Clay County Hospital Introduces Registered Nursing Apprenticeships to LWIA 23!
Creation Date: 03/17/2023
Clay County Hospital (Flora, Illinois), in partnership with Illinois Eastern Community Colleges and LWIA 23 Business Services, officially registered one of Illinois' first end-to-end Registered Nursing apprenticeship programs!
Apprentices at Clay County Hospital will begin their career pathway by earning their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential. They will work as CNAs while completing coursework toward their Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and eventual Registered Nurse (RN) credentials. All of this education will be funded by Clay County to ensure apprentices receive a fully-immersive, debt-free education in the nursing field. By frontloading the apprenticeship with CNA training, Clay County hopes to provide an equitable opportunity to interested High School Diploma/GED holders in the Clay County area and graduating High School seniors with Health Occupation-related course experience.
As employers throughout the healthcare sector face difficulties with retention and increased demand for high-skill roles such as LPNs and RNs, an investment in Registered Apprenticeships is a cutting-edge, long-term solution to allow for the cultivation of new talent well as the opportunity for upskilling. Working with a regional Apprenticeship Navigator provides a streamlined, hassle-free registration experience with the Department of Labor that remains employer-led.