NASHUA – Students in the health science program at Nashua High School South recently passed their written and skills exam to become licensed nursing assistants.

Health science and technology is a two-year career and technical education program that includes students from Nashua High South, North and several surrounding sending towns.

During the first year of the program, students learn about various health careers, medical terminology, ethics, infection prevention, safety, anatomy and many hands-on skills. During the second year, students build on this knowledge and choose one of three tracks; LNA, EMT or interning in the community.

In addition to classwork and practice in South’s clinical lab, these LNA students spent more than 60 clinical hours in long-term-care facilities in Nashua.

They all passed the state competency evaluation exam and are eligible for licensing.

Some of the students are going right to work as LNAs after graduation, and others plan to work while continuing their education. Many are pursuing a nursing career and have gained valuable skills toward that goal.