Methodist in the Media
Students earn CNAs while exploring careers at Jennie Edmundson through Avenue Scholars Southwest Iowa boot camp
Published: July 16, 2025
Kayla Gafford is interested in emergency medicine.
The Glenwood Community High School student wanted to explore becoming an EMT this summer until a chance came along through Avenue Scholars Southwest Iowa to earn her Certified Nursing Assistant credential.
Gafford spent four weeks working alongside other area students on a health service boot camp last month in partnership with Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, including spending time on the hospital floor working with patients while receiving mentorship from health care professionals.
The camp was the second year of a program with Avenue Scholars to help students earn their CNA credentials and explore health care careers, while also creating a talent pipeline to support the hospital's workforce needs. Ten students earned their CNAs through Nebraska Methodist College (NMC) and were recognized at a ceremony June 26 at Iowa Western Community College. Nine earned their certificates through NMC last year, according to Methodist Health System.
The students also earned industry-recognized credentials in first aid, basic life support and CPR over the course of four weeks, including three weeks of instruction at the hospital and a final assessment that allows them to apply for CNA positions within the Methodist Health System.
Allison Britten, a recent graduate of Underwood High School, said the boot camp focused on teaching practical skills as part of the CNA curriculum, including how to turn a patient in bed or give a bed bath.
Britten said she plans to seek employment at Jennie Ed after the experience, saying she is "familiar with the environment and there's a lot of great people there." She plans to pursue a nursing program at Iowa Western this fall as well, aiming to become a registered nurse.
"Avenue Scholars is great," Britten said. "They just push people to be the best version of themselves."
