AIM Magazine 2017 Print_AIM Magazine_2017_web | Page 48

BUILD A FUTURE BY CARING FOR OTHERS Join one of the fastest growing fields and help serve your community. MERCY NORTHWEST ARKANSAS is part of Mercy Health System, a faith-based, nonprofit ministry that provides health care in four states. Mercy is expanding its hospital in Rogers and adding several clinics, including a new multispecialty clinic in Springdale near Interstate 49 and Elm Springs Road that’s set to open in 2018. That growth is creating career opportunities for nurses, certified nurs- ing assistants and technicians, information technology specialists, administrative roles, and even food service positions. Many of those jobs don’t require a four-year degree, letting you start a career after high school and keep moving up. Levi Powell did just that. He’s the operations coordinator for the hos- pital’s emergency room. His responsibilities include ordering medical supplies for the department, making sure nurses and technicians stay up-to-date on required training, overseeing the ER budget, and 48 | SPRINGDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE keeping the department running smoothly. Powell began his career at Mercy as a certified nursing assistant, or CNA, when he was 18 years old. “I took a night class to get my certification in my junior year and worked over the weekends during high school. I came to Mercy after I graduated.” CNAs help patients with daily needs, like bathing, and may also take vital signs and check blood sugar. Powell worked as a CNA for more than 10 years and eventually transferred to the emergency de- partment as a patient care technician. Powell’s new role meant new responsibilities like administering electrocardiogram tests on patients, drawing blood and applying splints. During that time, he completed his associate degree and began thinking about his future. “I realized I really wanted to be an advocate for those people on the front line