Bradenton training program addresses nursing shortage

With a number of hospitals and health care systems popping up in the area, now is the worst time to have a nursing shortage. A training program in Bradenton is taking steps to address the state’s issue. 

Premier Nursing Academy has set out to provide students free training to become a nursing assistant. Employers in need of nurse aides pay for the program, according to a press release. Additionally, Tampa-based nonprofit Gale Healthcare Foundation recently donated $10,000 to the program to extend its reach. 

“This generous gift from the Gale Healthcare Foundation will help us expand our training program virtually, so people in underserved communities can also have the opportunity to start a new career in the nursing industry,” says Chris Palevich, the academy’s market president, in the release.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 203,200 nurses will be needed each year through 2031. 

Currently, training is only available to in-person Florida-based students at the academy’s locations in Bradenton and Pinellas Park. The program does have plans to upgrade to an online platform to add remote learning sessions eventually. 

The training program is completed over six weeks, which costs employers $3,000 per student. Once a student has graduated, they work in a certified nursing assistant role for a specified time afterward for their employer.