The National Park College (NPC) Adult Education Center was recently awarded a grant
to offer certified nursing assistant (CNA) and Medication Assistant-Certified (MA-C)
training at no cost to participants. The Federal Direct and Equitable grant was funded
by the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, Adult Education Section for one year
in the amount of $82,919.64.
The CNA program is housed in Hot Springs at the Hammond Drive location on the former
Gardner School campus. The program will meet Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to
3 p.m. and includes all of the classroom and skills training required by the Arkansas
Division of Human Services, Office of Long-term Care. The training will include 17
days of classroom and skills instruction and two days of clinical instruction. Clinical
opportunities are offered through Ascend Healthcare at Lakewood Therapy and Living
Center.
The MA-C program is designed to prepare current CNA's for the administration of select
medications under the supervision and guidance of a licensed nurse. Upon program completion,
students are eligible to take a certification exam offered by the Arkansas State Board
of Nursing. The MA-C program will be housed within the Frederick M. Dierks Center
for Nursing and Health Sciences on the NPC campus and will utilize some of the same
resources used by the NPC Nursing Division students. The program will include all
classroom, lab, and clinical training required by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
Clinical components of the course will take place at various long-term care facilities
in Hot Springs.
Classes, books, and classroom materials are free to all Arkansas residents age 18
and older. Students who are SNAP or TANF eligible may also be able to receive scrubs,
personal equipment (stethoscope, etc.), and testing fees provided for them at no charge.
Other scholarships for these items may also be available. GED instruction and testing
are also available at no charge to students. Classes are forming now and interested
students are encouraged to call 501-760-4339 or email bill.ritter@np.edu for more details.
Adult Education Director, Bill Ritter said the program is a great way for students
to increase their earning potential and advance their health care careers quickly
with little to no out of pocket expenses. “It isn’t often you find quality, short-term
career training that is free. It was important for us to bring these programs to Hot
Springs because there is a great need in our health care industry locally and beyond.
We are hopeful this effort will help to increase the pipeline for the nursing workforce.”
Pictured is equipment from the newly established CNA classroom at the NPC Adult Education
Center’s Hammond Drive location.
