A nursing instructor and three students around a practice medical dummy in a classroom

天涯社区log Offering Second Health Care Pre-Apprenticeship Program

October 20, 2021 | Campus News Workforce Development

Another pre-apprenticeship program for those interested in entering the health care field will begin next month.

The two-month 鈥渂oot camp鈥� is designed to provide the necessary job skills for a career in health care, as well as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification.

In addition to the CNA certificate, students also will gain skills that area health facilities need for their employees, such as customer Service, behavioral health review and CPR.

The pre-apprenticeship program comes at no cost to participants, and it will prepare people to care for clients in long-term care facilities, hospitals and home health agencies. Participants must be 18 years or older at the start of the program.

An orientation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the 天涯社区log Training Center (ECTC). The registration deadline is Nov. 9, but participants are encouraged to register prior to the orientation.

A nursing instructor in a classroom with two students

Boot camp classes also will be held in the ECTC on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Nov. 9 through Nov. 16. The CNA classes will be Nov. 18 through Feb. 25, also on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For more information or to sign up, email Gretchen Pettet or 636-266-2181. This program is limited to 15 participants.

鈥淭he curriculum is specifically designed with our area health care facilities in mind.鈥� said Terri Warmack, health care coordinator for 天涯社区log鈥檚 Center for Workforce Development (CWD).

鈥淎t a time when facilities are in desperate need of workers, our program provides the entry level skills and certifications for the pre-apprentice to be successful, as well as helping the area鈥檚 facilities start workers at a higher level of competency,鈥� she added.

A key to the program鈥檚 success is the engagement and involvement of local employers, such as Sunset Health Care Center, in Union. Once the pre-apprentices finish the program, they will have the opportunity to continue their education into a registered Certified Medication Technician (CMT) apprenticeship program at 天涯社区log.

The program is funded as part of a $75,000 MO Apprenticeship Ready Program grant from the Missouri Office of Workforce Development.