HANCOCK, Mich. – Students from the Copper Country Intermediate School District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) course recently stepped out of the classroom and into a real-world healthcare environment for a two-day, immersive learning experience at Canal View – Houghton County in Hancock.
This event was designed to bridge the gap between classroom and practice, giving students a direct, hands-on look at future careers. The itinerary was packed with practical, engaging sessions. Students, in small groups, rotated through stations covering a wide range of essential skills. The agenda included facility tours, hands-on practice with a Hoyer lift, learning to take vitals, understanding on-site safety protocols, and practicing resident interaction.
A key part of the experience included sitting down for mock interviews with Canal View's HR department, giving students valuable practice and confidence for their first job applications.
This two-day orientation program will prepare students to begin their CNA clinical rotations in the coming months, where they will accumulate more than 30 hours of practical hands-on instruction and experience with Canal View - Houghton and Portage Pointe serving as the real-world classroom.
Heather Johnson, BSN, RN, and the CCISD CTE Nurse Aide Instructor, emphasized the importance of the experience. "Textbooks and classroom practice are essential, but there is no substitute for walking the halls, hearing from professionals, and engaging directly in a high-quality facility like Canal View," Johnson said. "We can practice skills in the lab, but it’s a completely different experience to walk into a facility like Canal View. Hearing the call lights, interacting with actual residents, and learning from staff who do this work every single day is very different. This experience makes the career real in a way a textbook just can't.”
Adam Laplander, CEO and Administrator of Canal View, views the collaboration as essential, not just for the students, but for the health of the entire community. He noted that the program provides a vital opportunity for students "to get experience in what a healthcare facility looks like".
More importantly, students get to "collaborate with some of the staff members here and get an idea of, really, what it's like to work in a facility like this," he said. Laplander stressed that this hands-on experience is crucial, as it helps students decide if a healthcare career is the right path for them before making a major life decision.
That decision comes at a critical time. Laplander highlighted the significant shortage of nursing professionals in the area, noting, "We need CNAs, we need LPNs, we need RNs. This need is felt nationwide but is especially acute in Houghton County, which is home to two hospitals, four nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.”
After many individuals left the healthcare field following the COVID-19 pandemic, Laplander says programs that get students "back in and into a facility and actually get their hands on" are rewarding for both the students and the facilities.
Building a Future Workforce
The CCISD CNA program serves as a powerful first step. Laplander noted that while being a CNA is an "initial starting stepping stone" for many, it is also a fulfilling and vital career in its own right. He has seen students who, after experiencing different roles, discover they "love being a CNA" and a direct caregiver. This two-day immersive program is a key step in that journey of discovery.
"We are incredibly grateful to Adam Laplander and the entire Canal View team for opening their doors and investing their time in our students," Johnson added. "This kind of partnership is what CTE is all about. Our students get the hands-on skills they need, and our local healthcare facilities get a chance to meet their future workforce. It's a win-win for our community."