Students from College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Multicultural Nursing Assistant class had a tremendous real-world learning opportunity on Dec. 12, conducting practice interviews with local healthcare providers. CWI partnered with 15 local businesses to conduct mock interviews for students graduating from the program this month.
Pam Hodges, CWI’s Nursing Assistant program manager, joined forces with CWI’s Basic Skills Education program to host the event. The goal of the mock interviews was to help students learn skills needed to successfully complete a job interview and gain employment in the healthcare industry.
Each participating organization spent seven minutes with a student to provide insight into interviewing with their organization and feedback on the students’ interviewing skills. Upon completion of the two hour mock interviews the students walked away with feedback from each interview, including strengths and opportunities for improvement.
The exercise was incredibly valuable for the class as the students come from all over the world with varying backgrounds. The program helps students learn English at the same time they are learning the skills to become Certified Nursing Assistants in the healthcare industry.
Special thanks to the groups that volunteered:
- CWI Career Services
- A Better Care Home Health
- Emerson House
- Kindred Rehabilitation and Healthcare
- Avamere Rehabilitation and Healthcare
- Good Samaritan Rehabilitation and Healthcare
- Genesis Rehabilitation and Healthcare (Meridian and Apex in Boise)
- Bright Star Home Health
- Heart N Home Hospice
- Brookdale Assisted Living
- Touchmark Assisted Living
- Overland Court Assisted Living
- ComForCare Homecare
- Progressive Nursing