EGCC opens nursing program to public

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Building on the success of their first State Tested Nursing Assistant class, Mercy Health Youngstown and Eastern Gateway Community College are ready to open the program up to the general public.

The STNA program is a partnership between Mercy Health and Eastern Gateway Community College: Mercy Health agreed to provide the instructional space, while Eastern Gateway administers the 11-week program.

The first class of students was made up of Mercy Health employees, but future classes will be open to the public.

“We’re seeing tremendous demand for STNAs in Northeastern Ohio,” said Mercy Health’s Dr. Patricia McAllen. “There’s a steady supply of job openings but increasingly, employers are looking to hire nursing assistants who are state certified. This program will help fill the need in our regional job market while enabling our STNAs to land good, entry-level positions in a field with career potential.”

The 77-hour program, which also requires students to complete a supervised two-day practical learning experience in an area nursing home, prepares students to take and pass the nursing assistant certification exam.

“It’s a wonderful career ladder,” said Dr. Robin Flohr, dean of Health & Public Services at Eastern Gateway. “Students can go from STNA to licensed practical nurse to registered nurse, which is exactly what the state had in mind when it encouraged our partnership with Mercy Health. The state wants to establish pathways for people so once they start, they can advance within the health care system.”

The STNA class instructor, Shannon Murphy, is a nurse educator at Mercy Health. She previously taught LPNs and also in an ADN program.

“My students this semester are very excited, very engaged, and they’re doing very well,” Murphy said. “It’s exciting to see their enthusiasm and how well they work together.”

The new class will meet Mondays and Wednesdays for 11 weeks beginning Jan. 20.

“It’s exciting to be on the ground floor of a program like this,” Murphy said. “The STNA program will fill a need in our local job market and at the same time help individuals in our community find work in a field that offers them the satisfaction of helping others and an opportunity to grow professionally if they choose to continue their education.”

Flohr said they can accept up to 10 students. For information or to register for the class, contact James Brown, academic adviser at the Valley Center, at 330-480-0726, Ext. 3113, or email at jbrown@egcc.edu.