(Atlantic) Cass Health in Atlantic continues to offer a unique nurse apprentice program, which is the first in Iowa and the second nursing apprenticeship program in the United States. Kat Niemann, Director of Human Resources at Cass Health, says the program is catching on and is definitely the way of the future for healthcare education. Niemann says the goal is to attract more people to the field of nursing.
Nieman says apprentices are students at Iowa Western Community College; however, all nursing courses are online and taught by the same Cass Health employees who regularly work with apprentices. Additionally, all clinical rotations require hands-on experience and are also held at Cass Health. Niemann says this is an earn-and-you-learn work-based program.
Nieman says the apprenticeship program pays for tuition, books, fees, and supplies, including 2000 hours of paid on-the-job training, provides salary increases as you progress in school, delivers real-life patient care experiences, and offers support as a student navigates higher education.
This year, Cass Health has 16 openings for nurse apprentices to begin their LPN program. The application process ends this Friday, March 13.
Nieman says three have graduated from this program, and 11 more will graduate this spring.
