You could say that students in the Two Year Sequence of Health Careers program at Capital Region BOCES learn the art of nursing from head to toe.
During a recent lesson in Adam Mainville’s class, students practiced hand and feet care on mannequins, a skill not only in demand as the population ages, but also a skill tested on the various state boards students must pass to become certified in New York State. The lesson followed an earlier one this year on denture and oral care.
Students in the program say it is a great stepping-stone for future careers. They also credit it with helping them to live out their passion of helping others.
“I like helping others. I took the CNA program last year and next year I want to go to college to be an RN,” said Abigail Smith, a senior from Burnt-Hills Ballston Lake.
Available on both the Albany and Schoharie campuses, the program prepares students to enter the health care industry at the level of their choice. Students have the option of taking a one-year program to earn certification as a Home Health Aide (HHA) and Personal Care Aide (PCA) or a separate one-year program to earn certification as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and PCA. Or students like Smith can take both courses during their junior and senior years.
For more information on the Two Year Sequence of Health Careers program, go to https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/two-year-sequence-of-health-careers/.