friend, or grandparent. These are not just patients these are people with lives. You have to accept everyday challenges, and that there are some things you cannot control. Everything I use in my daily work life I learned while I was in the nursing program at the MedVance Institute.

Did you receive any financial aid or scholarships?  Which ones?  Were these easy to obtain?

I had a savings fund from my parents and other family members. I did not work while in Houston. All of my time and concentration went to my studies.

Did you go to school on a full-time or part-time basis?

Full time.

Were any of your classes online?

No.

Did you consider other programs?

No.  I had always known nursing was where I wanted to concentrate my time and energy. I chose a school out of state to broaden my horizons.

Why did you choose the one you did?

I have family near Houston. I also have a family member who also graduated from the MedVance Institute and I saw what they are doing with their career. I want the same for my future and myself.

What other programs did you consider?  Why did you choose the one that you did?

If I had gone with a different nursing program it would have been something local just to stay close to family and familiarity. However, you have to step out of the box every now and then.

Would you recommend this school to someone else? Why or why not?

I already have. My younger sister sees what I have done with my life, and she wants to follow in my footsteps and pursue a career in medicine. She’s not sure as to what level yet, but I do know she loved Houston when she was there visiting and she loved the campus as well.

If you could do it all over again, would you?

Yes. There is no doubt in my mind.  I have been out of school only three years, and I am already assisting in different medical cases that I could only dream of, riding on medical flights, and getting the opportunity to see the world and help people. I would say this was definitely worth the wait, and the hard work.

About how many other students were in your classes?

My graduating nursing class was rather large. There were 28 of us. I come from a smaller community so that seemed like a lot to me. Most of our community colleges back home normally hold 10-12.

For your particular program, are there any special licenses or certifications that you need to receive before getting a job?  If so, what are they and what do they entail?

Yes. There is a Board exam that I had to prepare for and pass. Without the training and classroom time I had at MedVance I would not have been prepared for that.  They sat us down and did a test prep the best that they could and it helped tremendously.

If you’re interested in a career in nursing, find a school in Texas that offers a nursing program near you.

An interview with Bridgett, who works in a dental office and earned the Dental Assistant Diploma from the Texas School of Business North Campus.

Q: Why did you decide to get this type of training?

A: I have always been interested in dentistry. I know it is kind of weird, but I have always been a little obsessed with my teeth and with other peoples’ teeth. At the same time, I really didn’t want to commit 8 years of my life to going to dental school!  Becoming a dental assistant seemed like a good compromise.

Q: What is your current career?

A: I work as a dental assistant at a local dentist’s office. He actually has two different offices, so I sometimes bounce back and forth between the offices. I don’t mind, though, because I have come to know the patients at both places and I really enjoy getting to know them.

Q: How did your training help you get into this career?

A: There is no way I would have been able to get into the business if it hadn’t been for completing the program.  I mean, I suppose it is possible I could have got a job doing the clerical work at a dentist office, but I wouldn’t have been able to work directly with the patients like I do if I hadn’t completed the program.

Q: How would things be different for you if you hadn’t received this training?

A: I would be stuck behind a desk answering phones and making appointments!  Now, I get to work side by side with the dentist and actually get to work inside the mouths of our patients. That is a whole lot more fun to me and I earn more money than I would if I was just doing secretarial work.

Q: Were you happy with the training that you received?

A: Yes. I feel like the program really helped prepare me for my job.

Q: What was your favorite class?

A: I really liked the classes about handling dental emergencies. I have always been interested in knowing more about how broken teeth are repaired and things like that. Although I am not exactly qualified to perform all of the emergency procedures that a dentist can do, I do have a very good understanding of how it works now.

Q: What class do you think was the most useful?

A: For my current job, I think the classes about how to identify cavities and the different types of teeth was the most useful because that is what I spend a lot of my time doing. Learning how to properly handle dental instruments and how to properly assist the dentist has also been very helpful. After all, the more I can please the boss, the more I can be sure to have a job!

Q: How long did it take you to complete the program?

A: About two years.

Q: How much did it cost for you to complete the program?

A: Thanks to the financial aid and grants I received, it only cost me about $1,500 to complete the program.

Q: Did you go to school on a full-time or part-time basis?

A: I attend full-time while working in a dentist office on a part-time basis. Thankfully, the North Campus has flexible scheduling, so it wasn’t too difficult to work my classes around my schedule. Besides, since I was already working in a dentist’s office, I was able to start applying the things I learned right away and I was able to get a little extra help from the boss with understanding the material.

Q: Would you recommend this school to someone else? Why or why not?

A: Yes. I found the program to be very useful and the teachers were very knowledgeable. I also liked that the school was so flexible with its scheduling. That really made it easier to keep working while going to school.

Q: If you could do it all over again, would you?

A: Yes.  I have two kids at home, so trying to juggle work, school and family was challenging at times. Still, it was worth it and it has all paid off in the end. I am making more money and am doing something that I really enjoy doing.

Q: What was the most difficult part of the program for you?

A: I think juggling my personal responsibilities while going to school was the hardest part for me.

Q: About how many other students were in your classes?

A: I’m not sure. 15 or maybe 20.

An interview with Steven Vaughn, an airline mechanic, who works for a company in Dyess, Texas.

Q: Can you tell us who you are currently employed with?

A: I am an Electrical Repair Mechanic for the C 130 airframe for U.R.S. and I work out of the AFB in Dyess, TX.

Q: What is the most requested service you provide?

A: I am responsible for troubleshooting malfunctions throughout the plane’s controls, landing gear, pneudraulics, engines, auxiliary power, ventilation and heating systems.

Q: How long have you been involved with the airline industry?

A: I have been working with the C-130 airframe structure for the past 8 years.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your training and school experience?

A: During high school, I enrolled in the early enrollment program for the Air Force and, in 2000, I began my enlistment with the Air Force. I was trained as a C-130 electrical master technician and, when I left the Air Force, I was hired at URS. I began working here in 2004 and have been working with the same group of people since then.

Q: What’s your favorite part about having your position and what is the worst part?

A: I grew up in Texas and the fact that I have been able to do all that I have done and still stay close to home has been what makes this the position I wanted to sign up for. The heat is the worst part of this job.

Q: Tell us about an average day.

A: An average day involves doing the 100-hour periodic and progressive calendar inspections on the planes we are responsible for. Besides those tasks, we take on repairs and inspections of current airframes that are in for more than just an inspection. I arrive at work around 7:00 AM and leave the hanger about 6:00PM. Many of the procedures take a number of hours to perform, so our work days are a little longer than most, but it’s worth the time spent here to get the job done right.

Q: If you ever take the next step in business, what would that be?

A: I would like to get promoted to a supervisor for URS. It would take me out of the hanger and give me more of an office position as supervisor. As I get older, I would want to be able to accomplish my goals with less physical labor than I do now.

Q: Did your previous work history have anything to do with your current business position?

A: I was doing the same thing for the Air Force as I do here. The Air Force just does it a little different. The Air Force works on Air Force time. Here, we can schedule our work to fit the schedule of a civilian and that makes it much better.

Q: In your field of work, what kind of benefits do you receive?

A: I think I have some real good benefits. All the insurance I need. I have health and dental. I can go to a specialist if I would like. Our company pays for all our benefits and there is accrued time off for vacations and sick time. As most professional companies run their benefit program, URS runs theirs.

Q: Can you tell me about the money you make?

A: My salary is over $49,000 a year.

Q: What makes someone good at this profession?

A:  What makes someone good at this profession is an ability to always have high standards for the work they perform. Without high standards, they would not like working with these planes. It comes with the job. You must always be performing at the highest level when you have so much you are responsible for.

Q: Would you recommend this career path to others who are interested in working with airplanes?

A: I would recommend my job to many of my friends. Many of my friends want my job, but they never went into it like I did. I’m sure they can go get trained, but I think the time I spent in the service gave me more than any school will. I think the real-time work I did on the C-130 of the Air Force allows me to be so good at what I do now.

If you think a career as an airline mechanic is right for you, take a look at our list of aviation schools in Texas.

An interview with Amy Smith, a surgical/operating room technician in Round Rock, Texas who has been in the business for over twenty years.

Q: What education have you received that qualifies you for your job as a surgical technician?

A: I went into the Army and took a 16 week course that was divided into two parts. General medical orientation (four weeks), then book work to learn instrumentation and sterile technique (six weeks) and finally on-the-job training, which included scrubbing with another technician for six more weeks. The civilian schooling is two years. It was very fast and furious. Learn as you go.

Q: What do you like about being a surgical technician?

A: Everything. Helping people. Being right there in the middle of everything and seeing how it all works.

Q: What do you dislike about being a surgical technician?
A: Standing all day in one spot and holding retractors, unable to move.

Q: Can you give us a description of a typical day in the life of a surgical technician?

A: Depending on the size of the hospital and caseload, you will scrub several different surgeries per day. If lucky, you like the surgeon and service you are working on. The only breaks are for lunch and if you are lucky between cases. Don’t get me wrong; I love it!!!

Q: What do you think your next step will be in your career field?

A: I would like to get my certification and continue to be a scrub tech.

Q: What previous job history has prepared you for your current job?

A: None that I can think of unless you go back to high school, when I worked with children in a daycare. Surgeons are like children in that they have to have it their way.

Q: What traits and qualifications does a person need to have in order to be successful as a surgical technician?

A: Patience, tolerance and the ability to take orders and be a team player.

Q: Would you recommend this job to someone else? Why or why not?

A: Yes, I would. I would highly recommend this job. It is great to be a part of the overall solution and to see how the human body works.

Q: What training or education program might be beneficial for moving your current career forward, if any?

A: If I could change how I got my training I would have gone to a civilian school and taken the certification test straight out of school. There are many things on the test that you do not do in your job and the memory fades.

If being a surgical technician is something you’re interested in, check out our list of schools in Texas offering surgical tech training.

An interview with Johnny Harrah, an automotive Technician for Lunt Motor Company.  Lunt Motors is Chrysler dealership that offers both mechanical and auto body services.

Q: How long have you been working as an automotive technician?

A: Ten years.

Q: Do you like repairing automatic transmissions?

A: I do, they are perhaps one of the most challenging parts of automotive repair and not everyone can do it. It takes a combination of skill and knowledge that many techs don’t have the patience to learn and it feels good knowing that I am counted on for a very important job.

Q: What kind of previous education or training for the job did you undergo?

A: I apprenticed to my father and worked for another dealership before moving to Lunt Motor Company.

Q: What are your likes and dislikes about the job?

A: I like the work, I truly enjoy working on cars and fixing them. I don’t like the pay rate at the moment and feel I should be paid more given that I am an ASE certified master technician.

Q: What about your work environment?

A: I have to say that I like some of the people I work with. However, there are some people I don’t get along with because they don’t really seem to want to work.

Q: You mention other technicians.  Do you have an opinion on what makes a good one?

A: Well, I think that there is a huge difference between a mechanic, or technician if you want to get all fancy, and a parts changer.  A true mechanic knows why the part broke and can diagnose the underlying problem with the vehicle.  A parts changer on the other hand will just keep putting in new parts hoping that the problem will go away by itself.

Also, a good mechanic is willing to try and solve problems in creative ways if needed.  I have had to create special tools to get to problem areas on a car.  A lot of other mechanics will give up and say they can’t fix a car without really trying.

Q: Can you provide a description of your typical day?

A: Go to work, check to see if any parts I ordered are in so I can finish any work that was left incomplete the day or days before.  Finish pressing jobs and work on whatever comes my way.

Q: What kind of breaks do you have at your job?

A: Well, I really don’t keep track of my breaks.  I make sure to eat lunch, but for the most part I only take breaks when there is no work or I am waiting on a parts delivery.  When I do take breaks I tend to go home or help another tech out.

Q: What do you think your next career step will be?

A: I am hoping to eventually open my own shop where I feel I will have a little more control over my own destiny.

Q: What previous job history prepared you for becoming a mechanic?

A: I worked for a Ford dealership in the early 90s and before that for myself.

Q: What types of benefits do you receive?

A: I receive medical coverage for myself, my wife, and my children.  I also have a retirement fund.

Q: How much do you earn as an auto mechanic?

A: I currently earn around twenty dollars an hour if you include my benefits as part of my earnings.

Q: Do you think this is a fair pay rate?

A: Well, the shop I work at charges seventy-five dollars an hour for labor.  I feel that I should be paid more because even after taking insurance into account they make well over half off of my labor. I know they have expenses but it just does not seem fair.  I also think they should provide their mechanics with a tool fund.  Over time my tools can break, get lost, or in some cases get stolen, and it really hurts my paycheck to have to replace my own tools.

If you’re interested in becoming an automotive technician, take a look at our list of automotive technician schools in Texas.

Q&A session with Beth M, a pharmacy technician who works for a Walgreens in Dallas, Texas.

Q:  How long have you been a pharmacy technician?

A:  Let’s see…I guess I have been working here for about 3 years now.  Before coming to Walgreens, I worked in a hospital as a pharmacy technician for about 2 years.  But, when I moved to Dallas, I took a job with Walgreens.  So, altogether, I have been doing this for about 5 years now.

Q: What type of training did you have to become a pharmacy technician?

A:  I completed a 2-year program at Everest Institute in Austin.  I thought it was pretty cool that I could complete a program in that short amount of time because I always thought that going to school meant spending at least four years in college.  Heck, if I wanted to become a pharmacist, I would have to spend 6 years going to school!

Q:  What do you like best about your job?

A:  I like that I get to help people every day.  Many people don’t think of this job as being one that is about helping people, but people are always coming in and looking for help with selecting the right over-the-counter medicine.  It makes me feel good when I get to help them choose the right medicine or when I know I did something to help my customers improve their health.

Q:  Describe your typical day on the job.

A:  Well, there really is nothing typical about my day because it is not like we work on a set schedule and we don’t make appointments or anything.  So, I really just have to take what comes at me each day.  We have a drive-through pharmacy, so I have to listen for people who are coming through the drive-through.  If someone shows up, I might have to take a prescription from them or give them the prescription they are picking up.  I also have to make sure we have all of the necessary contact information so we can call the customer if we have any questions when filling out the prescription.  When I am not helping out customers, I am doing things like counting out pills and helping the pharmacist get the prescriptions ready for the customer.

Q:  What traits do you feel are necessary to be successful as a pharmacy technician?

A:  You really need to have good communication skills and to be a patient person.  Many people who come to the pharmacy are sick or they are frustrated about their insurance.  So, customers can sometimes be a bit short-tempered and can take those frustrations out on us.  You have to learn not to take things personally.  You also need to be able to work under pressure, because we sometimes get slammed with many prescriptions all at once and customers don’t want to have to wait a long time to get the medication they need.

Q:  Would you recommend this career to someone else?

A:  I definitely would.  I really enjoy coming into work every day and I think the pay is pretty good.

Q: What is your next career move, if any?

A: I really don’t have any plans to take my career someone else.  A lot of people ask me if I plan to become a pharmacist some day, but I really don’t have an interest in going back to school for four more years.  Besides, the pharmacists have a lot of responsibilities that I really don’t want to take on.  So, I am pretty happy with where I am at right now.

Think you might be interested in pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician?  Check out our list of schools in Texas offering pharmacy technician training.

A Q&A session with Jerry O., a HVAC specialist who owns his own heating and air company in Houston, Texas.

Q:  How long have you been a HVAC specialist?

A:  I have been in the business for 25 years, but I didn’t start my own business until 10 years ago.  Before that, I worked for a few different heating and air companies.  Part of that time I was working as an apprentice.

Q: What type of training did you have to become a HVAC specialist?

A:  The only training I had at first was my apprenticeship.  Back when I got started, that was really the only way to get in the business.  But, I later took classes at Austin Community College. I wanted to make sure I had the latest knowledge in the industry and wanted a little help with getting my own business started.  Besides,  I think customers pay you a little more respect when you can say you went to a certain school to learn the trade.

Q:  What do you like best about your job?

A:  I got into this business because I like working with my hands.  I like figuring out what is wrong with something and seeing if I can fix it.  Some jobs can be a little frustrating and hard to finish – especially when I am working in a tight area or when it is 100 degrees out and I am working on someone’s broken air conditioner.  Still, I like the challenge.

I also like that I get to help people out.  It is really satisfying to see the look of relief on a person’s face when I show up and get their unit fixed on the same day it broke down.

Q:  Describe your typical day on the job.

A:  I usually have some kind of schedule for the day, but I also take on emergency calls.  This means that some days can be really long because I might have a large number of people who need me to get there as soon as possible.  This sometimes means moving my schedule around so I can take care of the emergency situations.  Every job is like a new adventure since I can’t know what is wrong until I get to the customer’s house.  After I figure out what is wrong with the unit, I then have to order the part if I don’t have one in stock.

Q:  What traits do you feel are necessary to be successful as a HVAC specialist?

A:  I’d say being flexible is the most important trait.  You might start off the day with what looks like an easy schedule.  Before you know it, you are throwing your schedule out the window and you are working until 9:00 at night.  You have to be able to go with the flow and not get frustrated when your schedule changes.  I guess you have to be pretty organized too.  Otherwise, you won’t be able to fit all of your customers in and you’ll waste a lot of time that could be used fixing someone’s unit.

Q:  Would you recommend this career to someone else?

A:  Yes.  It is a good paying job.  And, even with the problems we are having with our economy, I am still working steady.  No matter how bad things get, people still need their heating and air guy.

Q: What is your next career move, if any?

A: Getting my own business going was always my dream and I have achieved that.  I guess I could try to become a franchise or something, but I am pretty happy with where things are now.  Really, for me, the next major goal is retirement!

Thinking about a career in heating, ventilation and air conditioning? Take a look at our list of HVAC schools in Texas to find a program near you.

August 2008
A Q&A session with Russell who worked as a police officer at the Sheboygan Sheriff Department in Sheboygan, Wisconsin for 25 years.

Continue reading…

September 2008
A Q&A session with a medical coding clerk, Melissa Wright, who works in Houston, Texas.

Continue reading…