Community Highlights: Meet Tomika Camper of CPR INSTRUCTOR TOMIKA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tomika Camper.

Hi Tomika, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
From the beginning, when I began my first nursing position in 2007, the company gave us a CPR course. Being a new nurse I had no idea that so much was missing. In 2013 was the first time I had to initiate and perform CPR on a person, that person was revived and lived another 5 days, what I didn’t know was that I did not completely understand what I had done and why. The instructor the company used went on to renew myself and many nurses I knew for years. Fast forward 2018 or so it was time for my renewal and we (the nursing cohort) couldn’t get in contact with the instructor. This led me.to become one myself. In learning how to teach I also had to take a BLS course, then I learned the 25 minute drive, 5-10 minute lesson and $45 price was doing us all a disservice.

There was so much missing especially practice. It has been my mission to ensure proper teaching of CPR. I now ensure I teach the course as it’s intended, keep it fun and interesting and offer anytime practice to brush up on skills. I also offer courses to the community at lower prices because let’s face it sometimes there’s a new job in the works and the funds aren’t there as well as courses for grandparents, babysitters, and new parents.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve always lived by the moto that nothing worthwhile in life comes easy. Running a business isn’t easy at all, it takes early mornings late nights and all the dedication you can muster up. My biggest struggle has been finding and keeping space. I have to make sure that it’s handicapped accessible that the owners shovel during the winter and that there is air during the summer. I ran into many struggles this summer without air and the students, bless their hearts, stood right by me. The The greatest comfort is 98% of my students are returned and even though I put out a few flyers, almost all of my business is word of mouth.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’ve known I guess for being very responsive and being very thorough. Many students come in with a little bit of anxiety their first time around Only to realize that they don’t need to put the wall up here. Everyone is welcome all activity levels I have a lot of nurses and nursing students and many of them stick around just to ask me questions since I’ve been a nurse for so long.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I see that in most industries there’s a lot of gatekeeping, not here. I teach instructors and this is after years of teaching staff members so I’m comfortable in that arena, and I also mentor. I want everyone to be successful.

Pricing:

• Courses continue to be $50-55.
• I also offer blended learning where you complete the classroom portion online and for $30 we do hands on skills.
• I also first aid renewal for $25.
• And I also donate community courses for lower incomes for around $7

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derrick.ashton.716/