The Riverside Growing Your Future Certified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A.) Apprenticeship Program is currently accepting applications. Applications for Spring 2024 session are due to Riverside’s OD and Learning Department no later than November 15, 2023.  

 To learn more or download an application,  please visit RivernetàEducation PathwaysàTuition Reimbursement & College Options/Discounts:

What is the Riverside C.N.A. Apprenticeship?

Riverside is committed to helping our employees throughout their career journey and has helped Riverside employees complete their C.N.A. while maintaining their Riverside job.  You can EARN while you learn.

The Spring 2024 Certified Nursing Assistant Apprenticeship is a competency-based program in which students attend classes at Kankakee Community College and complete hands-on clinical experiences 4, 8 hour days per week for Monday through Thursday (32 hours per week classroom/clinical time) and then 2 days a week Your registration fees, course fees, and books or related materials to attend the Kankakee Community College (KCC) C.N.A. program, if accepted into the program, are all paid and you are also paid for your 32 hours per week to attend the program by Riverside for your current position. 

What happens when I finish the program?

Upon successful completion of the program’s coursework and meeting State of Illinois requirements including passing the NATCEP exam, participants become a registered State of Illinois C.N.A.

If offered a C.N.A. job at Riverside Healthcare, participants are expected to accept the position at Riverside for a minimum of 18 months or pay back the educational funding received towards his/her C.N.A. to Riverside.

Who is Eligible?

Interested Riverside employees must meet all KCC admission requirements for the C.N.A. program to be eligible to participate in the apprenticeship program and must be in good standing as a Riverside employee. Also, he/she must have worked at Riverside a minimum of 6 months before the program starts on 1/8/2024.

When does the program start?

Orientation for the summer session is 1/8/2024 and classes/clinicals are 1/8/2024 to 5/9/2024.

What do CNAs do?

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are very important members of our Riverside healthcare team. Becoming a C.N.A. is often the first step in someone becoming a nurse.  C.N.A.s are responsible for helping the entire clinical team and patients too. The compassion and skill of a C.N.A. in giving patient care helps reduce stress for those who are sick and unable to care for themselves. We employ C.N.A.s in the hospital and in our senior life areas. Being a C.N.A. is hard work—and very rewarding.  It is a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a patient’s life.

Can I apply for the another semester?

Yes, if interested in a different semester (dates all listed on application), please complete this application and note which semester you are interested. Return applications to Riverside’s ODL Department (email [email protected]).

To learn more or download an application,  please visit RivernetàEducation PathwaysàTuition Reimbursement & College Options/Discounts: 

Please contact the OD and Learning Department at 815-935-3276 or extension 22701 for more information—or turn in your completed application to OD and Learning or [email protected] no later than 11/15/2023 for the summer semester. You will be notified if you are selected for the program along with your Director/Manager no later than 11/20/2023.

At Riverside Healthcare, we seek opportunities to support our Riverside family’s  lifelong learning.  We are happy to announce two scholarships for Riverside employees are now open for application. Each of these scholarships is made possible by donations in memory of how Riverside made a difference in their life’s journey.

Applications for these scholarships are due to [email protected] no later than midnight on Wednesday, 11/15/2023.  

To learn more or download an application,  please visit RivernetàEducation PathwaysàTuition Reimbursement & College Options/Discounts:

• The William R. Dyon Endowed Scholarship: This scholarship is for Riverside employees pursuing a non-nursing Bachelor’s Degree at Olivet Nazarene University.
• The Walter Kambic and Martin Benoit Non-Nursing Endowed Scholarship: This scholarship is for Riverside employees pursuing a non-nursing certificate, degree (Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral Degree at an accredited college/university.

 In addition, the Nursing Excellence Fund  remains open for applications for national nursing board certification funding and for nurses pursuing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited college.