Rural communities often face recruitment and retention challenges, and the health workforce sees no different. In a new effort to showcase the medical field, MDH is looking to launch a CNA program where high school students would graduate with a license, explains Vice President of Business Strategy Patrick Osterman:
“We certainly want to try and keep the local kids as much as possible. We do have a new effort that we are going to be looking at starting in the fall where we can start with the CNA program, the Certified Nurse Assistant Program, start that training as early as high school. So, when you are done with high school, you are already licensed as a CNA and that will really jump start those who want to get into a nursing career.”
In another opportunity to showcase their organization, students enrolled in health sciences at Spoon River Community College and Western Illinois University complete clinical hours at McDonough District Hospital.
