Bayfront, United launch nursing assistant program

Bayfront Health St. Petersburg and United Way Suncoast are combining forces to address the nursing assistant shortage. 

Bayfront, which is seeking to hire more nursing assistants, is working in partnership with United Way Suncoast to offer full scholarships and for new hires to attend a new nursing assistant training program in St. Petersburg, according to the hospital’s Friday announcement. 

This hiring event for new participants to enter the program will take place Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Campbell Park Resource Center, located on the campus of John Hopkins Middle School at 701 16th St. South. 

The new six-week program includes hands-on training at the Campbell Park Resource Center and 45 hours of externship experience at Bayfront. Upon completion of the program, students will immediately start working as a nursing assistant at the hospital, according to the news release. 

Nursing assistants will assist with the admission, transfer and discharge of patients, take and record temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rates, food and fluid intake and output as directed, obtain data and provide routine treatments to patients, among other responsibilities.