Sandusky Career Center program needs students

SANDUSKY — Sandusky Career Center's state tested nursing assistant program needs more students. The program, which launched last fall, isn't doing well."Our enrollment did not decline, it just never really took off," said Nancy Hall, the school's director. "We anticipated enrollment to consist of six adult students and six Sandusky Digital Academy high school students each month. Many months, we only had high school students."And in recent months, three STNA program staff members — two instructors and a coordinator — have resigned.What STNAs doNursing assistants work closely with elderly or disabled patients in nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare facilities."STNAs develop nurturing relationships with patients," Hall said. "They care for someone's parent, aunt or uncle, sibling or child — they care for society's vulnerable."Nursing assistants bathe, feed, dress and move patients and take vital signs like body temperature, pulse, blood pressure and more."It is a difficult job that is both physically and emotionally demanding," Hall said. "STNAs work all shifts, all year. Nursing homes, home health providers and hospitals take care of patients every day of the week, with no holidays off – that's tough to compete with when you are trying to attract new employees."But for anyone interested in a career in healthcare, it's a good starting point."It is a great way to enter the medical profession, to determine if working with patients is something they will enjoy before investing in a long-term training program like nursing," Hall said. "It is a great job to have while working your way through college."ChallengesBeing a nursing assistant is difficult on multiple levels. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for nursing assistants in Ohio was $13.72 in May 2018.The industry is desperate for more workers and facilities can become short-staffed. Within 40 miles of Sandusky, almost 30 nursing assistant jobs were recently posted to OhioMeansJobs.com as of Friday. Hall said employers regularly contact Sandusky Career Center for potential nursing assistants."The economy is doing well, there are many jobs available, so it is difficult for service providers to attract STNAs," she said.Miami (Ohio) University professer John Bowblis said during high unemployment, places that employ nursing assistants, like nursing homes, have better staffing levels and can provide better care to patients they see each day. "The problem with nursing homes is that since most of their revenue comes from Medicare and Medicaid, they can't increase the prices that they charge in order to pay staff more," he told the Dayton Daily News.Hall said she believes the tuition of Sandusky Career Center's STNA program is one reason enrollment isn't high. The program costs $730, which includes tuition, books, a uniform and fee for the state nurses aide exam."It is difficult for students to come up with the money to take the course," Hall said. "If you are unemployed or under-employed, where do you get the funds to take a training program?"Students enrolled in full-time programs like medical assisting & phlebotomy or practical nursing programs, however, can apply for financial aid like Pell grants and student loans. The STNA program lasts three weeks, with 10 days in class and two clinical days for 86 hours of instruction."It does not meet the minimum 600 hour requirement for financial aid," Hall said.Making changesHall said one way she wants to improve the program is through changing teaching strategies. Beginning this fall, review sessions for high school students will be mandatory. Adult students won't be required to attend the sessions."We found that high school students need more time to practice skills in order to master the skills," she said. "Our high school students don't have the background knowledge needed to enter the STNA program without involving them in some pre-teaching strategies. They simply don't have the life experiences. "We will introduce them to vocabulary and equipment prior to entering the program."Increasing the career center's state exam passage rate is another priority. Right now, the passage rate among Sandusky students is 15 percent."Of course, our goal is for 100 percent passing rate on the licensure exam," Hall said. "Our accrediting body, Council on Occupational Education, expects a 70 percent passing rate for anyone who completes any program."Hall said Sandusky Career Center would like to have eight students enroll in its Oct. 14 class and offer classes once a month.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodStephen Littleton, a state tested nursing assistant, fills out his charts at the Meadows at Osborne on Friday, Feb. 1. Sandusky Career Center's STNA program needs more students. Gabby Carrillo, a certified nursing assistant, serves a patient a meal at the Californian-Pasadena, a nursing home in Pasadena, CALIF.. A new state law will require that patients receive a minimum number of hours per day from CNAs, but homes fear they won't meet the requirement. (Maria Alejandra Cardona/Los Angeles Times/TNS)