Dixie State University’s CNA program has seen great growth over the last few years and shows no signs of stopping. The program continues to be DSU’s strongest Career and Technical Education certificate. Even through COVID-19 the program has continued to thrive.
“It seems that the desire to join the ranks as a frontline healthcare provider is surging, as students want to help their family, community, and society,” CNA Program Director, Jennifer Harrington, said.
This semester 110 students are enrolled in the program, and even though COVID-19 halted clinical rotations, students have still been able to get hands-on experience. After some creative thinking, the CNA program partnered with the DSU Risk/Emergency and Event Safety crew. There, CNA students were able to use their skills to assist with the department’s January COVID-19 testing. Students went above and beyond by volunteering for more hours so faculty and staff could return to their offices.
“Additionally, some students have responded to the need from the community for respite care of terminal clients,” Sonja Blea, DSU Risk and Emergency Coordinator said. “Students and families say the experience is a win-win with students gaining hands-on patient care experience and family members getting a well-deserved break.”
Another significant area of growth within DSU’s CNA program is its partnership with The Concurrent Enrollment program. This program allows high school students to take college courses to fast-track their way to a successful career as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Before its partnership with the Concurrent Enrollment program, the number of high school students in the CNA certification program over the course of a year was in the single digits. Now, the program has watched a total of 230 high school students become CNA certified!
“High school students are discovering that once they are 16 they can take these courses and start working as CNA’s in their area,” Judy A. Scott, Interim Chair of Nursing at DSU, said.
These high school students are held to college standards, the classes are harder and a failing grade is a C-, but the program still boasts an 87% completion rate.
But none of these accomplishments would have been possible without teamwork.
“Teamwork is what sets the DSU CNA program apart,” Harrington said. “Our instructors and leadership are incredible and deserve kudos for all that they do.”
Throughout the obstacles of a pandemic and building up Concurrent Enrollment, the CNA program that started with one single morning section has experienced rapid growth. Through its incredible teamwork, the CNA program now has a section in the Hurricane branch campus, along with a virtual section in the Kanab and Panguitch branch campuses. With all the growth the program is experiencing, it’s looking to expand to a new branch campus in Hilldale, Utah, where it hopes to have another CNA section this fall.
“I can’t see our past having gone any better, nor any limits to our future success and growth,” Scott said.
Interested in becoming a CNA? Visit the program’s website to learn more.