American Red Cross and Walmart Announce Nurse Assistant Training Scholarships

$50,000 available to empower students throughout Wisconsin to pursue Health Care industry careers

*** On Thursday, August 29^th between Noon – 4:00p.m. we can provide tours of the Green Bay training location. In addition, Paulene Kipke, the statewide program manager, will be there to discuss the training, benefits, demonstrate a few skills ****

The American Red Cross in Wisconsin will help 50 students across the state receive nursing & life-skills training for entry-level healthcare careers through the Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training (NAT) program thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation.

The hands-on health care training program is available on a monthly basis in Altoona, Green Bay, Oshkosh & Waupaca with the next courses beginning the first week of September. The curriculum equips students for a career into the fast-growing health care industry. With the growing senior population, this training will help communities like ours alleviate a shortage of adequately trained Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs). With small class sizes, limited to 16-students, individual hands-on time is guaranteed which has historically meant 94% of Red Cross trained students pass the state testing exam on their first attempt.  With the certification, CNA wages range from $9.25 – $16.65 per hour, which is much higher than minimum wage and often include a variety of benefits.

By joining forces with Walmart and the Red Cross training, graduates can earn higher wages and find jobs that provide health insurance for themselves and their families. The collaboration will help meet Walmart’s goal of empowering women throughout Wisconsin, the U.S. and around the world.  To complement the nursing skills, each participant will participate in an additional 16-hours of life-skills designed to help them turn training into a professional career. Topics will range from building a resume, interviewing skills and personal finance with a distinct emphasis on professionalism, punctuality and a commitment towards work. With the scholarship, the tuition is only $250.00. Plus, due to the State of Wisconsin Medicaid training reimbursement program, this cost could also be recouped by the student upon gaining qualified employment.

Red Cross NAT instructors equip students with the skills required to become CNAs and provide basic care such as feeding, dressing, bathing and monitoring patients so they can work in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living, hospitals and in-home health care.

The scholarship is available across the state so students can participate in classes in Altoona, Green Bay, Oshkosh and/or Waupaca.  Course locations, dates, time and registration information is available at redcross.org/WINAT.  The scholarships are on a first registered basis and the complete application must be submitted by October 15^th. Specific course questions should be directed to Tanya Christianson at 715-902-1035 and/or Tanya.Christianson@redcross.org. Later this fall, the course may also be available in La Crosse and Woodville.

The American Red Cross has trained and engaged America’s nurses in its life saving mission for more than 130 years. Last year, the Red Cross taught health and safety skills to nearly 12 million people nationwide, including 336 Nursing Assistants throughout the State of Wisconsin

This is the first credential-specific training grant Walmart has awarded as part of their Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative, one of which is to help 200,000 U.S. women from low-income households access job training, education, career counseling, and mentoring to increase their employment opportunities. More information on this initiative can be found at corporate.walmart.com/women.