Grad Steps Up to the Step-Down Unit at Her Job at Methodist Hospital… Discovers That Her Patient Is Allen School Faculty Member’s Father

Before she discovered that her patient in the Medical Surgery step-down unit at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn was the father of one of Allen School’s key faculty members, Sandra Omokaro, who graduated as a Certified Nursing Assistant in 2006, was providing first-rate and gentle care to him. Imagine her surprise when the instructor walked in to visit! Hired immediately upon graduating, Sandra will be at the hospital for two years, as of this June. Six months after starting there, she was sent, at the hospital’s expense, to train for a promotion to the step-down unit, with patients who require constant monitoring after surgery. Her Phlebotomy and EKG training are in constant use there. Her profound enthusiasm for a career in medicine was inspired, Sandra said, by Allen School CNA instructor, Evangeline Bivens, RN, CCM, to whom she ascribes her decision to pursue the nursing degree towards which she has completed three full years. “Miss Bivens was the best! She was very patient, taught us as if we were her own kids,” said Sandra. “She made sure we really knew what we were doing, took each of us under her wing and made sure we got the best of everything. She really gave us in-depth lectures and made sure that when we went for our internship, we were treated well!” Working full time and completing her nursing degree, while remaining caring and proficient with her patients in a high volume, high stress hospital critical care environment, Sandra Omokaro represents Allen School at the highest level.