A high-tech mobile classroom will roll into downtown Owensboro this week as HealthForce Kentucky (HFK) and Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) host a two-day open house to spotlight a condensed summer Nurse Aide (CNA) program and offer a closer look at the future of healthcare training.
The open house runs June 5-6 at OCTC’s downtown campus (1501 Frederica Street) and invites healthcare professionals, community organizations, and prospective students to tour HFK’s mobile classroom — a specialized unit designed to deliver top-tier healthcare training on wheels. The event also highlights a new accelerated CNA course running July 7-25, offering 30 hours of classroom instruction and 16 hours of clinical work.
“HealthForce Kentucky is a unique collaboration of colleges, universities, and school districts throughout Western Kentucky to address growing needs for skilled healthcare professionals by providing wider access to the highest levels of instruction and technology,” said Bruce Williams, President/CEO of HealthForce Kentucky.
The fast-track CNA class is part of OCTC’s ongoing effort to address the region’s healthcare workforce shortage. While OCTC already offers traditional eight-week CNA sessions through its Workforce Solutions team, this three-week course is designed to provide a quicker path to certification for residents in Daviess, Ohio, McLean, and Hancock counties.
“This project is a great way to support HealthForce Kentucky’s efforts in the region, while providing another opportunity for residents … to attain the CNA certification and help further their career,” said LaTasha Shemwell, program coordinator at OCTC.
In conjunction with the open house, the Kentucky Career Center will host a Healthcare Career Fair on June 5 from 1-4 p.m. in the Fiorella Conference Room at the same location. The event will connect employers with job seekers interested in the growing healthcare field. Space is limited for vendors; interested companies should contact Melissa Roberts at [email protected].
For more information about the CNA course or open house, contact Shemwell at 270-686-4455 or [email protected].
