Train for a Health Care Career In Months

Dr. Linda Helms, director of health care programs at the college's Division of Workforce Training, has announced spring classes.

Workforce Training Offers Clinical Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, Registered Dental Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant

Walters State’s Division of Workforce Training offers students the opportunity to train for a health care career in months rather than years. Spring classes include clinical medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomy technician and registered dental assistant. These are offered at a discounted tuition rate for the spring semester. 

Classes in basic life support/CPR, bloodborne pathogens, and “Stop the Bleed” are offered monthly. The first two are required to take any health programs class.

For information on any of these classes, contact Kristy Wadell, health program facilitator, at (865) 774-2701 Kristy.WadellFREEWS. 

• Clinical Medical Assistant trains students to assist physicians in medical offices. Students learn to prepare patients for examinations and treatments, including taking and documenting vital signs. The class also teaches routine laboratory procedures, diagnostic testing, phlebotomy, and the cardiac life cycle. Students also learn pharmacology, the use and administration of medications, cardiology, including proper lead placement for testing, professional workplace behavior, ethics, and legal aspects of health care delivery. The discounted cost for this class is $3,000 and meets for a total of 140 hours.
NEWPORT CENTER meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5-8:30 p.m., Feb. 3-July 2.
CLAIBORNE COUNTY CAMPUS meets Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30-8 p.m., March 3-July 28.
MORRISTOWN CAMPUS meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-9:30 p.m., March 17-April 26.
• Certified Nursing Assistant prepares students to work as certified nursing assistants (CNA) in Tennessee. CNAs perform routine patient care, which may include assisting with meals, exercise, personal hygiene, and reporting signs and symptoms that indicate illness. This class also teaches how to take and document vital signs. Students learn through lecture, a classroom skills lab and 16 hours of supervised patient care in a long-term care facility. The cost for this class is $899 and includes 138.5 training hours.
HANCOCK COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5-10 p.m., March 24-June 9.
NISWONGER CAMPUS meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-8 p.m., April 14-June 23.
• Phlebotomy Technician prepares individuals to collect blood specimens for laboratory analysis. For certification, 40 successful venipunctures (sticks) in a clinical setting are required. This 70-hour course includes both classroom and lab instruction. Students who complete the class may choose to take the National Healthcareer Association certification exam. The cost is $1,500.
MORRISTOWN CAMPUS will meet Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30-9 p.m., April 6-June 15. 
CLAIBORNE COUNTY CAMPUS will meet Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30-9 p.m., April 20-June 29.
• Registered Dental Assistant covers all aspects of dentistry, including anatomy and physiology, tooth morphology, infection control, restorative dentistry, and the safe use of radiology. In addition to classroom hours, students will be required to document 30 hours of observation at a dental office. After the successful completion of this course, students may register as a dental assistant with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry. This cost is $2,250 with a total of 120 training hours.
NISWONGER CAMPUS meetings Mondays and Wednesdays 6-9 p.m., Feb. 2-June 26.