EVERETT — If you’re a business owner, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries may require you to provide first-aid training for your employees. Or perhaps you’re a home-care provider or want to become a nursing assistant and require training.
These types of s
hort-term medical training and more are available at the First Step Medical Training Institute in downtown Everett.
The First Step classrooms house three independent separate training programs: CPR4U Health and Safety, NAC Essential Prep and Caregivers Giving Care.
“These are al
l the ‘first steps’ to getting through the door,” said company president and chief executive officer Janene Deane “That’s the reason why this name was chosen for it.”
First Step is not a training program, but the facility that houses the training programs. It opened its doors in April to provide a well-equipped training location for businesses, caregivers and medical professionals.
Both a large, traditional classroom and a practical mock-up medical facility are available to those programs that call First Step home.
The concept was the brainchild of Deane, who also is president of CPR4U. Having an equipped and centrally located classroom in which to hold CPR4U’s CPR and first-aid training classes make them more convenient for the many businesses and medical professionals they serve.
“We not only do training here at our facility but we also do workplace training for companies large and small,” Deane said.
She said that many business owners don’t realize the L&I rules that require companies to provide employees who are trained in first aid. CPR4U has lists of the regulations and can explain what is required as well as provide the training to meet certification requirements.
CPR4U also assists medical professionals with required courses. Additional programs are geared to the general public and a full line of first-aid kits are available for purchase.
NAC Essential Prep offers nursing assistant training in First Step’s classrooms. It is a four-week certified preparation course people who want to become a certified nursing assistant. NAC training can lead to a career in itself but it is also the first step for anyone who plans to eventually apply for a nursing degree program.
NACs are found in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, adult family homes and assisted living facilities. They provide assistance with practical patient care. They need to learn to take vital signs and how to transport patients. The practical lab at First Step has the same beds and equipment that future NACs encounter. Deane says job prospects are very good for this field in the near future.
“With the largest segment of our population, the baby boomers, reaching critical age now, we are looking to help get people into the medical industry,” she said.
The third program at First Step is Caregivers Giving Care. It’s designed to train long-term care workers, caregivers and home health aide professionals in caregiving techniques and skills.
Information on any of the three training programs is available at First Step, which has scholarships available.
“We would have them submit to us an essay,” Deane said. “We do those once a quarter.”
Future expansion plans for First Step Medical Training Institute include a remodel of the top level of the facility to accommodate even more training space. More training programs such as emergency medical technician training and other shorter-term medical training programs are also on the horizon.
Learn more
First Step Medical Training Institute is located at 2937 Broadway, Everett. For more information about the institute or any of the training programs they offer, go to www.fsmti.com or call 425-252-3239.
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