The start of the second semester at Hastings High School this week included a new class offering HHS students training to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).
The class is the result of a team effort involving the Mary Lanning Healthcare Foundation, Mary Lanning Healthcare, Central Community College-Hastings and Hastings Public Schools made the course possible through the Healthcare Pathways program.
Carol Hamik, MLH Nurse Recruiter and Clinical Outreach Coordinator, said the MLH Foundation provided funding to get the class started, and her team worked with CCC on the curriculum and the requirements.
Hamik said it is great to get high school students started on a healthcare-related career path. Students who complete the training are eligible for CNA certification, which allows them to apply for jobs as CNAs at nursing homes, hospitals, clinics and home health organizations.
“Having a CNA certificate also is a great first step toward pursuing a career in nursing,” Hamik said.
The CNA certificate is a pre-requisite for some nursing programs, plus it provides the knowledge needed for careers such as a nurse, physician, lab tech and more.
MLH nurse Martha Vinge-Sheridan, along with Hamik and MLH nurse Amanda Ablott, are teaching the class at HHS. Students will learn basic patient care, infection control, nutrition basics, anatomy, communication skills, medical documentation, safety procedures and much more.
“We hope this new program helps meet the area’s needs for CNAs and other healthcare professionals,” Hamik said. “Getting students started while they are still in high school will give them a leg up when it comes to a healthcare career.”