Program made possible through a $1 million grant
By Jason Schoonover | Austin Daily Herald
Minnesota health care workers are beginning to benefit from a grant garnered in 2008 by Riverland Community College and Workforce Development Inc.
Free online nursing courses commenced last month at the community college, as a result of the $1 million Community-Based Job Training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The grant has also funded pre-employment health care academies at Workforce Development and health care career fairs on Riverland’s campus for fifth grade students.
“The goal of the initiative is to help increase the skill levels of nursing assistants who work in long-term care facilities and also to help address the need for a pipeline of new health care workers,” explained Amy Wangen, project manager at Riverland.
The grant provides tuition funding for 72 students, who are currently employed as certified nursing assistants (CNAs), to take the self-directed online continuing education courses.
“The courses were developed specifically for this project — for those who have nursing assistant training to continue to increase their training and continue their learning,” Wangen said.
There are 52 students currently enrolled in the online training through their employers. Students begin with an introduction to online learning and go on to take online courses in the areas of clinical observation, dementia, mentoring and leadership, psycho-social needs and restorative care. Those who complete all courses will earn three and a half college credits. Students who began in February can complete the sequence by June. Read More…
