Certified Nurse Aides Ranked Number 4 on Top 10 List of
Fastest-Growing Careers in Direct Patient Services

CONTACT: JANELLE HICKS, EXT. 1724

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/29/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Tri-County Technical College nurse aide instructor Shannon Rogers remembers paying for nursing school at Clemson University by working as a nursing assistant at a local hospital. Nurse aides were a critical component of the health care team back in the 1970's, and they are even more significant today as the need for direct patient care expands in hospitals and assisted living facilities.

Certified nurse aides are ranked number 4 on the top 10 list of the fastest-growing careers in direct patient services, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"If you want to work as a nurse aide, the jobs are out there waiting for you," Rogers recently told the group of Tri-County Continuing Education graduates.

"Dedicated instructors and staff, combined with a continuing emphasis on meeting the needs of our area health care employers, are all contributing factors to students' success," said Janelle Hicks, Health Care director for the College's Continuing Education Division.

"Our May graduates received a 100 percent pass rate on the state certification exam, which is quite an accomplishment," said Mrs. Rogers. Students who complete the program must pass an intensive two-hour written test and a manual skills test.

The 84-hour nurse aide certificate program prepares individuals to provide direct care to the geriatric population in retirements homes, long-term care and assisted living facilities. This certification also can be required for entry-level employment in the hospital as a nursing assistant. Upon completion of the training, graduates are prepared to take the certification exam required by the State of South Carolina to become a Certified Nurse Aide. Tri-County is an approved testing site for the written and skills competency examination of the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program.
Last year Tri-County's Nurse Aide Certificate program received the maximum two-year extension as an accredited training organization following a survey by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

"Each graduating class helps to alleviate the growing shortage of nurse aides in the area," said Mrs. Hicks. "The job placement rate is excellent for our graduates, and the certification often serves as a launching pad for those who later may want to pursue other allied health careers," she added.

No doubt, it's a rapidly growing profession as the need for direct patient services is steadily growing, Mrs. Rogers said. "Nursing homes are crowded, and people need help at home. The elderly population is expanding," she said.

In addition, one-half of all nurses in S.C. will reach retirement in the next 15 years. Baby Boomers are approaching retirement, also. Eighty percent of all health care is for those ages 60 and above. "These statistics make it even more critical that we have qualified nurse aides as we face this nursing crisis," said Mrs. Hicks.

"Nurse aides are important to all of us," said Mrs. Hicks.

And their job possibilities are unlimited, added Mrs. Rogers.

Some may continue working in the field for years. Others may expand their skills and competencies and may enter college to become L.P.N.'s and R.N.'s.

It's also a good introduction to the health care field, Mrs. Rogers added. "Nurse aide is a good basic course for someone who wants to look at the health care options for direct patient care services. After completing training, it's a career you can enter tomorrow," she said.

Students get a dose of direct hands-on care, and like Mrs. Rogers, they can work while they are in school.

Tri-County offers several day and evening classes each year through the Continuing Education Division, and the classes and clinical site are rotated among several participating facilities in Anderson, Seneca, and Easley for the convenience of the students. The 84-hour course costs $400. In addition to open enrollment, many students receive sponsorships by nursing homes or other federal or state agencies.

For more information or a schedule of the upcoming classes, contact the Health Care Continuing Education Department at 646-1700 or toll-free at 1-866-269-5677. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled should call TDD/VOICE 1-800-735-2905.
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