Patty Cole

Background

About Patty Cole

I have been a registered nurse for 27 years and I am in my twelfth year as a secondary school nurse educator. I work in Career Technical Education (CTE) as a Therapeutic Direct Patient Care Pathway Educator. This pathway includes Introduction to Healthcare, Essentials of Healthcare (Anatomy & Physiology), Patient Care Fundamentals (Nursing Assistant), Patient Care Technician (PCT), and a Student Internship Program. Students are eligible to become certified in the third level class as a junior in high school to complete the pathway and become a CNA. They have the option to take the patient care technician class in their senior year. Along with being the only instructor at our school for these classes, I am the administrator, clinical coordinator, and clinical instructor for the program. For the last seven years, 100% of the students in CNA and PCT have become certified. Students can begin working in the healthcare field after being certified while they complete high school and while in college. This opens the door for many to see the potential they have when they work hard and what they can do. Student interns assist students in all classes with classroom and laboratory assignments and serve as role models for these students. I was named the Jasper County High School Teacher of the Year in 2018 which led to me becoming the 2018 Jasper County Charter System District Teacher of the Year in 2018. Even though this was an honor for which I am humbled by, I feel that I was led to become an educator for a bigger purpose. Working with our future healthcare professionals was a small part that purpose. In 2019, I along with three colleagues received an Award of Valor from our county Sheriff's Office, an Outstanding Georgia Citizen proclamation from the Georgia Secretary of State, and a Commendation from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. All were given for stepping into a critical life threatening emergency of a student that resulted in the student's life being saved. I had often wondered why I was being led to teach and on that day, I received my answer. I don't take credit for saving the student's life, I thank God that I have been blessed with the talents of being a nurse and an educator and allowing me to fully use those talents for the good of others. I also have experience in the hospital working in the areas of medical/surgical, outpatient, and pain management. I have worked as a nurse manager in a pain management clinic and our county health department, and the ADON in my community nursing home. Almost half of my career has been spent as a nurse educator.