Northfield Retirement Community Receives Grants to Fund Nursing Assistant Program

Two Northfield organizations have granted Northfield Retirement Community monies to help defray expenses associated with a career exploration program in health care nursing assistant training available to students at Northfield High School.

Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) is giving $300 and the Rotary Club of Northfield, Local Donations Committee, has awarded NRC $500 in support of Launching a Nursing Assistant Career: Training with Innovation and Care. Through the program, youth can explore a career option and receive training free of charge to prepare themselves for work as a nursing assistant or residential aide – areas where jobs are available and health care professionals are needed as America’s population is aging.

“Northfield Retirement Community is grateful for the support of Northfield Healthy Community Initiative and the Local Donations Committee of the Rotary Club of Northfield,” notes Kyle Nordine, president and CEO of Northfield Retirement Community. “These generous local organizations have helped to make possible this important career training opportunity NRC gives Northfield High School students. These organizations are generous in funding programs that promote quality of life for youth and the citizens of Northfield.”

NRC’s nursing staff lead the program that is offered as a class at Northfield High School. Grant monies help to defray expenses related to the purchase of equipment for the lab portion of training, enabling students to develop nursing care skills and gain expertise in providing quality care.

The training of care providers for older adults is a significant need as the population continues to age. Growing numbers of seniors are in need of care, while training programs for resident aides and nursing assistants and organizations that offer this training are decreasing. The need for added professionally trained caregivers is great.

In NRC’s training program, students receive instruction in classes that prepare them for future testing. Practical instruction in a laboratory setting follows. Students develop hands-on nursing care skills in an environment that replicates a nursing station. A clinical learning experience in NRC’s Care Center ‒ caring for actual residents – completes the comprehensive learning program.

Tina Sears, vice president of community health services at Northfield Retirement Community, notes, “Training at NRC offers students a competitive edge for obtaining employment and future job success. At NRC, students are exposed to innovative programming and quality care.”