Nursing Assistant instructor brings wealth of RN and teaching experience to her classroom
LaDonna White, RN, MAEd, 66, started teaching courses in the Nursing Assistant program at Inver Hills Community College in spring semester 2023. LaDonna has many years of experience serving as a registered nurse (RN) in hospital and home-care settings.
She worked as a staff RN at Walker Methodist Westwood Ridge in Minnetonka and North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, and as a home care RN at Best Care Home Care Agency in St. Paul.
LaDonna also has a strong background as a nursing assistant instructor. She taught nursing assistant students at the Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps Center in St. Paul and for Monarch Healthcare Management in Roseville. She served as nursing assistant adjunct faculty, teaching labs and giving lectures, at National American University.
She holds a Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Sociology/English from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, her hometown, and an Associate of Science in Nursing (A.S.N.) from North Hennepin Community and Technical College.
“My best memories from my teaching career revolve around meeting former students who have become successful working in the field,” LaDonna said. “I encounter them at the grocery store, at doctor’s offices, and when supervising clinicals at longterm care facilities. I am so gratified to know that what I have taught and tried to instill in them is bearing fruit, that they have taken what they’ve learned and applied it.”
Teaching philosophy: “If you want to do it, I’m here to help!”
LaDonna White, RN, MAEd
Nursing Assistant Faculty
Inver Hills Community College
More about LaDonna…
Originally from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, a city of nearly 40,000 residents on the Mississippi River, LaDonna graduated from Cape Central High School, Class of 1975. She has been married to her husband, Steve, for 40 years. He is a retired elementary school teacher.
LaDonna and Steve have seven grown children and 15 grandchildren.
“It is absolutely awesome being Nana to so many grands,” LaDonna said. “They are all beautiful people. It’s exciting to see how much like their parents they are and yet how individual they are.”
When asked about what her family get-togethers are like, she related: “I especially like our Sunday afternoon gatherings. These occur usually in the summer when my children and their spouses bring the grandchildren over for dinner, usually whatever one of my sons-in-law puts on the grill. Everybody brings something, and mostly we just hang out together while the children play in the yard. The other thing we do together is Christmas in Wisconsin. We rent a huge cabin (and I do mean huge—the cabin has 10 bedrooms, two full kitchens, and bathrooms galore), and everybody spends the week of Christmas together.”
LaDonna is a history buff, and she’s especially interested in stories about the American Civil War, World War I and World War II, British History, and maritime disasters. She likes learning new languages as well.
“I’m currently teaching myself German—and that’s been a supreme challenge,” she said. “I enjoy nature photography—no people photos, please! I also love sewing and other crafts.”
LaDonna and Steve reside in Oakdale, Minnesota.
Nursing motto: “Know what you are doing and do it well!”
LaDonna White, RN, MAEd
Nursing Assistant Faculty
Inver Hills Community College
LaDonna White • Q & A
What made you decide to become a registered nurse?
To tell the truth, my sister became a nurse, so I decided not to be outdone by her! Actually, after she became a nurse, I loved hearing her stories, observed her professionalism, and desired to emulate her. Also, we had an aunt who was a nurse, one of only two black nurses in our town. My aunt was greatly admired, so naturally my sister and I strove to achieve what she did.
What inspired you to start teaching at Inver Hills?
I have always been committed to vocational education and have worked in that field for most of my years of teaching. I have sought to be an inspiration and a role model for those who thought they couldn’t achieve. My job was to let them know that if they had the desire, I was there to help them make their achievement possible.
After many years in vocational education, I decided to try the challenge of teaching in academia. I have not changed my philosophy, though. I am here at Inver Hills to be an inspiration and a guide for nontraditional students. I want struggling, nontraditional students as well as traditional students to know that I am here to help them prepare to be competent and confident members of the healthcare team.
What advice would you give students thinking about following the nursing assistant (NA) career path?
The nursing assistant profession is not an easy job, but it can be very rewarding. The confident and competent nursing assistant is one of the most important members of the healthcare team. My advice would be never to stop learning and never rest on what you already know. KEEP ON LEARNING and sharpening those skills.
Three words that describe you as a college educator:
THOROUGH. FLEXIBLE. FACILITATING.
What are the most challenging aspects of life as a nursing assistant?
- It is strenuous work! You are on your feet for eight- to 12-hour shifts, and you are constantly on the move physically and mentally. This is not a profession for sedentary types!
- The second most challenging thing is learning to accept death as a natural part of the life cycle. Although nursing assistants work in a variety of settings, most work in longterm care with patients who are living in the final phase of life. Learning to accept your role in the process is a great challenge as well as a privilege.
What are some essential individual qualities a nursing assistant must bring to the job?
First and foremost, the successful NA should be caring. As a nursing assistant, you have the paramount responsibility of caring for those who cannot care for themselves.
Another important quality is being thorough and conscientious in your work. My motto is “Know what you are doing and do it well!”
How will your experience serving as a registered nurse help you in your role as a nursing assistant instructor at Inver Hills?
My experience as an RN has prepared me with the knowledge and practical skill to teach effectively. In my many years as a nurse, I have worked in a variety of settings. My role as an RN has helped me by giving me real-world experience in the field. I have worked in a variety of settings and performed many procedures. That experience will help me teach practical skills, and the stories I have accumulated through the years should help my students understand better what it takes to be a caregiver.
Three words that describe you as a healthcare professional:
KNOWLEDGEABLE. HIGHLY-SKILLED. CURRENT.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned during your career in healthcare?
Caring for another human being is a privilege. Not everyone can be entrusted with the responsibility. Take the responsibility seriously. Your patients depend on you to skillfully perform your duties and to compassionately advocate for them.
Where do you hope to find yourself in 20 years?
I hope to be able to care for myself and hope to continue to be an inspiration and a role model for coming generations of healthcare professionals.
What person has influenced your life the most and why?
My high school youth leader. Her name was Lola Nixon. She was the pastor’s wife, and she was one classy lady. She was a UCLA graduate when this was not common for women—and especially African-American women. She inspired me to want to be like her. To earn a college degree and to be excellent at whatever I attempted. I will be forever grateful for her life and example.
One word that best describes your experience as a registered nurse:
VARIED!
One word that best describes your experience as a nursing assistant instructor:
GRATIFYING!
LaDonna White • 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Walking
Place you would most like to visit: Scotland- Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Spent an entire day and evening hosting the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Become debt-free 2) Establish a legacy for my many children and grands 3) See a little of the world
- Best book or movie you’ve read or seen lately: Best book: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer; no movies lately
- Time period you would explore if you could time travel: None. I want to live in the present; I love history, and I love learning from it, but have no desire to participate in it
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Live to see my grown children become independent and proper
Your national bird if you were your own country: The American eagle- Dream occupation: History professor
- Person you would most like to meet: Abraham Lincoln
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Photography; right now, I’m just a hack
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Structural and institutional racial inequity
Learn more about the Nursing Assistant program at Inver Hills by contacting:
Admissions
Inver Hills Community College
651-450-3902
admissions@inverhills.edu
Virtual Visit
More about the Nursing Assistant program at Inver Hills…
The 5-credit Nursing Assistant certificate gives you the training you need for basic entry into the healthcare field as a nursing assistant or home health aide. You’ll receive 24 hours of supervised clinical experience in a longterm care facility. You will be prepared to take the state registry exam for certification after you complete the course.
Nursing Assistants and Orderlies
2021 Median Pay: $30,290 per year/$14.56 per hour
Number of Jobs 2021: 1,389,900
Job Outlook 2021–2031: 5 percent (as fast as average)
Employment Change 2021–2031: 64,900About 220,200 openings for nursing assistants and orderlies are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
What Nursing Assistants and Orderlies Do
Nursing assistants provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.Work Environment
Most nursing assistants and orderlies work in nursing and residential care facilities and in hospitals. They are physically active and may need to help lift or move patients.SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (January 24, 2023)
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
2021 Median Pay: $29,430 per year/$14.15 per hour
Number of Jobs 2021: 3,636,900
Job Outlook2021–2031: 25 percent (much faster than average)
Employment Change 2021–2031: 924,000About 711,700 openings for home health and personal care aides are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
What Home Health and Personal Care Aides Do
Home health and personal care aides monitor the condition of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses and help them with daily living activities.Work Environment
Home health and personal care aides work in a variety of settings, including clients’ homes, group homes, and day services programs. Most aides work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary.SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (January 24, 2023)
