Community Highlights: Meet Annette Anderson of 1st Step Healthcare Training

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annette Anderson

Annette, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Annette Anderson and I am the proud owner of 1st Step Healthcare Training. 1st Step Healthcare Training is a healthcare school that specializes in certified nursing assistant (CNA) training. I began my journey into healthcare as a little girl. I always had a passion for helping and healing others. As I matured, that passion never left and I knew I had to go into healthcare. However, those plans changed as I became pregnant with my son at the age of 15 and dropped out of school in the 9th grade. I later met a mentor who guided me to getting my GED and spoke positivity and confidence into me so that I can believe in myself. I took the leap and became a (CNA). I performed this role for several years and then decided to become a registered nurse (RN). During my years as a RN I always had the passion to teach the CNA’s working with me the rationale and reasoning behind their job role and help propel them to further their education. I’ve also seen a shift in healthcare since COVID and I told myself I was going to open a school to train the most efficient, empathetic, compassionate CNA’s I can. My goal is to help individuals get into the healthcare field and master whatever role they’re in. I also want to ensure the CNA’s I train have the confidence and competency to care for the sick and elderly.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has definitely not been smooth. The biggest struggle was opening a school without much help or support. I come from a very small family and I don’t have close contact with most of the individuals in my family due to them being very toxic and negative. I come from very humble beginnings and I am the first person in my family to graduate college, I’m also the first and only entrepreneur in my family. I began dealing with the negative comments, “Oh, she think she better than us’, so I’ve distance myself and I celebrate most of my accomplishments with my son and best friend. Also, starting the business was a huge struggle because I bootstrapped this business. I didn’t take any loans. I just worked a ton of overtime and began putting my all into starting this business all the while buying a house. I actually closed on my new home and opened my business within two weeks of each other. I had to do it though because I know where I want my life to go. So I was juggling a lot of different things during the process of opening my business.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
1st Step Healthcare Training is a Michigan recognized proprietary school that currently specializes in certified nursing assistant training and CPR/BLS training. We train students to learn the theory and skills behind becoming a nursing assistant and prepare them for the state exam to become certified. We also provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support (BLS) training. I currently offer 2 week CNA classes for the day time and 3 week Cna classes for the evening. We offer CPR/BLS on Sundays.

We are set apart from others by passion. Opening this school was never just about the potential money that can be made, it was opened on the basis that I want to train individuals to give the most compassionate care possible to the sick and elderly. These are one of our most vulnerable population and the deserve to have individuals that are passionate about what they do providing care for them. I also want to inspire others to follow their dreams and don’t allow obstacles and life to deter them. I know I didn’t. I was counted out by many because I was a teen mom and high school dropout but that didn’t stop me! I especially like to work with the youth because I love speaking positivity into them and letting them know that there is no limit and no matter what background you come from you can be successful. I start accepting students at the age of 17 and there is no high school diploma or GED required to enter my program.

I most proud of brand because what it represents. The meaning behind 1st Step Healthcare Training is “take the 1st step”. I believe that taking the 1st step is the biggest step to take. Just by taking the 1st step you can start any journey and the next step will be so much easier because you took the 1st step and got started. My brand also represents healthcare knowledge. I love sharing the knowledge I have with others to enlighten them on healthcare and what it means.

I want everyone to know that I am adding on more programs soon. Phlebotomy will be added by the summer of this year. Im also going to be adding on several other programs including a license practical nurse (LPN) and one day a registered nurse (RN) program. I also accept students that go through Michigan works for funding to pay for training and I just partnered with Michigan Rehabilitation Services to help individuals that have disabilities but want to become a nursing assistant. That was an huge accomplishment for me because I believe we can do anything we want as long as we put our minds to it.

What matters most to you? Why?
My son matters most to me. I believed he saved me at the age of 16 by giving me a reason to follow all my dreams. I’m his biggest role model and I want him to be proud of me. I love that my son can see me teach others how to accomplish their goals and dreams and receive certificates from my school and thank me for believing in them. I love giving him things to talk about one day to his kids about all the things that I’ve accomplished.

Changing my community is also very important to me. I’m a strong believer that if individuals have people around that inspire and believe in them then they are destined to do better, especially people that look like them and come from the same neighborhoods as them. I want Detroit to prosper and thrive and I want to be apart of that by changing the lives of many with my training programs. With my training they can gain knowledge, employment, great earning and the inspirations to accomplish anything they desire.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.firststephealthcaretraining.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1ststephealthcaretraining
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1ststephealthcaretraining