WOONSOCKET EDUCATION CENTER CELEBRATES NEW NURSING EDUCATION LAB
Two cohorts of Certified Nursing Assistants add 33 CNAs to the workforce
Federal, state and local officials gathered with philanthropists and private businesses at Woonsocket Education Center to celebrate the opening a new nursing education lab, built to accommodate the growth of the center’s workforce capacity for educating healthcare professionals.
“This expansion represents a significant step forward in Woonsocket Education Center’s healthcare training portfolio, directly aligning with regional workforce shortages and employer demand in the healthcare sector,” said Jill Olson-Crowley, director, Woonsocket Education Center. “It feels so satisfying to know that many people are taking part in excellent workforce training, becoming more skilled in their chosen careers, and that they will ultimately enjoy higher job satisfaction and higher wages.”
Shannon Gilkey, Ed.D., Rhode Island’s Commissioner of Postsecondary Education, whose office manages the center, spoke of the economic value of the center noting that “Woonsocket Education Center is a long-term investment in northern Rhode Island that ripples throughout the entire state. We are training Rhode Islanders for good jobs that employers need to fill today, while helping businesses build the skilled workforce they need to grow and stay here. That means better career opportunities for Rhode Islanders and a stronger economy for the state.”
In its five-year existence, Woonsocket Education Center has touched the lives of 15,072 people as they strengthened their education and training experiences.
The new 840-square-foot nursing lab is outfitted with simulated patient manikins, hospital-style beds, bedside tables, bed linens, wheelchairs, 3-panel privacy dividers, personal protective equipment, sinks and work tables, commodes, medical instruments (stethoscope, blood pressure cuff), sharps containers, patient gowns and stockings, and additional supplies needed for skills training.
CCRI’s Division of Workforce Partnerships CNA program is approved by the Rhode Island Department of Health and combines classroom instruction, hands-on lab experience, and clinical training for 13 weeks.
The Champlin Foundation and Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training supported the expansion financially with capital funding grants and programmatic funding, respectively, totaling $200,377.00
In her remarks, Olson-Crowley said, “Approximately 55 percent of Rhode Islanders hold a postsecondary degree, certification or credential, and more need postsecondary education to acquire the credentials essential for success in high-demand, high-wage jobs that will make the state an economic powerhouse. Woonsocket Education Center is located among the highest concentration of adults eligible for postsecondary credentials plus a sizable number of employers seeking qualified workers, which makes our expansion of course offerings logical. The new teaching lab facilitates and improves student comprehension and skills among the tools and settings they will experience in the real world.”
