With the new year, Tipton High School is taking big steps in preparing students for life beyond high school. The addition of courses with real life skills is one way to do that. The most notable addition is the Nurse Aid course that will be taught in Tipton for the first time this year. Tipton is the only school in Cedar county and one of few in the state of Iowa that are currently offering this type of course.
The class, Nurse Aid, will be taught by high school nurse, Stephanie Webb. Using the last 2 class periods of the school day students will be able to earn their CNA certification by the end of the school year in May. This semester, there are 5 students taking the course, and the outlook is positive, with students showing interest in taking the course next year as schedules allow. Some of those students have current goals to pursue nursing school after their high school’s graduation, others are in the course to get started working as a CNA and decide on other opportunities in the future. Webb says, “That is what is so great about offering the class this early, students have a better understanding of what the future could look like and can save themselves a lot of stress and money.”
After the idea was started between Mrs. Webb and Superintendent Brandon Borseth, they approached the Tipton School Foundation for support. The Foundation helped with costs of purchasing equipment including a bed, and other medical supplies needed for students to learn and practice hands-on care. The class also needed a location, a high school classroom was renovated and updated thanks to efforts from previous Maintenance Director Loren Mohr, and his staff, who were able to complete the project in just a few weeks. Cedar Manor Nursing Home in Tipton also played an important role, providing the class with generous donations of equipment to assist their learning.
Nurse Aid will follow the state requirements for CNA Certification which states the class will consist of 30 lecture hours, 15 lab hours and 30 hours of clinicals. All of the lecture and lab hours are able to be completed in their classroom at the high school. The clinical hours are slated to be completed at Clarence Senior Living in Clarence near the end of the semester. During that time they will get opportunities to practice the skills they have been learning, apply their new knowledge, and learn from professionals.
After students meet these requirements they will take the state exam at Kirkwood Community College. A CNA Certification not only presents excellent employment opportunities and experience, it is also a requirement for many nursing schools. The addition of this class is another step forward for Tipton in providing a wide range of real life experience and setting students up for success upon graduation from Tipton High School.