Workforce shortages don’t have to be the norm anymore with the hybrid nurse aide training program offered by CNAonline
When I got into nursing, it was to care for patients. Workplace shortages and training issues weren’t even on my radar. But it’s been one of my biggest challenges as director of nursing for Maple Lawn. You might feel the same frustration with hiring and training nurse aides. We experienced loss of staff during the pandemic and in the recovery, post-pandemic phase, we’ve had a lot of burnout.
Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility is a mid-size, long-term care facility in the southeast portion of Michigan. We have114 beds, a memory unit, a wing for rehab short stays and long-term skilled nursing care.
We realized that traditional programs simply cannot keep up with the demand. To recruit students, we partnered with colleges in the area for traditional training, but they were struggling with class size. Classes are only offered during specific dates, students are unable to work full-time during training, and even when they graduate and accept jobs, the training hasn’t prepared them for the culture, environment, and actual patients at facilities.
When I found out about a state-approved, hybrid nurse aide training course offered by CNAonline, I decided to give it a try. The CNAonline program provides a flexible learning model that accommodates students from all backgrounds.
We run our classes for four weeks. The first three weeks comprise the online didactic portion consisting of American Health Care Association’s latest edition of How to Be a Nurse Assistant. This coursework is accessible 24/7 via smartphones, PCs and tablets and Macs. If they don’t have access to any of those, they are welcome to use the laptops at the Maple Lawn during the day. Students have access to a certified instructor provided by CNAonline and, at our facility, two certified instructors: Teresa Fulk, RN and me.
For the hands-on labs and clinical portion, students attend classes for one full, 40-hour week onsite here at Maple Lawn with Teresa or me. They check off the skills in the lab, then they have two full days on the floor working with real residents.
Because we can train students in the actual facility where they will work, we have achieved excellent results. The learning curve for the students is much easier because they are experiencing our culture and seeing firsthand what the job entails. Our students have had a much higher success rate with this model than with traditional programs.
To attract candidates, I advertise on Facebook, Instagram, radio, and print as well as our website. When someone applies to be a nurse aide on Maple Lawn’s website, he or she is given the option to select the online class in the application. Coming into the interview, I know that this candidate wants to be a student in my facility. I am able to talk about what’s involved in the job and they know they are being set up for success from day one.
Our first class began August 6, 2023 and had two students. We have completed five classes so far, and have brought in 19 new students. Our largest class has had seven students.
Working with the whole team at CNAonline has been great. The CNAonline instructors have been wonderful, very quick to respond. Running these classes has been one of the smoothest things we have done. It’s been great for us and with the students getting to know the facility and the patients during the training program, it’s helped us with retention.
For more information, contact Ashely Zierle at Ashley.Zierle@maple-lawn.org or www.cnaonline.com
