The Huron County Medical Care Facility is encouraging people to kick-start their careers in the healthcare field and is offering certified nursing assistant training.
The training is organized by Danielle Murphy, the staff development coordinator for the Huron County Medical Care Facility. The medical care facility has run CNA classes before, all done out of a facility in Caseville, taught by Registered Nurse Sally Craig. The deadline for sign-up is Aug. 21 with a limited number of spots available.
The training is a paid course for three weeks where participants learn to become a CNA. Once completed and pass the state test, the Huron County Medical Care Facility hires them full time with a complete benefits package and a limited-time $5,000 sign-on bonus. During the classes, which run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., participants are paid at a starting rate of $14.
“I had a lot of people applying here that weren’t licensed and wanted to help out,” said Murphy. “They wanted to get their foot in the door. They wanted to become CNAs and then further their degree to become nurses. Our administrator Rachel Voss came up with this idea and it has been pretty successful.”
She also noted that because of the pandemic, there was a shortage of employees everywhere, especially in the medical field, as well as burnout from people who were already working in it.
“Healthcare definitely took a hit, especially long-term care facilities,” said Murphy. “It was a lot. We had to change how we did everything with having to wear masks, having to test every couple of days, or wearing goggles on the floor. It was a lot and it pushed a lot of people out of healthcare.
“I see people actually applying again. In the last couple of months, we are defiantly seeing a lot of people wanting to get back into (healthcare). I think they’re recovering from the burnout. But (these classes) have been a huge help in bringing people to our facility.”
She went on to explain that becoming a CNA is a very rewarding job. Murphy herself was a CNA before becoming a nurse. She said as CNA, she was able to make connections with residents and establish her place in the medical field.
Murphy added that after taking the class through the Huron County Medical Care Facility, the CNA pay is competitive with a good benefits program, so you could decide to continue growing in the healthcare field or keep your career as a CNA, as there is always a need for them.
This is the third time that the Huron County Medical Care Facility is holding CNA classes and Murphy said that spots are filling up fast.
To sign up for the classes before the deadline on Aug. 21 contact Danielle Murphy either in person at the Huron County Medical Care Facility located at 1116 South Van Dyke Road in Bad Axe, by calling 989-269-6425 at ext. 114 or by email at educator@hcmcf.org.
Huron County Medical Care Facility paying for CNA classes
