October 7, 2003

Boise State Nursing Assistant Program Now Available in Fruitland

Nursing assistant program facilitates fast entry into healthcare industry

Boise State University has brought its Nursing Assistant (NA) program to the Olde School Community Center in Fruitland, taking hours off the commute for area residents interested in a high-demand medical career. Until now, the popular three-month program, which can quickly launch a graduate into an entry-level health care career, has only been available in Nampa and Boise. Now, residents of Fruitland and surrounding rural communities have local access to the same high-quality training that is offered on the Boise State campus. Nursing assistants are front-line, patient-care providers who perform basic nursing services for the ill, injured, handicapped or disabled under the supervision of licensed nurses. The NA training program is provided through the Center for Workforce Training, part of the Selland College of Applied Technology at Boise State. A Healthy Career Choice As Treasure Valley residents respond to an uncertain economy and unpredictable layoffs, many are looking for careers that will provide steady work well into the future. Few industries offer as much job security as health care. “We expect — not only here at the college, but in the healthcare industry as well — that as more Americans than ever are aging, the need for long-term care is going to continue increasing,” said Larry Becker, head of the NA program. “This is going be a booming industry for years to come.” According to Becker, nursing assistant jobs are plentiful in hospitals, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, acute care settings or private homes or outpatient settings. Nursing assistant titles may vary. They include nursing aides, nursing attendants, orderlies, home health aides, personal care attendants or patient care technicians. But each of these positions requires the NA training Boise State provides. “Once our students have taken the three-month Nursing Assistant training, most have a job upon completion of the program,” Becker said. In addition, many students use the Nursing Assistant training as a stepping stone to other health care careers, such as emergency medical technician, licensed practical nurse or registered nurse. The program consists of approximately 120 hours of instruction (80 hours in the classroom and 40 hours of hands-on experience) and includes instruction in basic nursing skills, personal care skills, mental health and social service needs, basic restorative services and patient rights. Students who complete the three-month training become eligible to take the national exam leading to status as a Certified Nursing Assistant. For more information about the NA program at Boise State, call the Center For Workforce Training at 426-1974 or e-mail Becker at lbecker@boisestate.edu. A Natural Fit According to Larry Barnhardt, dean of the Selland College, the decision to bring the training program to Fruitland is rooted both in the future and the past. NA training provides solid career opportunities for rural Idaho residents, and is also about honoring a part of Fruitland’s past. “Supporting the historic Olde School Community Center is a natural fit for us,” Barnhardt said. “Certainly many Boise State alumni were schooled in that building as children, and we’re pleased to find such an ideal location to provide our training and expand our offerings of various programs in the future.” Located at 500 Southwest Third St. in Fruitland, the Olde School Community Center was originally constructed on the eve of the Great Depression in 1928. This rural school building was slated to be torn down in 1997, but was purchased and renovated by Alma Mater Inc., a nonprofit corporation committed to saving the Olde School for future generations to enjoy. About the Selland College of Applied Technology The Selland College of Applied Technology at Boise State University offers personal, practical and fast training in dozens of high-demand career fields. Degree programs range from culinary arts to semiconductor manufacturing to automotive repair. The Selland College serves over 1,000 Treasure Valley students enrolled in credit programs and over 6,000 non-credit students each year in both Nampa and Boise, as well as distance-learning programs in some other Idaho locations. For more information about Selland College training programs, call 208-426-1431 or visit selland.boisestate.edu. About the Center for Workforce Training The Center for Workforce Training, a division of the Selland College of Applied Technology at Boise State University, is a premier source for innovative, short-term, non-credit, career-related training in the Treasure Valley. The Center offers classes in many of today’s top fields: health care, construction, industrial, business and many more. Classes range from customer service improvement to travel agent certification, from carpentry apprenticeships to computer training. With its broad range of topics and reasonable prices, the Center has attracted employers and workers alike. For more information, call 208-426-1974. -30- Contact Larry Becker Program manager, nursing assistant program Center for Workforce Training Selland College of Applied Technology 208-426-1840 lbecker@boisestate.edu Media Contact Sherry Squires communications and marketing 208-426-1563 ssquires@boisestate.edu