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Continuing education award presented to CAA by Janice Rhodes R.N., Clinical Services Education Project nurse, and Laurie Zone-Smith, R.N., Clinical Services Special Projects manager The MUSC Clinical Associate Apprenticeship (CAA) Program won the Outstanding Continuing Education Program Award given by the South Carolina Association for Higher Continuing Education (SCAHCE).  Front row from left are: Janice Rhodes, Clinical Services Education Project nurse and CAA program manager; Ellen Saqui, 4Eye; Tawana Maxwell, Dialysis; Erin Blish Spalviero, 6 West; LaSandra Jennings, 10 West; Wilhelmina Hamilton, 10 West; Betty Ziobro, TTC instructor. Back row form left are: Tisa Tisdale, 10 West; Chris Alfaro, TTC instructor; Kyle Wilson, CTICU; and Sureko Hamilton, 6 West. The need to ensure an adequate supply of clinical associates to work side by side with a registered nurse and provide excellent care for our patients was identified as an urgent priority by the Clinical Services Nursing Leadership team.  The team responded  by developing the Clinical Associate Apprenticeship (CAA) program in conjunction with the Trident Technical College Continuing Education Department. “Trident Technical College is very thankful to MUSC for allowing the college to have the opportunity to work and develop the CAA program and in turn receive this distinguished honor by SCAHE,” said Mitchell Harp, program leader of continuing education at Trident Technical College. Applications submitted by interested individuals are reviewed for position qualification by the Medical Center Human Resource staff and applicants are interviewed by the nurse managers. CAA applicants are hired as employees of Medical University Hospital Authority and receive pay while attending the CAA program.  MUHA subsidizes the total cost of the training course and materials. The program is seven and one-half weeks of classroom instruction and skills lab training as well as clinical experiences under the direction of the Trident Technical College instructors. The employee is responsible for attending all sessions and completing the program requirements.  Each employee meets with their nurse manager on a regular basis to share his or her progress and experiences. Hermenia Mosley, healthcare recruitment specialist, coordinates the initial hiring activities and  is invaluable to the leadership team.  “Several applicants have expressed their appreciation for a program of this nature, which allows them to become trained nursing support personnel,” Mosley said. The first course began in March. Since that time two additional groups have graduated, totaling 40 new clinical associate health care team members. The fourth CAA course is currently in session and will graduate Dec. 19. The Medical Center anticipates scheduling the CAA program quarterly in the future to assure clinical associate staffing needs are met. Nursing Leadership recognized 28 graduates from the second and third Clinical Associate Apprenticeship programs at a reception on Oct. 17.  Family members and friends were invited to celebrate their accomplishment. July 27 Graduates Erin Blish Spalviero, 6 West; Jennifer Hazel Brown, 6 East; Janette  Brown, 8 West; Nicoyia Cox, PICU; Courtney Holt, NNICU; LaSandra Jennings, 10 West; Tawana Maxwell, Dialysis; George McCowan, Burn; Beata Monroe, 6 West; Lisa Morris, 6 West; Brennan Phillips, Emergency Department; Loretta Rhodes, 8 East; Ashlei Williams, 7 West; Shimira Williams, 6 West Oct. 5 Graduates Chandra Chisolm, 6 East; Tera DiPace, 6 West; Sureko Hamilton, 6 West; Debra Heupel, 7 West; Elizabeth Horlback, 6 East; Grace Rivera, PICU; Ellen Saqui, 4 Eye Observation; Billy Thiess, 6 West; Wilhelmina Thompson, 10 West; Tisa Tisdale, 10 West; Michael Townsend, 6 East; Kyle Wilson, CTICU; Jaime Ackerman, HOP; Shavonna Young, 7 West.