Stories @ TCAT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — “My experience at TCAT, it was a good one,” said Bella Hill, 2024 graduate of TCAT Knoxville’s Nursing Aide program.

Now a Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) at the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Hill reflected that healthcare wasn’t her first career choice.

“I started as a Cosmetology student [at TCAT Knoxville] with Ms. Ann. I felt like it was a great class, but it just wasn't really where my heart was at. So, I tried the CNA class just because I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, and I ended up going to clinicals and just absolutely loving it.”

Hill completed her clinical rotations at the TCU, where she made a lasting impression and landed a full-time job.

“I liked that I was able to interview where I was getting clinicals, because my employers were able to see the way that I work, which that's super helpful,” said Hill.

Muhammad Diallo, also a TCAT Knoxville CNA graduate, agreed the program made for a quick and easy pathway into the workforce.

“The transition from TCAT to the TCU was really smooth," said Diallo. "The second I got my license, I was able to start working."

Diallo is a current nursing student at the University of Tennessee but enrolled in TCAT Knoxville’s CNA program to jumpstart his long-term career goals and begin earning a paycheck.

“Everybody loves the security of a job,” Diallo said. “So working at TCAT, that alone helped me get my job because when the TCU heard that I was a student at TCAT, they knew that I was well taught and I'm going to know my stuff.”

Pinky Ross manages the TCU at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. She said that working with TCAT Knoxville is helping meet the demand for skilled healthcare workers.

“We've been partnering [with TCAT Knoxville] since October of 2024, and we've been able to partner with over 60 CNA students to get them ready for the workforce."

The TCU at Fort Sanders was recently named as one of the “Best Nursing Homes” in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Ross said the honor reflects the commitment of her entire team.

“It means a lot to us so that we can display the quality of care that we provide each and every day to our patients and our families,” said Ross. “So I'm extremely proud of my team, the work that they do each and every day, and the fact that we're being noticed on a national scale is amazing.”

The recognition is not lost on Hill, whose career in healthcare is getting started at one of the nation’s top-ranked facilities.

“That means to me, like I'm doing something right? You know, there's a lot of imposter syndrome, especially with me being so as young as I am in the medical field. You kind of just feel like you're not always supposed to be here, but then seeing things like that and knowing that we are doing things right, it makes you want to come to work,” Hill said.

TCAT Knoxville’s CNA program can be completed in two months. A fast-track into the workforce, the program creates opportunities for students to work in premier facilities across East Tennessee and beyond, including the TCU at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

“I’ve promoted all the TCAT [Knoxville] classes to all my friends, like ‘y'all should become a CNA, under TCAT.’ It's a really good opportunity,” Diallo said.

Learn more about TCAT Knoxville’s programs here: https://tcatknoxville.edu/programs

By: Whitney Turner