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Nursing Assistant Traing Program
The Nursing Assistant Training Program (NATP) prepares students for health careers over a period of three academic years and far exceeds the 75-hour minimum curriculum provided in other certified nursing assistant programs. Extended laboratory practice and clinical exposure ease the transition from high school student to health care worker, also helping to decrease the dramatic attrition rates (as high as 75%) from entry-level health care positions nationally. Mercy students have up to 4 times as much hands-on experience and coursework as many state programs offered at facilities in a 4 or 6-week model. At the end of Junior year, students qualify to sit for the PA nursing assistant certification examination. Once passing this exam, students are licensed by the state of Pennsylvania to give care to patients in health care and receive their CPR certification.
At least 90% of students obtain grades of passing or better on unit test and skills evaluation, while 100% of students obtain a passing grade on the national certification examination, and the program boasts about its high job placement rate. On October 15, 2002 the Pennsylvania Department of Education evaluated the Nursing Assistant Training Program at Mercy Vocational High School and awarded one of the highest commendations ever to a training program: the average pass rate for the Nursing Assistant exam throughout Pennsylvania is 78.1%. At Mercy Vocational High School the pass rate is 100%. MVHS was one of only two schools in the Commonwealth with a perfect pass rate!
Seniors are eligible for immediate employment as certified nursing assistants in a variety of health care settings, including long-term care, acute care, rehabilitation, hospitals and home healthcare. The Nursing Assistant Training Program also provides an academic and experiential foundation for post-secondary education in selected health careers.
For academic year 2007-2008, there are 37 students enrolled (10 Seniors, 12 Juniors and 15 Sophomores).
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