White Pass High School Launches NA-C
Nursing Assistant Program
Our NA-C Education Program prepares students with a foundation and pathway to become Certified Nursing Assistants. Upon completion of this program, students receive a Certificate of Completion, indicating their readiness to sit for the Washington State Nursing Assistant Certification (CNA) exam.
Upon successful completion of the CNA certification process, each certified student may pursue employment as a Certified Nursing Assistant. A certified CNA is qualified to work in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living, group homes, and other home care agencies. This certification can also be used as a stepping stone into nursing or other healthcare professions.
Our NA-C program has three RN instructors. Laura Coppock is the program director, and both Linda Cooper and Jennifer Johnson are instructors. Instruction takes place at Arbor Health Hospital in Morton.
NA-C classes are embedded in a student’s daily course schedule from 1pm – 3pm, with transportation provided by White Pass School. The first three White Pass students entering the program this winter are: Taylor Barnes, Kyra Bowen, and Makayla Karpoak.
This White Pass NA-C Education Program is unique in that it was conceived through months of collaboration between the White Pass GEAR UP Program and Arbor Health Hospital, with support from several entities:
Arbor Health Hospital has provided the instructors, classroom, and lab for the program.
White Pass GEAR UP has provided curriculum, testing, and licensing fees for students.
Hampton Mill has provided each student with a set of scrubs.
Packwood Fire Department has provided stethoscopes, cuffs, and pulse meters for the program.
Maureen Foley, White Pass School GEAR UP Director, and Shannon Kelly, Arbor Health Chief Human Resource Officer, collaborated to design this program. Developing career pathways for high school students into health-related careers is a key priority in Arbor Health’s strategic plan. The White Pass School GEAR UP program aims to set students up for success in college and career planning.
This NA-C collaborative program has received approval to proceed from both the Arbor Health CEO with Board agreement and the White Pass School Superintendent with Board agreement.
White Pass offers this course as one of the students’ options. White Pass High School is the only local high school offering a Certified Nursing Certification Program in the area surrounding Arbor Health.