Warren County Career Center students are getting a jump start in the workforce.

According to Dan Passmore, the Cooperative Education Program Director, students from the Health and Medical Assisting class at the career center had an opportunity to work in their field and earn certification starting last year. Second and third year medical students were able to work as hospitality aides at Warren Manor starting last fall, and also collect CNA certifications following the CNA class that Warren Manor offers adults.

“It was scary,” said Alisa Parsons and Erin Saporito, both senior medical students at WCCC this year. The class, they said, was a four-week curriculum that they took over the summer with adults from the community who were seeking the same certification. “It was intimidating,” said Parsons, “but definitely worth it.”

According to WCCC Principal Jim Evers, the partnership between Warren Manor and the career center was a great one to create. The school had been trying to some time to find an agency that could meet the demands of curriculum, student work hours, and scheduling for high school kids while at the same time offering them paid work and the certification.

“Basically,” said Passmore, “they’re getting paid to get their CNA.”

Students worked 15 to 20 hours per week starting last fall as hospitality aides. That experience gave them the opportunity to get to know the facility, the patients, and the demands of the job before taking on the CNA certification this past summer. And both Parsons and Saporito said that they intended to stay at Warren Manor at least until graduation, when both said they want to pursue becoming a Registered Nurse.

According to Marsha Smith, Director of Nursing at Warren Manor, the cohort benefited the nursing home as much as the Manor benefited the students. “They helped with activities and games, just taking people outside. It was nice for the residents, and for staff to have the extra help,” said Smith of the students’ work as hospitality aides.

It will also help to have registered CNAs on staff, Smith said, adding that the Manor is excited to offer the opportunity to upcoming cohorts to medical students from the WCCC.

“High school students undertaking the responsibility of a CNA program face significant challenges, many of which center upon maturity and professional obligations,” said Health and Medical Assisting teacher Diane Swartz. “(Erin and Alisa) have excelled beyond the standard curriculum and have represented our program exceptionally well. They have demonstrated maturity in their ability to assist in personal care issues with patients while also understanding the legal and ethical ramifications of their actions. They have become not just comfortable but proficient in their bedside care abilities and have demonstrated the ability to meet the unique care needs of various populations.”