New doors are opening for Chisholm Trail Technology Center students.

In development for several years, CTTC Superintendent Kurt Thomas said the school recently debuted its work-based learning program by partnering with Cimarron Nursing Center.

Providing students real-life work experience, Thomas said, the program is designed to bring education and business together, creating a skilled workforce for today and the future.

After earning their certified nurse assistant certification, three local high school students, who are concurrently enrolled in CTTC’s health careers certification program, are some of the first students to participate in the program.

Jodie Hill and Yamile Saucedo, both Kingfisher High School seniors, and Dover High School senior Pedro Valles work as CNAs up to three days a week during a CTTC morning or afternoon session at Cimarron Nursing Center and continue classroom instruction the remainder of their schedule.

“Students are earning money, honing their nursing skills and acquiring valuable real-life work experience,” health careers certifi cation and anatomy/physiology instructor Amy Estep said.

“At the same time, CTTC is assisting one of our industry partners with their staffing needs.”

With the current workforce shortages in the healthcare field, it’s important to give back to the local communities by helping provide a much needed, skilled workforce, Estep added.

CTTC’s long-term care aide program is a 91-hour course which includes theory as well as 54 specific skills students must master in order to be qualified to serve residents of long-term care facilities with their tasks of daily living, Estep said.

In addition, students also complete other courses in the health core curriculum, building a foundation of knowledge for other health professions, she said.

As students combine theoretical knowledge they’ve gained with the application in the workforce, it prepares them for a career as a long-term care CNA or advancement into other health professions, Estep added.

Another benefit students have is the ability to reduce their working hours after school, since they’re able to earn money during the day as well as credit for school during the program, she said.

As more students complete the certification process, Estep said the program should continue to expand.

Other work-based learning partnerships with various local health care providers are in development which will provide additional opportunities, Estep added.

“Most people will attest to the fact that hands-on-learning is the best method of learning and this program gives our students the ability to put their knowledge into practice,” Estep said.

Along with Estep, health career certification instructors and Registered Nurses Debbie Fussell and Darcey Simpson as well as small business manager Daniel Craig and others were instrumental in the development of CTTC’s work-based learning program.

“We are proud of the efforts that have been made to develop this program for our students,” Thomas said.

“Our students have worked hard to earn their industry credentials and are being rewarded for their accomplishments.”