From Classroom to Clinic: Nursing Assistant Education with Loise Kirore and Rocky Blanco

This episode of the CETL PIE – Peek Into Excellence - Podcast features a conversation with Loise Kirore and Rocky Blanco, faculty from our Certified Nursing Assistant program. Loise discusses her role in the Centro Hispano CNA program and advising the Multicultural Nursing Student Organization, highlighting how these activities addresses the needs of diverse student populations. Rocky shares his experiences working with the CNA program at local high schools, emphasizing the importance of this community outreach to connect students with opportunities in the healthcare field. Together, they explain the unique aspects of our CNA program, its integration with other nursing courses, and chat about their teaching strategies. They also offer advice for aspiring CNAs and nurses and share a bit about their personal hobbies and interests. This episode provides an enlightening glimpse into the heart of nursing education at Madison College.

Loise Kirore (she/her/hers): I am a passionate geriatric nurse at heart. I was a Certified Nursing Assistant for 10 years, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for 1 year, and a Registered Nurse for thirteen. Five of the 13 years I have been teaching at Madison College. I have taught in the LPN Program, but nursing assistant is where my soul is fed, being able to prepare entry level healthcare workers is a responsibility I take very seriously and an honor. Since my first semester at the college, I have been a mentor for the Scholars of Color Mentoring Program (SCMP), active member of the School of Nursing (SoN), Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and Multicultural Student Nurses Organization (MSNO) faculty advisor. Advocating and supporting our students feeds my soul!

Rocky Blanco (He/Him/His) brings over twenty years of expertise in human physiology to his roles as an Exercise Physiologist, Exercise/Molecular Biology Researcher, and Registered Nurse. His dedication to human health is evident, but his true passion lies in educating and training others in these fields.

Rocky began his professional journey at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where he earned a Bachelor's in Exercise Science and became a nationally certified Exercise Physiologist with the American Academy of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He gained valuable experience working in cardiac rehabilitation and with private gym clients to enhance their health. Rocky then returned to FAU for his Master's in Exercise Physiology, contributing to research on exercise's effects on health and fitness. His research pursuits continued at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he delved into the molecular changes in muscles induced by exercise.

Seeking a more direct interaction with patients and clients, Rocky transitioned to nursing. He began as a Nursing Assistant after graduating from Madison College and later completed his Associate’s in Nursing. Graduating in 2020 at the start of the Covid Pandemic, Rocky worked with the complexities of this new disease and other complex diseases in a step-down ICU setting in Madison for over 4 years. Truly missing the aspect of the academic setting, he recently joined the Madison College Family as a Nursing Assistant Instructor.

Currently, Rocky is on the verge of completing his Master’s in Nursing Education and is preparing to embark on a Doctorate in Nursing Education Leadership. He is deeply committed to nurturing strong foundational skills in students and new nurses, with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and culturally competent care.

Outside of his professional life, Rocky's personal story is rich and diverse. Born in New Jersey to Cuban parents, he grew up in the vibrant city of Miami, FL. He has been happily married to Laura Cruz for over 15 years. Together, they share a love for travel, fitness, board games, and video games.