A career in healthcare offers stability, growth opportunities and the chance to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Yet, the industry faces significant workforce shortages across the commonwealth. To address this gap, community colleges are playing a vital role in providing the necessary tools for students to pursue rewarding healthcare careers. At Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), Joanna Collins, professional faculty for the Workforce Development Division, has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of community college and the opportunities that come through education.
“People should choose a career in healthcare because it is a growing field with no shortage of need, so the job security is very high,” Collins said. “There are pathways to short-term credential training into advanced levels of healthcare from a CNA all the way through nursing and beyond. Once students get their feet wet and decide what they like or what they’re good at, they can venture and find a very sustainable job.”
The Community College Advantage
For students looking to break into the healthcare field, community colleges offer a unique combination of affordability, accessibility and industry relevance.
“The value is immense compared to four-year colleges,” Collins said. “Community colleges have a lot of offerings that people don’t realize with the short-term training. These programs enable students to quickly gain the skills and certifications needed to enter the workforce.”
At NOVA, for example, students can take advantage of flexible scheduling, smaller class sizes and personalized instruction from professors.
“For those people who aren’t quite ready for a full four-year university, whether it’s because they’re coming straight out of high school or they haven’t had positive academic experiences before, there’s a lot more personal interaction but still with the big college feel,” Collins said.
Partnering with Industry to Create Career Pathways
NOVA’s workforce development programs are designed in collaboration with local healthcare providers and industry experts. This partnership ensures that students receive opportunities tailored to the specific needs of the healthcare industry.
“Employers often will come to us and tell us what their needs are. We seek the employer’s needs,” Collins said. “NOVA has a really good position with our career services offering guaranteed interviews, so every student has the opportunity to have an interview with an employer who is hiring in the field with the credentials that they are earning.”
NOVA’s close relationships with healthcare providers also extend to clinical rotations, providing students with hands-on experience in real-world settings. This allows students to get a feel for what their careers will look like while also providing networking opportunities with industry professionals.
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