OnTrack initiative helps launch careers in healthcare
Candidates referred to the program receive free nursing assistant training through a mix of online and hands-on clinical learning, plus job placement in our system after graduation.
For individuals wanting to start a career in healthcare, finding the time or money to take classes and gain needed experience can be difficult.
Tanya Velishek, MSN, RN, manager of clinical workforce pathways, was struggling to fill 300 open nursing assistant and nursing station tech positions within M Health Fairview. After researching solutions, she came up with an idea to both fill these roles and help interested candidates start a career in healthcare.
In February, Velishek launched the OnTrack program within our system. OnTrack is a nursing assistant training program, developed by LeadingAge Minnesota and EduCare, which offers online training coupled with in-personal clinical learning designed to fit easily into students’ schedules.
M Health Fairview has made the commitment to assist candidates by paying for OnTrack training and offering employment opportunities with benefits upon completion of the program. The courses are filling quickly with candidates referred by county services and the Minnesota Department of Health.
“Many of our candidates have significant barriers to beginning a career in the healthcare field,” said Workforce Pathway Consultant Melissa Siebenaler, RN, BSN. “They may come from different industries, like retail or food service, and lack experience in healthcare. They don’t have resources to pay for courses or take unpaid time to train.”
Siebenaler supports candidates throughout the process. “They call me ‘mom.’ I’m there to support them, guide them through the process, help them through challenges they may face in the certification process. I love that we can help them find careers they can grow in and provide opportunities to improve their future while we meet our patient care needs.”
Thirty candidates have completed the course to date; 11 are officially on the nursing assistant registry and the others are registered to take their exam. As students complete their training, OnTrack also assists with job placement, connecting them to locations throughout M Health Fairview.
