Search for CNAs still a lingering condition

The search for enough Certified Nursing Assistants to well-equip nursing homes, hospitals and other medical facilities is still an ongoing battle, even in the Platte Valley.

Merlynn Hoopes, RN, program director and instructor of the CNA class, said she has always seen a need for more CNAs in the nearly 50 years she has spent in nursing. Hoopes began her work in nursing in 1966, and said she has loved it ever since.

"I love every aspect of nursing, and that's what it takes to make it," she said. "I have been doing this a long time."

Wanting to help others achieve the same happiness, Hoopes said she then began instructing CNA training classes in the 1980s. The ongoing course she teaches is free of charge, and is held Monday through Friday for three-week periods.

"Over the years we see the same number of people interested in helping in this kind of work, and there has always been a shortage," she said. "It's hard work and not glamorous, and though the pay is okay, it's not as high paying as other things. It takes a special kind of person who's interested and dedicated in helping somebody."

Hoopes stressed the grueling nature of the work, both in the physical and emotional aspect, as a key factor in why there is a consistent shortage.

"I don't think it's worse now, I just think it's a continuing problem," she said. "It's physically hard work, emotionally difficult, and when you look at the pay, that's difficult for some people. It's a hard job that can wear people out. Some people get burned out, but some are able to do it for a long time because they have such a passion for it."

Hoopes said another issue is that some people may not even consider the profession, or realize they have a knack for it.

"We need to bring the attention to someone who hasn't thought to do it," she said. "In the last class I taught we had a student who hadn't considered health care at all, but she saw the advertisements and said it just spoke to her. She was such a passionate student too. We want to remind people that this can be a positive thing in their life."

Looking at just Carbon County specifically, Hoopes said the area's weather, low population and low number of facilities may also be reasons for a shortage locally. She mentioned that people from elsewhere in the county may instead travel to Rawlins, where they also have CNA classes and more medical facilities.

"Geographically, we don't have a large number of people to draw from, and people coming from other county towns may get weathered out when the weather is bad," she said. "Especially if they have small children, they don't want to be stuck here if the roads are closed. We also only have Deseret Health and a little bit of home health, so we don't have that many facilities here. People can also take CNA classes in Rawlins, and they have more facilities up there where they can work."

Even with the ever-present shortage, Hoopes said she does have people continually enroll in her three-week-long CNA training courses, which take place at the Platte Valley Community Center. She said her classes have ranged from one to 10 students, and that they come from all over Carbon County to learn the skills of the job.

Hoopes said she has taught both women and men, ranging from 18-year-olds right out of high school to established adults in their 50s.

"I haven't taught that many men, since it doesn't seem to attract men as much," she said. "Women are usually more nurturing."

Hoopes added that her female students have included recent high school graduates, single moms, married women with young children and married women with children who are grown up or off at college.

"The smallest class I've taught is one, but I prefer to not teach over 10," she said. "I like to limit it to 10, so I can make sure everyone can get individual attention. For me it wouldn't work with more students."

Hoopes said her classes cover a great deal of information in their given three-week segments. She said the first two weeks of the course are mostly from the book "Nursing Assisting: A Foundation in Caregiving", quizzes and a final exam. The last week includes clinical experience.

The third and final week includes 40 hour shifts, done in a variety of day or evening shifts, which are supervised by Hoopes.

"It's very intense, and we know these people want to get going and have jobs," Hoopes said. "Other classes throughout the state are taught at a slower pace, but here we do a more concentrated class. Then, people get out and get a paying job quickly. The students also have to be CPR certified before they do clinicals, and during clinicals they learn how to handle walking, bathing, feeding and things like that."

Hoopes also said she was grateful for the much needed space the PVCC provides.

"We have been blessed to be able to use the community center, and they have been wonderful with providing us classrooms," she said. "Before then, we taught in all kinds of places, and for a time in the 80s I even taught at my house. It's much more productive to have a better classroom situation."

From student feedback, Hoopes said she has found that many enjoy being CNAs, even with lower pay compared to other related positions. She said the job is for those who truly want to help people regardless of their conditions.

"Many people think of being a CNA as an awesome career choice, even though they could make more money going on into medicine," Hoopes said. "We really need people at that level of care, who have passion and compassion for their fellow man."

Hoopes said the flexible schedules and availability of insurance are also pluses for those who choose the field.

"They can have insurance and we have a variety of different shifts, since we work 24/7. The students say that it works so well with family, plus you can have healthcare. If they need to be home during the day or evenings, it works out for them."

Hoopes also pointed out that people are not confined to be CNAs forever, and can always move up to higher positions in the same related area. She said the only downside is that when a people leave from the CNA pool, it leaves even more positions to be filled.

"Men and women will go on to other things because this is a gateway job, and many of the girls, especially, have gone on to be nurses, LPNs and RNs," Hoopes said. "Over the years, several girls I have taught went on to be registered nurses, and that's been a great benefit for us, other nursing homes and society as a whole. They may go on to school and do something else, or we've had them here working at our nursing home. They're also not just doing nursing homes, because they are licensed and can work in hospitals, home health and other venues or directions."

Hoopes said she hopes the profession will attract more people once they see the benefits and outweigh the positives over the negatives.

"My hope and prayer is that we continue to attract people with good morals and ethics, and who come in with a passion to help people and compassion for the people they work for," she said. "We need these caring people to continue on in health care. We've taken doctors and nurses so far away from patients. We need really good people doing this, and to continue to attract people to these kinds of job so we'll all be taken care of well."

While considering how all people age and eventually die, Hoopes said it is key to remember the importance of good CNAs for the future.

"We will all at one point need them, or our mom, grandma or someone else we know might need them," she said. "We'll need someone caring, compassionate, smart and all those wonderful things, and we want to keep attracting people like that. It's also rewarding because taking care of people is so delightful, and you always get back more than you give."

Hoopes added that the next CNA training class will be in about three months, and those interested should contact Brenda Eaton at 307-326-8212.

 

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