Nurse training creates opportunities: Connecticut: East Haven Public Schools.

East Haven Public Schools in East Haven, Conn., came up with a way to prepare students for employment in the nursing field after graduation.

The certified nurse assistant (CAN) course, which led to the school district being selected as this year's Civic Star Award recipient for Connecticut, was initiated by David Shapiro, head of East Haven High School's Technical Education Department. The idea was enthusiastically supported by Superintendent Martin DeFelice.

In September 1996, a registered nurse, Nancy Tipping, was hired to spearhead the program. The initiative is a collaboration among East Haven High, Hospital of St. Raphael and Laurel Woods nursing home.

The yearlong course is open to seniors only and includes classroom and clinical instruction. Students who complete the course successfully and pass the state certification test become certified nurse assistants.

Students work independently and as part of a team in caring for patients during the course. The nursing home provides a conference room for student-teacher meetings and for students to store their belongings and eat. The nursing home's staff development director and the head certified nurse assistant are routinely available to course instructor Tipping so that student care-giving time is well-spent.

At the hospital, the director of staff development works with the school in assigning an appropriate unit for clinical work and sees that course instructor Tipping is given temporary access to the computerized supply system so that student time is not wasted waiting for items.

The head nurse and assistant head nurse are available before students' clinical experience to review procedures, student needs and how they might help foster learning. The head nurse is available throughout the day to help in choosing patients for the students to visit and for facilitating experiences for student participation and observation.

When the class included a hearing-impaired student, the head nurse and assistant head nurse made sure staff members knew how to communicate with the student and were aware of her special blood pressure apparatus.

The hospital and Laurel Woods nursing home see their involvement with East Haven High School as evidence of their commitment to the community, which is a requirement for the facilities' accreditation. Both have hired students after they've been certified, and so the program has helped them meet their need for employees. The hospital and nursing home staffs provide feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of students so that the program can be revised and continually improved.

In addition to joining the staffs of the participating facilities, students have gone on to work in home-care agencies, assisted-living facilities, doctor's offices, other nursing homes and acute-care hospitals. Students who enter the military are given preference for medical training because they have established a medical background. Many students receive job offers the day they pass their certification test, according to Tipping.

School officials say they believe the program has helped some students who have previously experienced little academic success to stay in school so that they'll be able to participate in the program.

Often, the program has helped students find their niche and increase their self-esteem as they do the work and learning necessary and demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to earn their certification.

For more information on the program, contact Superintendent Martin DeFelice at East Haven Public Schools, 35 Wheelbarrow Lane, East Haven, Conn. 06513, or call [phone]. The e-mail address is [e-mail].