A partnership between Minnesota West Community and Technical College; Yellow Medicine East, Lakeview, Renville County West, MACCRAY, and Montevideo high schools; and local long-term care facilities have received a $9,970 LYFT Pathways award to purchase industry specific equipment and medical supplies to deliver a one credit high school Nursing Assistant course.

School districts pay the students tuition and the college is responsible for paying for the instructor, supplies, and equipment. Upon successful completion of the course, students can earn 3 college credits and are eligible to take the state exam to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Students travel to the Minnesota West – Granite Falls campus two days a week, during the one semester class, to complete lab work. The labs consist of hands-on training using equipment such as beds, mattresses, tables, stands, scales, electric BP machines, feeding machines, oxygen concentrators, and much more. The students are required to practice and demonstrate each skill (30 skills) in front of their instructor before performing the skills on patients at the clinical site. They complete online assignments at their home school district the three days of the week, and complete 24 hours of clinical experiences at a long-term care facility in the evenings or on weekends. During the clinical experiences students will have the opportunity to work in a variety of different health care disciplines including dietary, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. The instructor will also have the students observe special cares, such gastrointestinal feedings, intravenous therapy, and dementia therapy, to name a few.

• In the spring of 2018, 12 students took this course.
• In the fall of 2018, 12 students took this course.
• In the spring of 2019, 13 students took this course.
• In the fall of 2019, 11 students took this course.
• In the spring of 2020, 16 students took this course.
• During the 2020-21 school year, 21 students took this course.
• During the 2021-22 school year, 21 students took this course.

For more information contact Minnesota West.