FOR
MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
DEBBIE KUCHMAS AT 203-332-5150
HCC TO OFFER CNA, PCT PROGRAMS - NEW
LAB BEING BUILT FOR PROGRAM
Scholarships Available
BRIDGEPORT –Starting
in September, Housatonic
Community College will offer two new non-credit programs:
Certified Nurse Assistant and Patient Care Technician.
The
CNA program, which consists of 36 hours of classroom instruction and72 hours
of laboratory work and hands-on training, will prepare students to take the
State of Connecticut’s CNA certification exam. Only eight people will
be accepted into the program, which will feature free tuition for the Fall
of 2009.
The
PCT Program, which adds another layer of skills to those learned in a CNA program,
prepares students to perform patient care activities that include such things
as lab tests, electrocardiograms, simple dressing changes, phlebotomy, and
physical and occupational therapy.
“Offering
these programs reflects HCC’s commitment to preparing students for careers
that are in demand,” said Deborah S. Kuchmas, director of workforce and
non-credit programs. “Nursing careers are projected to grow 17 percent
over the next eight years,
The training will provide a career ladder pathway that will enable
unemployed individuals and underemployed health care workers to develop
the skills necessary to seek higher level positions in healthcare facilities,
Kuchmas said.
The creation of the PCT program comes just in time to meet a growing
demand for these medical professionals, Kuchmas said,
“More and more health care facilities are looking for skilled nurses
trained as a PCT,” she said, “Hospitals are beginning to change
their patient care models to offer quality nursing skills and enhance customer
service.”
A new CNA/PCT Lab is being built at HCC to accommodate the new programs,
Kuchmas said. The lab will enable students to practice the skills learned
in class.
Creation of the programs and the lab is being funded through a federal
grant to Health Careers without Borders, a collaborative effort Westchester
Community College, Norwalk Community College, and HCC.
Eight students will be selected for each program, based on employment
and underemployment status, placement test results, and an interview.
The PCT students must be currently state registered as a CNA.
For more information, or to apply to the program, contact Continuing
Education at 203-332-5057.
Anson C. Smith, Public Relations Coordinator
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Tel: 203-332-5229, Fax: 203-332-5247
E-mail: asmith@hcc.commnet.edu