CINCINNATI — Amber Joubert is a recent high school graduate dressed head to toe in protective gear, and she hopes what she's doing now will get her a step closer to her goals.  

What You Need To Know

  • A recent high school graduate is working to be a nurse and she's doing it through COVID

  • She was hired as a State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) to do COVID testing at sites around Cincinnati

  • She hopes the experience there and as a nurses aide at a nursing home will land her a job as a nurse in the future

“Since I want to be a nurse, I just decided this will be a step closer to me kinda like having more interaction with patients,” said Joubert.

The recent high school graduate is a State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) and was hired to help with COVID-19 testing.

“I’ll disinfect everything and then we’ll start with the nose swabs,” said Joubert.

She's working the test sites in Cincinnati along with several others in the field from UC Health.

They teamed up with the Health Collaborative to provide the free tests.

But Amber has another job, too.

“I work in a nursing home. I’m an aide," said Joubert.

And that's where she said she's witnessed the most change caused by COVID-19. 

“We just not sure how long it’s gonna last, so we’re just sticking through it," said Joubert.

She says she’s watched helplessly as families were torn because of restrictions, all while she’s worried for her own health and safety.

“I was more scared of being immune to it and bringing it home with me. You know how they say some people like are asymptomatic and not know they have it? That part kinda scares me too because a lot of people not taking it serious enough,” said Joubert.

It’s part of the reason she says she wants to do more to become a nurse and is taking on COVID testing. It's something that’s now become part of a nurse's job and her own.