The Brightside: Coleman’s CNA Academy
DOVER, Del. – It’s no secret the healthcare industries were one of the hardest hit during COVID. The gaps in staffing still radiate throughout the country, but small organizations such as Coleman’s CNA Academy are making a big difference.
A unique and rigorous four-week CNA Academy in Delaware isn’t only teaching students to become nursing assistants, “We’re making sure we’re putting our good foot forward and tackling hurdles that could be hindering individuals from entering the medical field,” says Dea Coleman, nurse, and owner of the academy. She goes on to explain that her academy is crafting lesson plans to meet every student where they are.
Coleman explains to us, “I had an enormous calling of individuals wanting to work for Coleman’s healthcare staffing but they weren’t certified. So I figured how do I help people? I started CNA school.
We’re told Coleman has owned a nurse staffing agency for a few years but saw the growing need for health care workers, and quickly. “It is a gateway to the health care industry. I’m just excited about all the news things I have going on and the collaborations. I’m collaborating with a lot of different individuals to help others’ dreams come true.”
The academy has a bilingual instructor, as well as content in French and Creole for the Haitian community. Coleman says as the state diversifies, she wants to make sure the academy is reflecting that while simultaneously catering to each student’s needs. “Once again, we’re meeting individuals at their level, not trying to put them on the spectrum of levels of where society feels they should be ready,” She goes on to say, “With me being a private school, I have more time, my instructors have more time. We’re geared up and structured just a tad bit differently to be able to make sure we are reaching out to each individual directly per se.”
With individualized plans and small classroom sizes; upon finishing the class, these future nurses only have to wait two weeks to take their pro-metric exam.
That’s compared to an almost three-month wait at larger schools; Which Coleman says can only be done through the partnerships she’s created. “I’m thankful for Delaware, I’m thankful for all the programs that have been put in place here in our state that are being utilized to help the people that we serve.”
Partnerships like the Delaware State Housing Authority, and the Learning Tree Academy have given the academy ample resources to find those looking to get into the industry that would otherwise run into barriers such as child care, or tuition. “Our expansion shows just how much we are a vital sector in the community,” says Coleman.
In their first year, they graduated 100 students total and this year in just one month, they’ve enrolled 10 which shows Coleman and her staff’s efforts are on track to make a difference, and these students are guaranteed a job upon graduating.
“I took time into putting everything together just so I’m able to give our students a real-life feel of being in a clinical training lab,” explains Coleman. From tangible less invasive techniques to learning how to take blood sugar, to real hospital beds, geriatric chairs, wheelchairs, and Hoyer lifts.
The small but mighty academy is showing the commitment Coleman has to better fill the industry, and give Delawareans a stronger path to success. “For me to see the growth of an individual is like me being in the medical field, I love what I do,” says Coleman. “I hope that I’m an inspiration to others.”
Fun fact, Coleman is still a full-time nurse, as her academy is still self-funded, reiterating her dedication to her mission.
This past year she won the Lisa Blunt Rochester Award from the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce, and this year was able to give the now-senator a tour of her academy.
For more information, and to enroll in the academy, just visit the academy website.
