In response to the historic challenges of attracting, developing and retaining health care talent in Wisconsin, Burnett Medical Center has implemented an on site Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. This program not only addresses current staffing needs but also offers a meaningful career entry point and progression path.

The CNA program is a state approved four week training offered by Burnett Medical Center. The first two weeks consist of a 45-hour online module, which participants complete with regular attendance and must pass at 80 % or higher to proceed. This is followed by two weeks (approximately 40 hours) of lab and clinical instruction onsite at Burnett Medical Center’s 50-bed long-term care center under the supervision of a CNA instructor. Participants must be at least 16 years old, enabling early access to health care careers for younger people in the area.

By offering the program in house, Burnett Medical Center is accomplishing several vital objectives:

• Local pipeline development: Training community residents creates a homegrown source of CNAs familiar with the facility, values, and rural setting.
• Entry-level career access: A short program enables individuals to start healthcare careers and gain experience quicker.
• Career growth: Starting as CNAs opens pathways to LPN, RN, or allied health roles, promoting healthcare as a rewarding long-term career.
• Retention: Trained employees align with Burnett Medical Center’s mission and rural community, boosting retention and satisfaction.

This initiative supports our broader workforce strategy: investing in people, lowering barriers to entry, and enabling upward mobility. In a region where health care resources are stretched and competition for talent is intense, having a local training program gives Burnett Medical Center a distinct advantage—both in attracting new entrants and in creating fulfilling, long term careers rather than simply filling immediate vacancies. Through this strategy, Burnett Medical Center is doing more than responding to workforce challenges — we are shaping a sustainable future for health care in our region.