Health care careers are in high demand and are also high paying jobs. The more opportunities available to equip students with the skills and knowledge of the health care field, the stronger future employees they will be. Currently, Home Health and Personal Care Aides are ranked #1in demand job.

Students who have a chance to take our CNA course will obtain training and skills to support this needed work. Nursing Assistants rank #6 in demand for the Southwest Minnesota Region and Registered Nurses are ranked 7th in demand and Licensed Practical Nurses are ranked 15th in demand. Our courses would provide foundational work and training for these students and would help potential employers in our communities and region.

We know students are interested in these types of careers and classes. We have held multiple sections of CNA for the past 5 years and each year we have had enough students to run four sections. During these courses students continue to ask and inquire about other opportunities in the health care field. Students in our Career Internship classes are requested to work with medical field supervisors to learn more.

We will continue to recruit students to our classes in the Medical Institute through work with counselors and teachers. In our Ramp Up and Advisory programs through Marshall High School and Marshall ALC, we will learn about the interests of our students and their future career plans. Students indicated interested in the health care field will be provided opportunities to enroll in the course. We will also share about the classes with all students and families and provide information at registration for students about the classes.

Students will have the opportunity to complete a Certified Nursing Assistant test to get their CNA license. There is a potential college credit through articulation. As we branch out into more classes, we will look for ways to include certification options for our students.

We currently have great partnerships in place with Avera, Boulder Estates, and Heritage Point. These business partners have continued to support our work and goals to provide more education to students interested in the medical field. These partners currently hold a spot on our Medical Institute Advisory Board. They provide feedback and guidance on what they are seeing and needing in the career field in our community. Their first-hand knowledge of the skills and needs in their work environments is vital for us to help prepare students to become employed by them.

All 3 of these business partners have supported our work through speakers coming to visit with students and providing opportunities for tours and job shadows for students. These would continue as they are a very important part of the hands-on, real-life learning experiences for our students. All the partners are committed to the work we are doing as a school and in the community.

For more information contact Amanda at Marshall Public Schools.