(Nashville, Tenn.) TN Tribune–Nashville General Hospital School of Health Sciences was
awarded a national certificate of Apprenticeship status for its CNA, EKG and Radiologic
Technology Program from the United States Department of Labor in January 2021. Nashville
General Hospital’s School of Health Sciences is launching a new apprenticeship program for its
certified nursing assistant (CNA) program. The school partners with federally registered
apprenticeship employers to train CNAs and fill positions in the Middle Tennessee and Southern
Kentucky region.
The NGH School of Health Sciences apprenticeship training program helps create a pipeline of
trained, motivated workers to fill the need of local healthcare businesses. Students currently
enrolled in the CNA program and future students are eligible for the apprenticeship, which
partners them with businesses in need of CNAs. TriStar Health is one of the programs first
apprenticeship approved employer partners.
“Not yet being a traditional Title IV school able to offer direct financial assistance, the Nashville
General Hospital School of Health Sciences focuses on partnering with apprenticeship employee
partners who can offset the cost of tuition for our students, who then are guaranteed employment
with the business. This is a tremendous benefit for our students and a win-win for everyone,”
states Craig Shephard, Director of Health Sciences Education at NGH.
Rubin Cockrell, Ed.D., NGH’s SHS Program and Community Outreach Coordinator
spearheaded this project. “We are excited to partner with TriStar Health, the region’s largest
healthcare provider company. As an approved apprenticeship employer, TriStar Health has
funding to provide a jumpstart to those in our community who want to enter the healthcare field.
Through Nashville General Hospital’s School of Health Sciences workforce development
program, we can help meet the demands of future healthcare jobs.”
“We are delighted to be one of the first health systems to partner with Nashville General
Hospital’s School of Health Sciences as they launch this CNA apprenticeship training program”,
said Bryan Sisk, Chief Nursing Executive for TriStar Health. “This program opens the door to
motivated individuals looking to step into a career in healthcare. We look forward to employing
a number of the graduates from this program.”
Executive leaders from both Nashville General Hospital and TriStar Health will have an official
signing of this public-private apprenticeship partnership on Friday, April 9 at 1:30 p.m.
For more information, please visit NGHSchoolofHealthSciences.com.
