WORCESTER, Mass. - During the pandemic, CNA trainees were unable to take their certification exams, creating a backlog of hundreds of would-be employees local hospitals could've greatly benefited from. 

Pat Schmohl, dean of the School of Healthcare at Quinsigamond Community College, said a $500,000 Skills Capital Grant awarded in August helped the school get up to CNA testing site standards, and the local workforce needs it. 

"The CNAs are critical to our area employers," Schmohl said. "They work hand-in-hand with their clients and their residents, and when they have a shortage, it makes it harder for them to deliver care and it's also putting an undue burden on existing employees where they're being asked to work more hours."

The grant money allowed for the purchase of new, state-of-the art equipment for students to learn with. On Thursday, instructor Drizmarie Estrada was busy teaching a group of students who are midway through an intensive 130 hour course. 

"We have a really high volume of students, which is great for us," Estrada said. "We're always looking for more. Every time we go to clinical, they're always asking students to apply and we've had students get hired on the spot."

Before bringing her skills to the classroom, Estrada worked in hospitals, maternity wards, home care settings and pre-school classrooms. She tried to pass on her real world experience to her students.

"We want students to be able to be organized and have all the tools necessary," Estrada said. "So not only are we teaching them to pass the state test, which is very important, but we're teaching them to be able to have these tools for their careers."

QCC is also partnering with local employers so health care students who are interested in becoming a CNA can get a better sense of what it's like out in the field. 

The school tested more than 100 people last week, and those who passed will be eligible for employment in health care settings.