Florida lawmakers passed legislation this week to make the Personal Care Attendant Program, a path for people to become a certified nursing assistant, a permanent program.
What You Need To Know
- Program was at first a temporary answer to the staffing shortage heightened by the pandemic
- RaShawn Vanvleet says the program changed her life
- More long term care stories by Cait McVey
- More Coronavirus headlines
Initially, the program was a temporary answer to the staffing shortage heightened by the pandemic.
RaShawn Vanvleet, 26, is one of hundreds statewide who successfully participated.
“I learned about the PCA program last August and I wanted to get a better opportunity for my little boy and I,” she testified before the legislature.
The program allows facilities to hire people like Vanvleet after 16 hours of classroom training. The new hires are then given four months of on the job training under experienced CNAs. Following that time period, they will then be able to take the exam to become a certified CNA.
“Being able to be paid to learn and to go to classes was awesome,” said Vanvleet, who finished the program in just two months.
“The PCA program definitely changed my life and changed my path in a good way,” said Vanvleet, who plans to eventually go to nursing school to become an LPN.
Meanwhile, the legislation for the Personal Care Attendant Program has been sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.
