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Nursing-home staff report: in-house CNA program ended, training partnerships continue and survey found minor citations
Summary
Facility staff told the committee the in-house CNA certification program ended in December 2025 because the vendor required payment for unfilled class seats; the facility now relies on CVTC, Stout interns and Mayo Clinic rotations, reported ongoing staffing shortages, and expects up to four minor citations from a recent survey.
Carmen, a facility staff member, told the committee the county nursing home discontinued its in-house CNA certification program at the end of 2025 after the vendor insisted on payment for every class and for any unfilled seats. "We decided to no longer utilize their services," Carmen said, noting the program had delivered 10 classes over its run with up to eight seats per class and that three former trainees are currently employed at the facility (two part-time, one full-time).
Staff described alternative training pathways that now supply clinical placements and some hires: CVTC provides CNA and nursing student clinical rotations; Stout supplies dietetic and social-services interns; and Mayo Clinic resident physicians rotate briefly for nursing-home clinical experience. Carmen said those partnerships help retention because students who train at the facility are more comfortable joining the staff.
On staffing, Chris reported February recruitment metrics: five direct hires, two agency interviews, three offers accepted, one part-time CNA resignation, and five full-time RN openings (two currently filled with agency staff). Chris also reported 21 agency CNAs working and six missed shifts in February due to COVID positives.
On resident census and referrals, staff reported 118 residents at the beginning of the month, 74 referrals, 12 admitted and 26 not admitted, with an ending census reported at 121. Committee members flagged a probable typographical inversion in the packet (one supervisor suggested the 26 figure should be 62); staff acknowledged the apparent error.
Carmen also briefed the committee on the West Annual Survey. She said surveyors cited an infection-control issue where two CNAs changed gloves without washing between changes; a PRN controlled-substance review that was slightly past the 14-day review requirement (already corrected); and two documentation items related to falls and pain. "Every time you remove gloves you must wash your hands in between," Carmen said; staff expect a desk review and plan-of-correction submission rather than on-site follow-up and noted that four D-level citations would be below the state/federal average of 8–10 citations per survey.
The committee heard several expressions of appreciation for facility leadership and staff work during a busy winter and for progress toward electronic maintenance ticketing and ongoing facilities projects. The meeting closed with a reminder about a senior resource fair scheduled for April 16, 4–6 p.m. in the central building.
