Six students recently completed coursework at Northcentral Technical College (NTC) during the first-ever Senior CNA Academy, part of an Active Aging initiative in central Wisconsin.
NTC and Pine Crest Nursing Home partnered in this initiative to deliver a training program to individuals 55 years of age and older that taught them the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in a long-term care facility in central Wisconsin.
“We were extremely pleased with the success of the first Senior CNA Academy,” said Lorraine Zoromski, NTC Dean of Health Sciences. “The energy level and passion this group of students have for healthcare has been contagious, and we look forward to running the next Academy later this summer.”
The students will next take the State of Wisconsin Nurse Aide Certification Exam on May 24, and those who successfully complete the exam will be offered casual or part-time employment at Pine Crest.
“I’m very excited to have this group come in and start working,” said Lisa Gervais, Pine Crest Nursing Home Administrator. “They may be new CNAs, but the life skills and experience they bring with them is very valuable in this extremely important line of work.”
“They’re in the field for the right reasons and have a good understanding of what they’re getting into, since many of them have already cared for their parents or grandparents,” added Mindy Meehean, Director of Nursing at Pine Crest.
Free tuition was available for students who qualified for this program, and support was provided throughout to encourage the success of the students.
For more information on the next Senior CNA Academy, contact Lisa Gervais at 715-536-0355 or [email protected], or Lorraine Zoromski at 715-803-1356 or [email protected].