HANCOCK CO. — A program at Mt. Vernon High School gets students directly into the workforce after graduation.
Now more than ever, the health care field is seeing a need for Certified Nursing Assistants. Whether in a nursing home facility or with at-home care, it's often CNA's who are the first line of defense when it comes to recognizing the signs and symptoms of heart attacks and strokes, especially in geriatric patients.
Mt. Vernon High School is making it possible for their students to jump-start in the field.
The CNA program at MVHS allows students to take dual credit courses, get hands-on experience, and get certified so they can work at an assisted living center as soon as they complete the course.
Kellee Harney is the co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Hardon Educational Institute. She said this is an important course because it allows students to make a good wage right out of high school.
“You know everybody is just not going to get that four-year degree traditional college, and so some people need to be able to work and have a gainful wage while obtaining their education and so these programs allow them to continue as they want more certifications, as they have more trades, and to soon be able to work to assist with providing for their families to take care of themselves and receive their education,” said Harney.
We heard from senior Emily Rollo via email, and she says this class has been a good opportunity to test the waters and see if the medical field is right for her, and after high school, she does plan to pursue a career in nursing.
Vice Principal Stan Wilkinson said that there are 15 students in the course, and the goal is to have more students involved next year and possibly open the class up to other students in Hancock county.
