A high school program in San Diego is striving to train certified nursing assistants so they are available for work as soon as they graduate.
Students enrolled in a Learn4Life high school can graduate as CNAs and begin earning a living right away. So far this school year, 24 students at the school have earned their certificates.
“There is such a need in healthcare that these students will have no trouble getting jobs and earning $20-30 per hour…some even with signing bonuses,” Jamilyn Lopez, CTE coordinator for health science/medical technology pathways at Learn4Life, said in a press release.
The program runs for eight hours a day, starting with two weeks of classroom learning and then practical clinical experience with an internship at a licensed care facility. After that, students must pass a state exam to become licensed.
“It’s a rigorous program where clinical [experience] feels like an actual workday as a nurse assistant,” Lopez said.
Being a CNA is a career in and of itself, but Lopez noted that the license also could be a stepping stone to becoming a licensed vocational nurse or medical assistant, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or even becoming a registered nurse.
The Learn4Life high school offers a flexible schedule and other features that appeal to students. “With a traditional high school schedule, the student would need to enroll during the summer break and pay for it themselves. We cover all the costs for our students,” Lopez said.
Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public schools.
