College still has openings in nurse assistant program

Flathead Valley Community College still has openings in its Certified Nursing Assistant program, an anomaly for the competitive program.

Pam Klein, a registered nurse who has been teaching the courses for some time, said the program is a good way to get in the door of the medical field.

“It’s a great opportunity for those who want to see if health care is for them,” she said. “It requires integrity, good judgment and compassion.”

The program has been around since the early 1990s and has produced hundreds of students certified as nursing assistants.

The main job a person can get through this program involves working in a long-term care facility. It’s intensive, Klein said, and not for everyone.

“It’s physically and emotionally demanding,” she said. “They provide personal care, grooming, hygiene — all the things a resident can’t do for themselves.”

Students get 105 hours of training both in classrooms and in a real-world environment, including about 35 hours of clinical training.

At the end of the course, students take the state competency exam. From there, Klein said, they are ready to apply for jobs.

Usually, the five sections of 10 students each fill within days, but Klein has noticed a dip in enrollment and wanted people to be aware a program like hers was available to the public.

For more information on the program and registration or enrollment dates, prospective students can call 756-3625, email Klein at pklein@fvcc.edu or go online to www.fvcc.edu/cna.html.