Harford Community College’s Nursing Assistant Class Earn Certifications

Eight Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) students at Harford Community College received their certificate of completion and Certified Nursing Assistant pins at a ceremony in Darlington Hall on December 5. Family and friends were invited to share the celebration and to tour the dedicated nursing assistant lab and classroom.

Led by Instructors Susan Smith and Stacy Bopst, completers included Austin Crowl, Jennifer Daughton, Sara Hammons, Gabrielle Miller, Tyasia Parker, Mary Preston, Shantiea Smith-Mack, and Lillian Wright. Students were required to complete 100 hours of theory and skills in addition to 66 hours of clinical over a 12-week period to earn a certificate.

“Harford and the nursing assistant program are very lucky to have such an experienced and dedicated lead instructor as Susan Smith. The students’ success is a direct result of Susan’s investment in their education. We are happy to welcome Stacy Bopst as a new instructor. There is an urgent need for nursing assistants in healthcare, and we are proud to help meet that need,” stated Dawn Reimer,  CET Associate, Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Allied Health Professions Division.

Several of the students in the program received Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund II (GEER II) scholarships. Governor Hogan provided $10 million of Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds to Maryland’s community colleges to provide workforce development courses and continuing professional education that lead to government or industry-required certification or licensure, especially to those who lost jobs due to the COVID19 pandemic. Harford Community College was one of the colleges that received such funding.

Nursing assistants provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living such as helping them bathe, eating meals, and transferring them into their wheelchairs. Work as a certified nursing assistant is available in a variety of medical settings including hospitals, extended care facilities, and rehabilitation centers.

For information regarding the Certified Nursing Assistant program, contact Dawn Reimer at 443.412.2317 or at dreimer@harford.edu.