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<br />Page 16 - Ramsey Resident, January 1985
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<br />I:NSTITU:T:E
<br />Anoka A VTI Accepting
<br />Nursing Applications
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<br />Representatives of Anoka
<br />Vocational Technical Insti-
<br />tute's faculty and administra-
<br />tion recently attended a work-
<br />shop in Alexandria, MN, titl-
<br />ed, "The Future of Practical
<br />Nursing." The panel of doc-
<br />tors, hospital representatives,
<br />and nursing nome administra-
<br />_ tors agreed that the future
<br />trends show a definite place
<br />. for the practical nurse in the
<br />health care setting. Although
<br />the role may change, the prac-
<br />tical nurse is valued for his/
<br />her technical skills and ability
<br />to adjust' to the job quickly.
<br />The practical nurse is able to
<br />provide health care with mini-
<br />mal inservice when starting a
<br />new job. The panel agreed
<br />these are some of the reasons
<br />that will continue to keep the
<br />practical nurse in demand.
<br />Another issue addressed
<br />by the panel was the propos-
<br />ed changes by the State Nurs-
<br />ing Association (MNA). The
<br />panel representative from the
<br />State Board of Nursing com-
<br />mented, "In orde-r for any ma-
<br />jor change in nursing to take
<br />place, a law must be passed
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<br />Can you imagine a 27-day
<br />program that prepares you for
<br />immediate employment?
<br />Have you ~ver thought about
<br />a nursing career, but weren't
<br />quite sure how to start? Have
<br />you been out of school for
<br />awhile and want to train for a
<br />'career without spending lots
<br />of time and money? If you
<br />have read the want ads
<br />recently, you may have notic-
<br />ed several columns advertis-
<br />ing nursing assistant job
<br />openings in a variety of health
<br />care agencies.
<br />The 27-day Nursing Assis-
<br />. tant Program at Anoka A VTI
<br />prepares students for ski lis
<br />needed to work .in these posi- .
<br />tions. Three sessions are
<br />scheduled to begin this
<br />winter and spring: January 9,
<br />1985; February 21, 1985; and
<br />April 11, 1985. The course in-
<br />cludes skills learned in the
<br />classroom, as well as clinical
<br />experience in both a hospital
<br />.and nursing home setting.
<br />People of all ages and back-
<br />grounds come to Anoka AVTI
<br />for the Nursing Assistant Pro-
<br />gram. High school students
<br />can' enroll during a special
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<br />by the State Legislature and
<br />. to date no such law has been
<br />'proposed."
<br />A recent article in U.S.
<br />News & World Report also
<br />confirms the positive job out-
<br />look. In the August 13, 1984
<br />issue, the magazine states,
<br />"Licensed practical nurses
<br />can expect. better-than-aver-
<br />age jOb prospects. ~n esti-
<br />mated 814,000 LPN's will be
<br />employed in 1995 - that's a 37
<br />percent increase over 1982
<br />statistics. Why? As the popu-
<br />lation' ages, health care ex-
<br />penditures are expected to hit
<br />1 trillion dollars annually, so
<br />employment in most. health-
<br />related fields will rise faster
<br />than ever."
<br />Anoka Vocational Techni-
<br />cal Institute practical nursing
<br />graduates are' finding
<br />changes in the job market and
<br />in the del ivery of health care.
<br />Many more jobs are now'
<br />available in home health care,
<br />medical clinics, day surgery,
<br />and emergency centers. The
<br />job market continues to be
<br />strong in geriatric care (nurs-
<br />ing homes). Although acute
<br />
<br />hospital nursing positions ap-
<br />pear to be decreasing, we
<br />have had calls from several
<br />Twin City hospitals this fall
<br />. requesting practical nursing
<br />applicants for new positions.
<br />The current starting salary for
<br />Licensed Practical Nurses
<br />under the Twin City hospitals
<br />newly negotiated contract. is
<br />$7.23 per hour plus benefits.
<br />Anoka AVTI's practical nur-
<br />sing program is 47 weeks in
<br />length. Several sessions of
<br />practical nursing are, begun
<br />each year. A new class of
<br />students starts approximately
<br />every six weeks. Classes are
<br />small which provides for a
<br />greal deal of personalized in-
<br />struction from instructors and
<br />support from classmates.
<br />Each student receives on-the-
<br />job training at four clinic<;11
<br />sites during the program: Mer-
<br />cy Hospital in Coon Rapids,
<br />Unity Hospital in Fridley, Nor-
<br />thridge Care Center in New
<br />Hope, and Anoka State
<br />Hospital in Anoka:
<br />A part time (two year) even-
<br />ing program is also available
<br />for those unable to attend a.
<br />
<br />. Parenting Courses A ~ailable
<br />
<br />In order to make parents
<br />aware of the many parenting
<br />courses available to. them,
<br />new parents leaving area hos-
<br />pitals with their babies are
<br />given certificates good for a 10
<br />percent discount on any child
<br />development or parentifamily
<br />
<br />summer session. People who
<br />haven't been in school for
<br />. many years also find this pro-
<br />gram an excellent way to
<br />learn about jobs in the health
<br />field and gain job-ready s'kills
<br />in a short amount of time.
<br />Other students find the
<br />,Nursing Assistant Program to .
<br />be a helpful introduction and
<br />preparation for practical nurs-
<br />ing or a registered nursing
<br />program.' In nursing student
<br />John Erlandson's case, he
<br />had gone to college for two
<br />years and was looking for a
<br />relatively short-term program
<br />which would teach skills, as
<br />well as give him "on-the-job"
<br />experience at both a nursing
<br />home and hospital setting.
<br />John's goal was to eventually
<br />enter a registered nursing pro-
<br />gram. Upon completion of the
<br />Nursing Assistant Program,
<br />John was employed within
<br />three weeks. When asked
<br />about the Nursing Assistant
<br />Program, John said, "I was
<br />well prepared for working as a
<br />nursing assistant after com-
<br />pleting Anoka AVTI's program
<br />with its clinical experience
<br />and was ready to continue my
<br />
<br />nursing training."
<br />'Many students use the
<br />Nursing Assistant Program as
<br />a starting point for a pro-
<br />fessional nursing career. Stu-
<br />dents entering the Practical
<br />Nursing Program at Anoka
<br />. AVTI are given four weeks of
<br />credit towards the 47-week
<br />program. Those unsure if nur-
<br />sing is the right career can
<br />test their interests, as well as
<br />build their confidence, by
<br />starting their training with the
<br />Nursing Assistant Program.
<br />The goal of .most students,
<br />however, is immediate
<br />employment. The job market
<br />has many opportunities for
<br />the Nursing Assistant gradu-
<br />ate. One expanding field is
<br />home health care. Jobs are
<br />also available in medical
<br />clinics and nursing homes.
<br />Twenty-seven days of training
<br />proves to be a good return on
<br />a minimal investment of both
<br />time and cost.
<br />If you are interested in fur-
<br />ther information on the Nurs-
<br />ing Assistant Program', con-
<br />tact Karen Halvorson, Coun-
<br />selor, at Anoka Area Voca-
<br />tional Technical Institute at
<br />427-1880, Extension 211.
<br />
<br />day program. It is scheduled
<br />to start once a year each July.
<br />Students meet from
<br />5:00-10:00 p.m., three nights a
<br />week - Tuesday, Wednesday,
<br />and Thursday.
<br />The Anoka A VTI Practical
<br />Nursing Program is nationally
<br />accredited an'd also approved
<br />by the Minnesota Board of
<br />Nursing. One year's credit will
<br />transfer to Anoka-Ramsey or
<br />Lakewood-Inver Hills Com-
<br />munity Colleges' Registered
<br />Nursing Programs.
<br />The Anoka AVTI Practical
<br />Nursing Program is currently
<br />accepting applications for
<br />classes beginning January 30,
<br />March 13, April 24, and June 5,
<br />1985, Those applicants with
<br />previous nursing assistant
<br />backgrounds may transfer ac-
<br />ceptable courses or take-a
<br />written' and performance. ex-
<br />am to be exempt from the first
<br />four weeks of the Practical
<br />Nursing Program.
<br />If interested, contact Karen
<br />Halvorson in the Counseling
<br />Office at Anoka AVTI, 427-
<br />1880, ext. 211.
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<br />
<br />Students
<br />Pass Test
<br />
<br />AII.12 Anoka AVTI students
<br />who took the national accred-
<br />itation examination for medi-
<br />cal record technician not only
<br />passed the test but have se-
<br />cured jobs as medical record'
<br />technicians in the Twin Cities
<br />area.
<br />The Medical Record Techni-
<br />cian Program is a cooperative
<br />effort with Anoka-Ramsey and
<br />North Hennepin Community
<br />.colleges. Students in the two-
<br />year program attend classes at
<br />the AVTI in the morning and at
<br />the colleges in the afternoon.
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<br />class offered through Anoka
<br />AVTI Vocational Extension Di-
<br />vision or Anoka-Hennepin Dis-
<br />trict 11 Community Education.
<br />For more information con-
<br />tact AnokaAVTI, 427-1880, ext.
<br />. 204, or Anoka-Hennepin Dis-
<br />trict 11 Community Education,
<br />755-8220: ext. 310.
<br />
<br />Nu'rsing Assistant Program
<br />at Anoka A VTI Offers Many
<br />Opportunities
<br />
<br />A VTI Gift
<br />Certificates
<br />
<br />Anoka AVTI is now offering
<br />"Gift of Knowledge" gift cer-
<br />tificates that can be applied
<br />toward tuition for any day or
<br />evening course. - '
<br />The gift certificates can be
<br />purchased through the Adult
<br />Extension Office.
<br />Gift certificates are not re~
<br />fundable but if the amount of
<br />the certificate exceeds tuition
<br />the remainder can be used t~
<br />purchase books or supplies in
<br />the A VTI bookstore.
<br />For information contact the
<br />Adult Extension Office, 427-
<br />1880.
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<br />
<br />Barb Christenson'
<br />nal11edOutstanding
<br />A VTI Graduate
<br />
<br />Barbara Christenson, a
<br />graduate of the Occupational
<br />Therapy Assistant (OT A) pro-
<br />gram at Anoka AVTI, Ramsey,
<br />was named an Outstanding
<br />AVTI Graduate recentlyat the
<br />annual conference of the Min-
<br />nesota Association of Area
<br />Vocational-Technical In-
<br />stitutes.
<br />"Barbara' was anexcep-
<br />tional student," said Julie
<br />Thomas, A VTI instructor.
<br />"She maintained a 4.0 grade
<br />poi nt average here at the A VTI
<br />and a 3.75 grade point average
<br />at Anoka-Ramsey Community
<br />College while working a part
<br />time job as well."
<br />The AVTI's two-year OTA
<br />program is a cooperative ef-
<br />fort with Anoka-Ramsey Com-
<br />munity College. Students
<br />take their general education
<br />courses at Anoka-Ramsey
<br />and their occupational
<br />therapy courses at the AVTI.
<br />They receive an Associate
<br />of Applied Science degree
<br />upon graduation.
<br />"The program has a very
<br />
<br />strong field work
<br />component," said Thomas.
<br />"Students complete a variety
<br />of on-the-job experiences
<br />before graduation."
<br />Barbara completed a psy-
<br />cho-social - on-the-job ex-
<br />perience at Ebenezer Hall, a
<br />long term care facility for
<br />adults. She also gained ex-
<br />perience in physical ther'apy
<br />with multiply handicapped
<br />children at St. David's
<br />Preschool, and with adults at
<br />both the Veteran's Ad-
<br />ministration Hospital in Min-
<br />neapolis and at Maplewood
<br />Care Center.
<br />"Barbara demonstrated ex-
<br />. ceptional leadership skills,"
<br />said Thomas. She was the
<br />coordinator of the AVTI's stu-
<br />dent occupational therapy
<br />professional organization.
<br />"She was also active in the
<br />N at ion a I 0 c cu pat ion a I
<br />Therapy Association and re-
<br />presented her classmates on
<br />education issues at the Na-
<br />tional Occupational Therapy
<br />Conference last summer."
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