Kentucky Derby Winner’s Mom Advocates for Wesley CNA Program

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Wesley Community, a 37-acre senior living campus with more than 700 residents in Saratoga Springs, recently introduced an alternative to its traditional certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program that is generating results for stakeholders and participants.

Launched last September and featuring accelerated training, the new hybrid CNA program has yielded 43 new graduates, 98% of whom have passed the New York State CNA exam. There are currently 16 students enrolled in the session that began on April 20.

One of Wesley’s longtime CNAs is Janet DeVaux, the mother of Kentucky Derby-winning trainer and Saratoga Springs native Cherie DeVaux.

Janet credits her employment as a CNA at Wesley with providing financial stability for her family as they worked to build their stable training horses.

“Being a CNA has supported my family for the better part of the last 30 years while we trained horses,” she recalled. “Working at Wesley has been like having a second family. My residents immediately became family, and I am constantly given the opportunity to learn and to advance my training to better serve them.”

The paid hybrid training program is three weeks long and includes two weeks onsite to complete clinical, skill practice and skill-testing hours. It has replaced Wesley’s previous six-week CNA training program, which had been offered exclusively onsite.

Due to the accelerated class time of the hybrid CNA program, graduates are each assigned a mentor (DeVaux currently serves as one of the mentors) and undergo an orientation period to become familiar with the residents who they will assist with activities of daily living. A success coach is assigned and conducts weekly meetings during a four-week orientation. Graduates receive their own assignments following this period.

As a night shift worker at Wesley, DeVaux is aware of the importance of training new employees to join the workforce, at a time when there is a critical nursing shortage throughout the industry.

“The CNA program at Wesley has been producing some very nice results, which is encouraging, considering the increasing need for all facets of nursing care,” DeVaux said. “Becoming a CNA is a great option for anyone who is interested in launching a career in health care. Wesley’s comprehensive program provides everything needed to be awarded the necessary certification.”

Qualified candidates interested in becoming part of Wesley’s CNA team can apply online at: https://thewesleycommunity.recruitpro.com/jobs/310395-15755.html.