Kirkwood CNAs boast 100% pass rate

Patient Care Academy students interact with a panel of local health care professionals as part of their college credit in high school experience. (Photo submitted)

Patient Care Academy students interact with Washington County Ambulance staff to learn more about the field of emergency health care and services provided to our region. (Photo submitted)

WASHINGTON — Thursday, May 5 was a record-breaking day for Washington County high school students enrolled in Kirkwood’s Patient Care Academy. 100% of students at both the Washington County Regional Center and Mid-Prairie High School academy sites passed the Written and Skills State Nursing Aide State Competency exams. This is the first time since Washington Regional opened in 2014 for 100% of students to pass this rigorous exam.

“It is a tremendous benefit for the communities in Washington County to have a 100% pass rate for the high school academy students on their State CNA exams,” Cherrie Weih, Coordinator of Patient Care Academy at Kirkwood Community College said. “Their dedication to excellence has paid off and will transfer into another win as many of the students plan to pursue employment at one of the local long term care facilities while attending school to earn a health-related degree.”

Tammy Hittner, patient care instructor at Washington Regional, said she was proud of her students’ success.

“For the first time in my twelve years of teaching, every single one of my students passed their state exam,” she said. “I can tell you the bus was full of excited students on our way back to Washington from state testing in Coralville.”

Health care providers in Iowa are facing an ongoing nursing staff shortage that has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Iowa, more than 58 percent of health care facilities reported a shortage of qualified applicants for nursing positions according to a 2020 workforce demand survey by Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa Board of Nursing.

Kirkwood’s Patient Care Academy is a yearlong experience for high school students where they earn 12.5 free college credits and the opportunity to obtain CPR/First Aid certification as well as Nurse Aide (CNA) certifications. Students can use the skills learned in the Patient Care Academy to multiple health care related fields.