LNA Apprenticeship students pictured during pinning ceremony. (Photo Courtesy of Valley Regional Hospital)
Last summer, Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont, a member of Dartmouth Health, launched NH’s first LNA registered apprenticeship program for high school students in collaboration with River Valley Community College and Apprenticeship NH.
ApprenticeshipNH, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and through Training Administration grants, is a workforce training program of the Community College System of NH. It aims to promote Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in various industries statewide.
Applicants to the LNA apprenticeship program participated in a competitive selection process, and eight were selected and hired as Valley Regional Hospital employees. The apprenticeship included classroom work, clinical lab simulation at the community college, and clinical rotations at Valley Regional Hospital. The 8-week program culminated with a licensing exam with a 100% successful pass rate for all students.
Lyndsy McIntyre, chief nursing officer and vice president of operations at Valley Regional Hospital, says stabilizing and growing the hospital’s workforce is crucial to ensure ongoing access to high-quality patient care in the region. “Equally [we’re] introducing the next generation to fulfilling careers within their community,” she says.
According to the NH Health Care Workforce Coalition, by 2030, almost one-third of Granite Staters will be over the age of 65, and a large part of this population will require long-term services and supports either at home, at an institution or in a community-based setting.
Mary Ann Gaschnig, high school developer at ApprenticeshipNH, says partnering with Valley Regional Hospital, River Valley Community College, and local high schools will provide an essential healthcare career pathway in the region. “We look forward to our continued collaboration in providing workforce development opportunities in healthcare and other industry sectors,” she says. “This program gets their foot in the door and helps launch them into careers in healthcare.” For more information visit apprenticeshipnh.com.
