Brooklyn Park Program Helps Fill Demand for Nursing Assistants
In a small office space in Brooklyn Park, a group of students dressed in aqua-colored scrubs celebrated a big accomplishment Friday morning. The group took a step toward filling an important need in the health care industry.
“It’s a big relief because I know I can go just about anywhere,” said Arnesha Hagler of Minneapolis. “And then, I like helping people, so I’m kind of excited.”
Hagler is one of 14 people who completed a four-week program to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA), courtesy of the Brooklyn Park-based North Metro Health Institute.
“This is really needed in the community,” said Keafon Lainjo, co-founder of the organization, Wanlainjo. “The population of Brooklyn Park is getting older and older, and we need more CNAs in Brooklyn Park. We need more institutions like this, doing this kind of work in Brooklyn Park.”
Wanlainjo helps people become more technologically literate. The newly-certified CNAs not only learned the basic skills of how to care for people, they also went through Wanlainjo’s digital literacy program.
Arnesha Hagler was one of 14 students to receive her CNA certification during a ceremony in Brooklyn Park on Friday.
“You have the benefit of coming to this school and becoming a CNA, and at the same time, having the benefit of knowing a little bit about basic computer skills,” Lainjo said. “You combine those two together. Whoever is going to hire you, they’re not going to regret your services.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 192,000 openings for nursing assistants every year.
“Everyone is hiring,” said Hagler, who will put her CNA skills to use in a group home.
The North Metro Health Institute is doing its part to help meet the demand.
“This class that just graduated, I’m looking at them as heroes of the next pandemic,” Lainjo said.
