EXPERIENCED CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT PROGRAM A Collaborative Effort between the Health Care Sector Grant Fund (Region 2 of the State of Maine) and the Education Department at Mount Desert Island Hospital Mount Desert Island Hospital Critical Access to Quality Care

What is it ??? A new and innovative educational opportunity for incumbent CNAs A career ladder opportunity where none currently exists A chance to recognize in a formal educational arena the value of the CNA role The ability to improve patient care and safety through an accredited program and that’s not all…….

The Concept To develop a one year educational program for incumbent CNAs utilizing a modular curriculum format To offer formal training for tasks CNAs are already doing with little or no formal education To utilize existing resources within a partnership of similar health care facilities To better educate our CNAs to provide more comprehensive and safer patient care within their scope of practice and under the direction of a Registered Nurse

What we are NOT doing….. This program is in no way intended to replace tasks or care currently provided by a Registered Nurse And – the training and education remains within the scope of practice for a Certified Nursing Assistant

The Project The project was proposed in November of 2010 to the Special Project Advisory Group to the Maine Health Care Sector Grant Fund (The principal source of funding for the proposed project) Research into available existing programs and prospective partnerships was completed into January of 2011 and the following has been accomplished……

A Partnership was formed and the partners are….. Mount Desert Island Hospital

Each facility has signed a Memorandum Of Agreement/Project Design The program was designed around a modular curriculum. The CNAs would complete a 12 month program 12 months = 12 modules Each module represents one eight hour day of education per month.

Project Design Con’t Some of the modules are utilizing existing programs (such as the sitter class at Acadia) 10 of the modules are being developed by the partnering facilities 2 of the modules are seminar programs (outsourced to existing programs or conferences that are already academically recognized)

Curriculum and Project Control The project will be overseen by Jeff Boal, the Director of Education at Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor, Maine (207) ext 1444

Conclusions The conclusion is that we are only just beginning. In order to meet the grant requirements we need to complete the modular development and be able to enroll the anticipated first class of 12 students (2 per facility) by November of 2011 – and we’re almost there….

A little more background into the why …… A need for a more collaborative approach among heath care providers is clearly an inclusive and non-role specific goal in 21 st century healthcare where patients are typically encountering up to 6 different health care professionals in a single day of hospitalization long term care living. Our incumbent CNAs are spending 45 minutes out of an hour in the direct care of these patients. It is our responsibility as health care institutions to provide for our patients well trained and competent health care workers. And in the words of President Barack Obama during the State of the Union address “seek out new ways to educate our workforce to be better and make education more accessible to those who want it” This program has ALREADY been adopted by other institutions such as St Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, ME with the help of the MDI Education Department. It’s new, it’s innovative, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun !!!!!!

Fast Facts for the CNA Program 1) The program is 12 months long. 2) There are 12 students from six different hospitals participating. 3) It’s funded through the Maine Health Care Sector Grant Fund – Region 2 Special Projects Advisory Group. 4) It’s the first of it’s kind to give CNAs recognition and training for their skill set. 5) It will be taught at all the partnering facilities – each class is in a different place to give our students a different perspective. 6) The curriculum is new and developed by the hospitals to give a more focused education on the tasks our CNAs actually do. 7) Eastern Maine Community College is the accrediting institution – the students will receive a Certificate on successful completion of the program. 8) The students will also receive a pay raise on successful completion of the program !! 9) This is the class of One…. It’s never been done before and we are making history in the realm of education for CNAs across the country. 10) Graduation is set for December of 2012