Pennsylvania’s First CNA Apprenticeship Program

WATCH ProjectWork Attributes Toward Careers in

Health

Monna Harman, RN, BSNCNA Apprenticeship Instructor

WATCH CNA ApprenticeshipDeveloped and implemented in partnership by these organizations:

• HPOG – Health Profession Opportunity Grant, a $9.1 million grant over five years; assists income-eligible individuals to enter a career in nursing

• CSIU – Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit

• NCPA AHEC – North Central PA Area Health Education Center

• DOL/ETA/OA – Federal and PA Offices of Apprenticeship

• PCT - Pennsylvania College of Technology, North Campus

• Susque-View Home, Inc.

PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

PENNSTATE

CNA Apprenticeship Overview

• What is apprenticeship?

• Why is apprenticeship valuable?

• Who benefits?

• What is required for registered apprenticeship?

CNA Apprenticeship Overview

A registered apprenticeship program

• Is an employer-driven program for their employees

• 2000 hours on the job training, about a year

• 144 hours of related instruction

• Awards a nationally recognized and portable certificate

• Regulated by the US and PA Apprenticeship Offices

CNA ApprenticeshipCNA Employer Challenges

• Lack of soft skills in new employees – absences, tardiness

• High turnover of CNA staff

• High cost to replace a CNA - about $5,000, including extra

hours or extra people to cover the work until a new hire is

oriented

• Short retention means fewer experienced CNAs

CNA ApprenticeshipBenefits for Employers

• Increases employee job satisfaction and loyalty

• Increases job retention

• Increases quality of CNA’s work

• Increases patient and family satisfaction with quality of

care

• Increases word-of-mouth advertising

CNA ApprenticeshipBenefits for Apprentices

• Increases job satisfaction

• Increases knowledge, skills, and confidence

• Earns recognition from other staff for learning and improving

• Offers a transferable national credential

• Enables a life-long career and upward mobility

• Provides an opportunity for self-improvement

CNA ApprenticeshipDesign the Related Instruction Curriculum

• Curriculum must be approved by Apprenticeship Office

• Must meet or exceed approved requirements

• Based on Good Samaritan Society model

• First year includes Advanced CNA and a specialty module

• Employer may add to approved competencies

• Employer determines the specialty module needed

• Credit is given for a basic CNA already acquired

CNA Apprenticeship

Previous certification: Basic CNA (120 OJT hrs for previous certification)

Then must complete: Advanced CNA (1025 OJT hrs/ 81 Related Instruction hrs)

Then must complete 1 Specialty module:

Geriatrics Specialty (870 OJT hrs/ 69 Related Instruction

hrs) Dementia Specialty OR

Mentoring Specialty

At this time, our modules are Advanced CNA and Geriatrics Specialty

CNA ApprenticeshipDevelop the related instruction

• Nurse Educators at Penn College North Campus Selected textbook with workbook and CD Developed syllabus and competencies Prepared worksheets and handouts

• WATCH Registered Nurses Prepared lesson plans Created and edited instructional videos for DVD Prepared unit tests WATCH CNA Instructor (RN, BSN) finalized curriculum

and supervises related instruction

CNA ApprenticeshipBuild an apprenticeship program

• Apprenticeship OfficeRequirements and approval for registered apprenticeshipGuidance on employer and apprentice needs

• WATCH CNA Apprenticeship InstructorRelated Instruction (theory) – 150 hoursEnsures successful implementation through support to

employer and apprentices

• Employer

CNA ApprenticeshipDevelop the on-the-job training component (2000 hours)

• Employer Determines

1. Criteria for selection of apprentices2. Wage increase schedule3. Any additional competencies that must be met

Selects staff at their facility who will be1. Apprentices (CNAs)

2. Apprenticeship Site Supervisor (RN) Supports, evaluates, and tracks apprentices’ progress Communicates with the CNA Apprenticeship instructor

3. Mentors (LPN/RN unless apprentice completes Mentoring Specialty) Check readiness to practice learned skills Demonstrate skills and observe return demonstration on the unit Communicates with the Apprenticeship Site Supervisor

CNA ApprenticeshipRegister and begin the apprenticeship program

• Office of Apprenticeship helps Send the curriculum for approval Prepare and send the standards of apprenticeship Be approved

• Employer selects apprentices and begins Both parties sign apprenticeship agreements Apprentices begin the learning modules Apprentices and mentors are scheduled together Mentors work with apprentices to practice skills

Contact InformationMonna Harman

WATCH CNA Apprenticeship Instructormharman@csiu.org (570) 809-4688

Steven MyersPA Field Representative, DOL/ETA Office of

Apprenticeshipmyers.steven@dol.gov (610) 320-5173

WATCHwww.csiu.org/watch

This presentation was supported by Grant #90FX0011 from the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS. Work Attributes Toward Careers in Health (WATCH)

is a Health Profession Opportunity Grant and is administered by the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU).

hpogcommunity.acf.hhs.gov