“Nursing level care in hospital settings, in long-term care and in-home care are significant needs right now,” says Tim Zipoy of Central MN Jobs & Training Services.
Healthcare facilities throughout the country are in desperate need of workers, and it’s affecting the quality of life for lots of individuals.
“Ultimately, it’s a healthcare issue,” says Zipoy. “Our loved ones may not be able to get the care they need in the communities where they wish to stay.”
Zipoy recently attended a Healthcare Expo in Bloomington and it was so well attended, he decided the same could be done in the Wright and Sherburne County area.
“It compelled me enough to say, I’ve got the same issues and opportunities in my area,” he says.
The Workforce Center in Monticello will be hosting its first Healthcare Career Hiring, Education Event and Community Wellness Expo.
Zipoy says that title is a mouthful, but it’s the only way to describe everything that will be happening at the event.
“We’ll have a panel for the public who want to know more about healthcare in general and about healthcare in nursing homes, long-term care hospitals and home health facilities,” he says.
There will be representatives from schools that provide training in the healthcare field, including St. Cloud Technical College, Anoka Technical College and Rasmussen College.
Healthcare professionals will offer free health checks, including blood pressure and blood sugar checks, body mass index measurements and more.
“I don’t know where you can go and get all that stuff for free,” says Zipoy.
There will also be an ambulance on site where emergency services staff will talk with the public about jobs as paramedics and emergency service technicians.
And there will be more than 20 firms looking to fill immediate job positions.
“There are already 60 to 70 healthcare jobs posted in the job bank between these two counties for these kinds of positions right now, so this is in response to genuine needs,” says Zipoy. “And there’s a whole spectrum of healthcare jobs that don’t need a two-year or four-year degree. You don’t need medical school for these jobs.”
Zipoy says he’s not going to get any doctors hired at the event. But that’s not the goal. Healthcare facilities are looking for RNs, LPNs, dieticians, lab technicians, personal care attendants, home health aids and related positions.
“This is an exciting event and this initiative lines right up with newest federal legislation known as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act,” says Zipoy. “Get out into the communities, partner with business and industry and make it easy for people to learn about, train for and be successful in careers that are in demand and offer growth opportunities.”
The expo is targeted at a wide variety of individuals, says Zipoy, including the unemployed, underemployed, career changers, young people, college students and commuters.
Zipoy says the healthcare field is also a great opportunity for mature people who are retired or getting close to retirement.
“You talk to administrators and they love people who are in their second career,” he says. “They appreciate the workplace maturity, responsibility, problem solving and communication skills - all that stuff. That’s the advantage of that sector. They’re in demand for these jobs.”
Some of the firms already signed up to participate include CentraCare Health, Prairie River Home Care, St. Benedict’s Senior Community, New Beginnings in Waverly, Anderson’s Nursing Training in Cokato, Good Shepherd Community in Becker and St. Cloud, Cottagewood Senior Communities, Living Life Home Care, Advanced Living in Big Lake, Golden Living in Delano, Tealwood Long Term Care, Benedictine Health Care System, Bayada Healthcare, Meridian Healthcare and Guardian Angels.
“It’s a chance to learn about your health, learn about healthcare jobs and find a job,” says Zipoy. “We’re really excited about this.”
The Expo takes place Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Monticello Workforce Center, 406 East 7th Street.
