Los Angeles Jewish Home

On April 2, 2013, six proud individuals received their Nurse Assistant certificates from the Annenberg School of Nursing (ASN). The class, made up of three women and three men, successfully completed the 20-day program, which also includes Restorative Nurse training in the curriculum. With only a few days to enjoy their accomplishments, the group will take the state exam for their CNA and RNA certificates on April 6th.

With the room full of well-wishers, flowers, and balloons, Marie Fagan, ASN director, welcomed everyone and spoke about the graduates with great admiration. Jewish Home chief operating officer Larissa Stepanians wished everyone the best in their upcoming careers, adding they will always be part of the Home’s family.

Graduate Melanie Halstead gave the student welcome and thanked everyone for their support and encouragement. “As we embark on this life-changing milestone and launch a new career, please know we could not have done this without you.”

The graduates received their diplomas and class pin before the enthusiastic crowd. Graduate Debra Jackson shared a poem by Gail Lindsay, entitled Who Can You Be? “To some you’ll be hope, to others, strength…Just who can you be?...You’re a nurse’s aide, you see.”

Closing remarks were given by nurse assistant program instructor Myrna Ragovin, who spoke about how six strangers came together quickly as a group and as friends. “There’s much love here,” she said. The graduates showed their appreciation to the ASN faculty and staff with flowers and a class photo album.

To view the graduation photo album, please click here.
(And be sure to like the Annenberg School of Nursing on Facebook!)

On behalf of the Los Angeles Jewish Home and the Annenberg School of Nursing, we congratulate:


and wish them the best as they embrace the field of nursing.

For information about the nurse assistant or vocational nurse programs at the Annenberg School of Nursing, please contact Cindy Thomas at (818) 757-4431 or asn@jha.org, or visit the ASN website at www.asn.edu.

Labels: Annenberg School of Nursing, CNA, Graduation, NA, Nurse Assistant, RNA

Back in December, we interviewed John Fruge, one of the rising stars from the Annenberg School of Nursing (ASN). He graduated a few weeks ago, fully prepared to take his NCLEX© examination and become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). In the video below, John opens up about his experience at ASN — his professors, his peers, getting his education at the Los Angeles Jewish Home, etc.


If you, or someone you know, is interested in training to become an LVN at the Annenberg School of Nursing, visit www.jha.org/annenberg.

Labels: Annenberg, Fruge, Graduation, Licensed Vocational Nurse, LVN, Nursing, Nursing School, Staff, Video, YouTube

The Los Angeles Jewish Home's Annenberg School of Nursing graduated its fourth class of Licensed Vocational Nurse candidates on January 27th. The San Fernando Valley Business Journal covered it in their most recent 'Valley Biz Seen' section.

Congratulations again to our new graduates, and thank you to the San Fernando Valley Business Journal!

Labels: Annenberg, Around the Home, Events, Graduation, Licensed Vocational Nurse, LVN, Media, Nursing, Nursing School, SFV Business Journal, Staff

(From an email sent on January 27, 2011, shortly after the Annenberg School of Nursing Class of 2011 graduation ceremony.)

Last evening I was truly honored to be present to give an opening blessing for the graduation of our 2011 class of the Annenberg School of Nursing. It was a wonderful celebration of dedication, hard work and of the Jewish Home itself, that makes it all possible.

I was reminded of a verse from Genesis, one of the first things God says to Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish people.

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

I began to think about how this applies to the Jewish Home, how many residents of Southern California are blessed because of the work of the Home and it's many programs. The Home is open to people of all faiths to come and live safely and securely, free to grow intellectually and spiritually. We have rehabilitation facilities to help anyone needing temporary help after a hospitalization, to get back home. We are providing education in nursing skills through our CNA programs and Annenberg School of nursing to qualified applicants of any background. We serve a multitude of patients through our Skirball Hospice Program and will help even more in our community based PACE program.

I am unable to think of a more powerful ambassador of good will for the Jewish people than the Los Angeles Jewish Home. The Los Angeles Jewish community is one of the world's largest, and we have many fine Jewish institutions: schools, museums, hospitals, temples, restaurants etc. However, I believe the Home is the finest example of an institution whose prime directive is to do good, healing the sick and comforting those in pain. The Jewish Community should be proud of the work we do and we deserve to express pride in the Home for all we do.

May all people be blessed because of our never ending commitment to the beliefs and values we have treasured for all these years.

Rabbi Sheldon Pennes is the Jack H. Skirball Director of Spiritual Life at the Los Angeles Jewish Home, where he oversees the many services and activities that educate, illuminate, and enrich the spiritual life and needs of those living in, or served by, the Home.

Labels: Annenberg, For the Spirit, Genesis, Graduation, Jewish Home Services, Pennes