{"id":190094,"date":"2024-01-16T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T18:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=190094"},"modified":"2024-01-12T23:43:59","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T09:43:59","slug":"training-hs-students-certified-nurse-aides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/01\/16\/training-hs-students-certified-nurse-aides\/","title":{"rendered":"Training HS<\/abbr> students to fill the urgent need for certified nurse aides"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Student<\/p>\n

To fill a critical shortage of medical professionals in Hawaiʻi<\/span>, some high school students are training at their schools to become certified nurse aides (CNA<\/abbr>) through a partnership between Leeward Community College<\/a> and the Healthcare Association of Hawaiʻi<\/span><\/a> (HAH<\/abbr>).<\/p>\n

According to HAH<\/abbr>, there were 3,873 open non-physician healthcare positions across 89 professions in 2022. HAH<\/abbr> collaborated with Leeward CC<\/abbr> for a pilot high school CNA<\/abbr> training program in 2023, at Farrington, Waiʻanae<\/span> and Kauaʻi<\/span> High Schools that was funded by federal and private sources.<\/p>\n

“Good experience, loved it,” said Farrington student Melody Agodong. “(It) teaches you about basic nursing skills to get the job. Labs were great. Employment support and [transition training] were super helpful.”<\/p>\n

During the pilot year, students secured employment at various healthcare facilities, including Manoa Cottage Kaimuki, The Plaza Assisted Living, Garden Isle Rehab and Nursing and Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.<\/p>\n

Public-private collaboration supports healthcare workforce<\/h2>\n

\"Students<\/p>\n

With funding from Good Jobs Hawaiʻi<\/span><\/a> (GJH<\/abbr>)—a joint effort between the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span>, and various federal, state, county and philanthropic resources, offering free skills training in high-demand sectors—HAH<\/abbr> was able to work with Leeward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s Office of Workforce Development to set up Farrington High School as a Central Oʻahu<\/span> hub and Waiʻanae<\/span> High School as a West Oʻahu<\/span> hub to host CNA<\/abbr> training for more high school students.<\/p>\n