Maureen Brentley, Kelly Dexter, Ken Geick, Amber Smith, Hannah Smith and Justine Wilkins are students in the Licensed Practical Nursing program of the Adult Education and Workforce Development division of the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES at the Hewes Educational Center in Ashville. They recently discussed their career field with students at the Family Learning Zone at the Gateway Center in Jamestown. Submitted photo

What began as a learning opportunity for two groups of adult students with Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES ended with a greater appreciation for a cooperative community and a desire for caring collaboration.

A half-dozen Licensed Practical Nursing students from the E2CCB Hewes Educational Center in Ashville gave an overview of their program to a group of English-as-a-Second-Language students in the Adult Education & Workforce Development division of E2CCB during the weekly Employer Series held at the Family Learning Zone at the Gateway Center on Water Street in Jamestown on Feb. 22. The LPN students’ visit appropriately coincided with American Heart Month, observed annually in February.

The Employer Series is a free informational session open to the public and held Wednesdays at the FLZ. Typical topics include employer expectations, employee needs, interviewing techniques, career advice and more.

The LPN students were able to present to the entirely Spanish-speaking class through interpreter and E2CCB staff member Liliana Zuluaga of the FLZ.

“I was very proud of the nursing students as they made the necessary timing adjustments to their presentations in order to use an interpreter,” said LPN Skills Assistant Megan Grice-Rohlin. She was impressed with how her students handled the situation. “They all adapted quickly and did a great job as individuals and as a class.”

In addition to an overview of the E2CCB LPN program, the students also discussed heart health.

“They covered topics like structure/function of the heart, hypertension, heart attack, pulse oximetry, (which measures the amount of oxygen in blood) a heart healthy diet and lifestyle,” said Grice-Rohlin, who noted the students handed out literature.

After presenting to the ESL class, the LPN students ventured to the St. Susan Center, the soup kitchen also located at the Gateway Center, where they offered blood pressure/pulse readings to anyone who was interested, with the approval of Executive Director Jeff Smith. They also enjoyed handing out literature and a special treat – heart-healthy dark chocolate – to community members dining at the soup kitchen.