ELLSWORTH — An anonymous donor has provided funds for Certified Nursing Assistant classes at the Ellsworth County Medical Center, in conjunction with Barton Community College and the Good Samaritan Retirement Village. Classes will be held from June 3-18 and again from July 8-23. Classes are 90 hours in length with didactic presentations held at ECMC and clinical experiences at Good Samaritan Retirement Center. Each class will conclude with a graduation reception at ECMC. 

It was while receiving care at Salina Regional Health Center that the charitable donor, responsible for providing these classes at ECMC, was first introduced to a CNA. According to Beth Vallier, education/communication coordinator at ECMC, “The CNA shared with the gentleman her story of obtaining her CNA certification and thereby (becoming) able to be self-supporting, no longer reliant on the state support. The testimony so moved the donor that he made it his goal in life to provide CNA certification to 1,000 individuals. The goal is a very generous one that is now being fulfilled out of the donor’s estate.”

Applications for the first of what is hoped to be many years of classes are available online at: www.ewmed.com until March 1. Classes are limited to 10 per class; therefore, only 20 students will be selected to attend. Course instructor is Tami Birkholz, BSN, RN, a staff nurse at ECMC as well as an adjunct professor at Barton Community College. The classes, including all books and fees, will be completely underwritten by the charitable donor’s estate. Questions about the classes can be directed to Vallier by calling 785-472-3111 ext. 328.