RED WING, Minn. – Southeast Tech is gearing up intense training for National Guard soldiers activated by Governor Tim Walz to address a critical shortage of nursing home staff statewide. The eight-day course begins Sunday at Tech’s Red Wing campus. Statewide,16 colleges will train 400 Guard members by December 5 – the day before vaccination requirement for healthcare workers becomes effective, which is expected to further reduce staffing at nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The soldiers will become certified nursing assistants. Additionally, as many as 400 additional soldiers may be trained before June 30. The first continent at Southeast Tech will be 20 soldiers. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a total of 75 hours of training provided by one full-time nursing instructor and five part-time instructors.
