Julia Dobkowska
Triton College is fostering the next generation of health care workers through its Nursing Assistant (NAS) program, providing a crucial steppingstone for those pursuing careers in caring for others.
Among them is Julia Dobkowska, who recently earned her certificate through Triton’s Career Academy offered through the Early College department, which allows high school students to take college-level courses and earn both high school and college credit simultaneously.
Dobkowska, a senior at East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, said she has always wanted to help others.
“As long as I’m able to assist someone, that fills me with joy,” Dobkowska said. “I love speaking to people and connecting with them.”
Growing up, she developed a fascination with the medical field by watching television programs such as Grey’s Anatomy with her mother.
“I always found it really cool — the fast pace and hearing all of the medical terms,” Dobkowska said. “After going through the NAS program at Triton, I’ve learned more terminology and have seen what it’s like to live in that world. Now, when I go back to those kinds of shows, I understand them a lot more.”
Out of more than 600 approved nursing assistant programs in Illinois, Triton’s 30-year-old program distinguishes itself by delivering a comprehensive mix of classroom and hands-on instruction. The approach allows students to learn and apply their knowledge in a simulated environment similar to a real hospital or nursing facility.
Triton’s facility is equipped with modern equipment and hospital beds that mimic real hospital rooms, enabling nursing assistant students to build and sharpen their skills through simulation activities before or alongside their clinical experience.
After taking a medical careers class during her junior year of high school, Dobkowska decided she might want to become a registered nurse, motivating her to seek out Triton’s NAS program. Now, having completed the program, she said it has affirmed her career path.
As part of the NAS program, Dobkowska gained firsthand experience working in a health care setting during her clinical rotations. She said she was initially anxious when she began her rotations but quickly found her footing by relying on her training.
“The training I received at Triton definitely prepared me for clinicals,” she said. “With this kind of work, it’s always unpredictable, and no situation is going to be the same. But because of my training, I had what I needed to succeed and care for the patients.”
During her clinical rotations, Dobkowska was able to connect with a Polish assisted living resident and the resident’s family by speaking Polish.
“It was just an amazing experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” she said.
“It definitely cemented that I want to do this,” she added. “It all goes back to my passion for helping others. If the work I’m doing is focused on making someone else’s life better, that gives me a sense of purpose. This program has allowed me to do that, and I look forward to doing more.”
Looking ahead, Dobkowska plans to attend Loyola University Chicago to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Upon successful completion of the Nurse Assistant Program requirements, graduates receive a certificate and become eligible to take the Illinois Nurse Aide Test, which is required for certification by the Illinois Department of Public Health.