12 Bringing health care news to your home When Emma Labenz was growing up on a farm outside Leigh, Nebraska, she never intended to pursue a health care career, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed that. “When the pandemic started, I was taking online classes for school, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” said Labenz. “Someone told me there was an opening at the hospital, so I applied to be a certified nursing assistant.” Labenz has been working as a CNA in the acute care unit for almost two years, and she loves her job. “It really is a family here — especially on our floor,” she said. “Everyone is supportive, and we all work together well.” She’s taking her career one step further by participating in the new Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Program through Columbus Community Hospital. The program offers four career tracks for potential candidates — Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), accelerated BSN, and certified nursing assistant (CNA). Depending on the track, apprentices receive work experience and scholarship assistance from the hospital that covers up to 75% of tuition, books and fees. Program apprentices can qualify for loan forgiveness after graduating and passing board exams. Another participant in the program, Rachel Criqui, said the biggest benefit for her has been getting to work on the floor with professionals in the field. During the program, nurse apprentices choose an area of specialty and receive a mentor. Guiding the future nurses of Columbus For more information on the Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Program and a link to the application, visit columbushosp.org/ rn_apprentice_program.aspx. Emma Labenz (left), a CNA at Columbus Community Hospital and apprenticeship program participant, poses with her mentor, Kayla Korger, RN, at the hospital.
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