Gap Year Experience at ACR

As a recent college graduate, Payton Gilreath has been asked many times why she’s taking a gap year to work at ACR before applying to grad school to become a physician’s assistant. She writes about the value of her gap year experience at ACR.

Direct Patient Care Hours

I’d like to explain why I am taking a gap year and SPECIFICALLY why I’m doing mine at ACR. First, the physician’s assistant programs I am applying to require direct patient care hours, as do many programs in the healthcare field. Instead of paying for training to become a CNA, ACR actually PAID for me to get trained in CPR, First Aid, medication administration, and other medical procedures that CNAs don’t even have the credentials to perform!

Second, I wanted to look for a job that would provide me with meaningful experience. Taking care of my residents these past nine months and building relationships with them has been the most rewarding experience in my whole twenty-three years. They are people I will think about and care for the rest of my life, even after my time is up at ACR.

ACR Voted #1 Workplace

Lastly, if you haven’t heard… ACR has been voted the #1 workplace by employees twice in the past three years! I get paid to go to the movies with residents, take them out to lunch, go to the zoo, etc.  ACR encourages outings, so we can get out of the group home on my shift! I could not have chosen a company with higher humanitarian values than ACR. I am so happy to be doing my gap year somewhere that really makes a difference in the lives of the residents, their families, and in the staff who assist them!

Gap Year Here

For more stories, videos and other fun from ACR employees who have opted for a gap year experience at ACR or who just think ACR is a great place to work, check out our Facebook page.