Monterey Adult School brings back certified nursing assistant program
After years of being shut down, the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at the Monterey Adult school is back in business.
“Due to COVID and trying to find a really qualified instructor, we lost the program about three or four years ago,” said Beth Wodecki, Monterey Adult School principal.
This week, educators for the new program started to gear up and got the classroom ready for their first session back.
"We were able to prep a room that hasn't been touched in three or four years, so you can imagine the amount of dust," Wodecki said.
Debra Byrom will be the program's new instructor, teaching and guiding students along the way.
“These are basic skills. There's for the American Red Cross, they have to sit for a skills exam and a written test. So I'm going to prepare them for the 24 skills that they could possibly choose and they’re going to get some hands-on experience in the clinical setting as well.”
Educators explain that it’s a program vital to filling the gaps in the medical field.
“A lot of people are retiring and because of COVID, like you said, a lot of people decided to not work any longer. There is definitely a need for certified nursing assistants because that's your foundation for nursing. If they want to go in and pursue a further career choice like nursing, LPN are in or a medical assisting, whatever their goals are, this would be a good stepping stone,” Byrom said.
The entry-level program will be one of the only ones on the Monterey-Peninsula, making this education more accessible and at a lower cost.
Monterey Adult school is now accepting students for the program. It’ll consist of 9-week sessions and will begin Feb. 6, 2023.
For more information: mas.mpusd.net or phone: 831.392.3565.