Padrón Campus Launches Certified Nursing Assistant Program
Eduardo J. Padrón Campus became the fifth Miami Dade College campus to offer a certified nursing assistant program when it launched classes for a cohort this fall for the rapidly-growing field.
The program is also offered at the Medical, North, Homestead and West campuses.
“A couple of years ago, [the College] put out that scholarship funds for certified nursing assistants were available,” said Padrón Campus President Oscar Loynaz. “[MDC] had over 300 people respond saying they were interested. We realized it was an in-demand profession, and there’s a lot of employment opportunities in our communities.”
Certified nursing assistants work under the supervision of registered or licensed practical nurses. They help patients with day-to-day activities, such as walking, dressing, and bathing, as well as measuring and recording vital signs, provide catheter care and transport patients.
Last spring, construction of the Padrón facility, which is a 781 sq. ft. lab and mimics a hospital setting, began. The site located in Room 1124, officially opened on Oct. 26.
It includes four long tables at the center of the room, each seating four students and electric hospital beds on each corner, surrounded by a wrap-around curtain.
Each bed has a human mannequin. Bedpans, washcloths, bath towels, a wheelchair, foldable walkers and linen carts are used to simulate daily responsibilities.
“Generally, I like to start with the more challenging tasks, the clinical skills,” said professor Debra Lee Tad. “We practice two or three related skills, and after lunch, we either [continue] or review past exam questions.”
Padrón campus began recruiting students for the program last summer. The initial cohort of 12 students received the Open Door Grant, which covers tuition, textbooks, uniforms, supplies, background checks and exam fees for the 12-week course.
To be eligible for the state certification exam, students will complete 100 hours of class lectures and hands-on practice in the lab and 20 clinical hours at local rehabilitation centers, such as St. Catherine’s West, Ponce Plaza and Jackson Gardens.
Spring registration is open for the next cohort, which will be held from Jan. 25 to March 22. Classes are held on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The program is really awesome,” said Genesis Rivas, a Padrón CNA student. “It’s very practical and the professor is very knowledgeable. I already recommend it for someone who wants to enter the medical field and doesn’t know how.”
For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/4px4t3nd.
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