Chester County’s Pocopson Home was recently designated as a regional test site for nurse aides by Credentia, an organization that works with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to maintain the PA Nurse Aide Certification Registry. Pocopson Home held its first two regional tests this month and has more scheduled in the coming weeks.
Pocopson Nursing Home Administrator Jacqueline Mckenna, RD, LDN, NHA, said, “Becoming a regional test site performs a service to the community, as there are limited local sites where nurse aide candidates may test. It also provides more flexibility for our own candidates when we don’t have enough students to hold an exam, because any nurse aide trainee can now come to our site.
“We also know that becoming a regional test site raises our visibility and awareness that Pocopson is a great place for nurse aides to work,” added Mckenna.
Pocopson Home has provided nurse aide training to its staff since 1989. The 120-hour program approved by the PA Department of Education consists of theory, lab, and clinical training. Nurse aides must pass a two-part exam that a Credentia RN oversees. Approved regional test sites must have specific training equipment, space to accommodate ten students, and be willing to hold exams at least four times monthly.
The deadline for “temporary nurse aides” to complete certification testing is May 11. Temporary nurse aides were utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic to help health care providers respond to the staffing shortage.