Whether interested in learning more about working in the healthcare profession or looking to begin employment as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) following high school, the CNA Program is a great opportunity for students.
CNA, taught by Mrs. Rosalba Addario, works to combine both classroom learning with hands-on skill application. Addario’s background with CNA began in 2016 as she helped reestablish New Haven’s CNA program by hiring a part time RN to attend clinicals with students and working with students in the classroom.
In class, students are given time to complete their chapter work in the textbooks. This includes creating key term flashcards on all of the vocabulary and breaking down each chapter by taking notes on each paragraph. Before doing competencies (tests) on hands-on skills, students complete deconstructions on each skill, which includes watching a video of the skill and carefully writing down the steps and supplies needed.
Skills such as bathing, feeding, and range of motion learned in classes are then performed on patients at the West River Rehab Center in Milford, Connecticut.
Every other week, students go on clinical visits during the school day to the rehab center in groups of four to five to work with patients in the Long-Term Care facilities. Working with patients can include anything from talking to them and keeping them company to more involved tasks such as bathing and feeding them.
When taking care of patients, students are typically paired with another student and over time begin working alongside one of the CNAs at the facility. The Registered Nurses and CNAs of the facility, as well as the clinical instructor, work to help students improve their skills on patient care.
Senior Caroline Janik states, “I wanted to take this class because it’s a really good introduction level learning for what I need to do as a nurse, since I want to be a nurse. It’s scary at first but you get used to the clinic.”
Over time students work to complete their requirement of 60 clinical hours and 120 classroom hours by May. These requirements are mandated by the Department of Public Health and the State Department of Education.
In the beginning of May students over the age of 16 have the opportunity to take the Connecticut Nurse Aide Board Exam with Prometric in order to become certified. The exam consists of both theory questions and hands on skills that the people giving the test will determine the morning of the exam. The theory and skills each student will receive are different as the tests are distributed randomly.
By passing the exam, students will receive a certification to be a CNA, allowing them to be qualified to work in a variety of healthcare locations including hospitals, assisted living homes, and rehabilitation centers.
Senior Isabella Palisi says, “The biggest benefit to taking this class is the patient care experience, and learning how to be comfortable around your patients and just healthcare experience in general. It is worth it if you are considering any type of medical path.”
For students interested in different aspects of the medical field the certification allows students more opportunities to expand in the future. Various nursing programs offering accelerated paths for CNAs and the background gained throughout the course itself allows students to have prior experience while gaining further education.
Whether students are interested in learning more about the medical field or ready to start their CNA career straight out of high school the class is the perfect opportunity. If interested feel free to reach out to Addario to learn more about the program.
