A HEAD START ON HEALING
In her final semester at Butte High, Ava Evankovich spent two days working 12-hour shifts on the medical–surgical unit of St. James Hospital, completing the clinical requirements for a certified nurse assistant (CNA) license. Evankovich says the experience solidified her desire to enter the field of healthcare after graduation, and earn a bachelor of science in Nursing from Montana Technological University.
“It made me want to provide the best care I could,” Evankovich said. “It made me want to be the person there to help.”
Evankovich’s clinical experience was the capstone piece of the Foundations of Health Care Certificate program at Highlands College. The 15-credit program launched in fall 2022 with funding from Accelerate Montana, Futures at
Work, and Butte Silver Bow ARPA. It allows high school students to take dual enrollment classes and earn their CNA license prior to high school graduation, and takes one year to complete.
“The mission of the Foundations of Health Care Certificate is early career exposure, valuable education, and work experience, in addition to developing skilled, compassionate, and professional certified nurse assistants who are dedicated to improving patient care and positively impacting the healthcare system and community,” said Public Education Coordinator Kinsley Rafish- Bennett. “The program was developed in response to a growing demand for certified nurse assistants in the community and provides improved access to care, economic benefits, and support for healthcare systems. Certified nurse assistants support the broader healthcare system by working in various settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and home healthcare. The demand for certified nurse assistants is expected to remain high, and provides career stability for those entering the field.”
Thirty-eight high school students have completed the program so far, with 10 registered for fall 2024 at Montana Tech’s campus. The program will also expand to Billings this fall and spring, through a partnership with Montana State University–Billings. Ten students will start in Billings in fall 2024, and that number will expand to 20 in spring 2024.
Students become First Aid/CPR certified and complete clinical rotations at facilities around the State. Classes students earn credit for are College Writing I, Mathematics (Contemporary Math, College Algebra, or Math for Health Care), Intro to Health Careers, and the Certified Nursing Assistant Course.
“Some of the classes do count toward the nursing prerequisites,” Evankovich said. “I believe this is a very good option for anyone with an interest in healthcare to get their foot in the door. I found it to be very beneficial. It definitely made me want to become a nurse even more. I learned what the nurses deal with and how they feel about their job. The experience was great.”
Students who would like to take part in the program can contact Kinsley Rafish-
Bennett at krafish@mtech.edu.