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Baker, Hyde detail Area 30 CNA, health course impacts
On the heels of securing a large grant for new medical equipment, the health careers program at Area 30 Career Center is gearing for a transition into one focused on certified clinical medical assistants and nurse aides.
CNA Program Instructor Lisa Baker and Health Careers Instructor Laurie Hyde spoke on the impacts of their respective programs, as well as purchasing said equipment, at the Area 30 Board’s regular meeting Tuesday morning.
The Perkins Reserve Grant received was one of 10 awarded through the state to go toward purchases totaling $108,000, a significant benefit to both of Baker’s and Hyde’s programs as the transition progresses. This is as students will work to obtain their certifications as CCMAs.
A registered nurse for 38 years with backgrounds in emergency room, intensive care and school nursing, Baker said Area 30’s CNA program encompasses nursing wholly. Students work through the curriculum and learn 72 procedures they are tested on. This entails 30 classroom hours and 75 conducted in facilities.
Baker noted that students currently earn eight-and-a-half dual credits through Ivy Tech, with it on track to increase to 11-and-a-half credits. Relating that nursing schools are decidedly competitive, a bonus is that students who earn a CNA through the program get five bonus points toward their applications.
“Our students are very much in demand in the workforce,” Baker said, adding that facilities actively recruit those in the program. Over 50 percent of her students are working in facilities, even before they have earned their CNAs.
An RN with 33 years’ experience and 13 years teaching at Area 30, Hyde said that health careers has had an emphasis on exploration of fields. Even with the transition, she related that this component should not be lost.
She noted that CMAs can be administrative, but perform procedures including blood drawing, injections and giving medications. Students have to sit through the exam for CCMAs, which she herself is studying for.
“I think it’ll be really amazing for these students to have that CCMA certification when they graduate,” Hyde said. Moving forward, she said her students would have 15-and-a-half dual credits overall through Ivy Tech.
Among other items, Hyde said the grant covers a medicine cart to simulate administration of such (instead, she said, of using Smarties); venipuncture arms; new mannequins; six new hospital beds; an EKG machine; and new CPR equipment.
“We’re passionate about what we do, and we’re excited about this next step with the CCMA,” Hyde summed up to the board, with she and Baker both enthusiastic that they could take on more students.
In other business:
• The board approved Area 30 covering two hotel nights at $310, as Law Enforcement Instructor Charles Inman will attend the Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association’s conference from March 20-21 in St. Louis. The Greencastle Police Department is covering the registration fee.
• The board approved hiring Tyler Hatfield as a part-time assistant in Area 30’s fire and rescue program. While James Shaw, a full-time firefighter with the Greencastle Fire Department, is the head instructor, Hatfield, as well as Cheryl Fagg, come in as substitutes when needed. Hatfield is part time with GFD.
• Executive Director Chad Nunley announced that Area 30’s enrollment for the 2023-24 school year stood at 121 students as of that morning. With enrollment opening on Jan. 23, he noted that this is beyond the typical count this early in the process. Nunley said the count for this year is about 300.
With Asst. Director Sharon Bone absent, the entire board of superintendents and Treasurer Cindy Burnham joined Nunley for the meeting.
The next regular meeting of the Area 30 Board is set for Tuesday March 14 at 9 a.m. in the Old National Trail boardroom.