MCC-Penn Valley, PREP-KC, and the Kansas City, Missouri School District recently launched the Health Sciences Accelerated Academy (HSAA). The program supports high school sophomores to not only complete high school, but also (during those three years) to complete college classes which prepare them for entry-level careers in health care, including Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training.
A reception to welcome HSAA students and their families was held last month in the atrium of MCC-Penn Valley’s Health Science Institute.
The HSAA is a new and unique collaboration designed to prepare urban students for success in post-secondary education and in the workforce. “The HSAA is an exciting new pathway for urban high school students who are interested in a career in health care. It also eliminates the need for these students to take remedial classes when they enter community college since their class work and testing during the HSAA will provide them with the supports necessary to be well-prepared,” says Susan Wally, president of PREP-KC. “From the early stages of designing this initiative it has been a priority for the PREP-KC team because this program, and others we’re piloting, can improve college success and meet workforce needs in Kansas City.”
HSAA students will gain hands-on experience within the MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute which includes a 10,000 sq. ft. virtual hospital that contains a fully functioning operating room, an emergency room, a neonatal intensive care unit, and patient rooms.
“The Kansas City, Missouri School District (KCMSD) is pleased to be part of a collaborative effort that will provide our students with college experiences and preparation for career opportunities,” said John Covington, KCMSD superintendent. “The HSAA program will give KCMSD students a significant competitive edge when applying for future positions in the health care industry.”
“We are very excited about working with PREP-KC and the Kansas City, Missouri School District to prepare urban high school students for careers in health care,” says Sandy McIlnay, director of MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute. “Our state-of-the-art health science institute is all about hands-on learning and real-life training to prepare students so they can hit the ground running when they start working at area hospitals and medical facilities.”
A critical shortage of well-prepared nurses and allied health workers is creating challenges for local hospitals and health care facilities. HSAA is one of several programs designed to meet this health care worker shortage.
It is good to see support in education for those interested in becoming a CNA. The CNA field is growing and with the advent of new technologies and better medicine, CNA's will find themselves in a stable and secure job industry.
ReplyDelete