Nurse Aide Earn & Learn Program

A Certified Nurse Aide is a state-licensed role that supports the daily needs of patients in the healthcare setting. These duties include stand-by and up to total support in activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing, eating, hygiene, dressing and incontinence (bathroom) care. In the state of Virginia, completion of a state-approved program and successful completion of a state exam are required in order to work in this role.

The Earn & Learn Program allows you to begin employment as a Hospitality Assistant as an introduction to the healthcare field, while also being paid for working hours and school time while you complete the state-approved Nurse Aide program.

While you are working to complete the Nurse Aide program, your work as a Hospitality Assistant is important and serves to support residents and fellow team members on a designated unit. Duties of the HA include: assisting at meal time, passing meal trays, stocking supplies, answering call lights, cleaning utility rooms, tidying resident living areas, emptying soiled linen, making beds, and conducting leisure activities with residents.

As a Hospitality Assistant, you will be employed as a Labor Pool (as needed) employee. Once your program begins, school hours vary between 7am and 5pm, Monday through Friday in either a 6-week or accelerated 4-week program, depending on location. Both programs are approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.

Upon successful completion of the Nurse Aide program, you will be assigned a full- or part-time Certified Nurse Aide position. Shifts in facilities are typically: 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm, or 11pm-7am. In facilities that operate in 12-hour shifts, the shifts are typically 7am-7pm and 7pm-7am. A rotating schedule of every other weekend is required for all shifts and statuses. Shift and status offered will vary depending on availability at the time of program completion. While we will make every effort to match your preference, flexibility in your committed work schedule is a requirement of this program.

The Earn & Learn Program is a great way to complete the Nurse Aide program – without relying on student loans or out of pocket costs. This program is designed as a pathway to a healthcare career for those who wish to be a Riverside team member long-term and as such does come with a work agreement. The work agreement requires a 12-month commitment for full-time CNAs or an 18-month commitment for part-time CNAs. The commitment period must be worked in the facility or division in which you entered the program.

Once you graduate from the Nurse Aide program, you will be scheduled to sit for your licensing exam. Study sessions and practice exams are offered regularly to support you during the waiting period for the exam.

The state exam has both a written and a skills assessment. During the skills assessment, you will be asked to complete 5 of the 23 major skills learned during your course. You will complete these skills while explaining each step to an exam proctor to ensure skills competency. If you do not pass one or both sections, you will be able to make a second attempt after 45 days.

The exam costs total $140 which will be reimbursed to you upon successful completion.

Once you enter a full- or part-time role, Riverside has a wide arrange of benefits depending on your work status. These may include: 

Health & Wellness: 

• Medical Plan Options
• Vision and Dental plans (including orthodontic care)
• Wellness & fitness center discounts
• Onsite pharmacy and delivery options
• Riverside services discount
• Flexible spending and savings accounts
• Healthy lifestyle incentives

Peace of Mind

• Group Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Whole Life Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Legal Insurance
• Pet Insurance

Financial Support

•  403(b) Savings Plan (Immediate Matching)
• Company Wide Bonus Program
• Employee Help Fund
• Tuition Assistance 
• Specialty Certification Assistance 

Work-Life Balance

• Paid Time Off (full- and part-time team members)
• Extended illness bank
• Care.com membership
• Employee Assistance Program
• Adoption Assistance
• Area retail discounts
• Community involvement opportunities

Willingness to learn and study.

Desire to care for others 

Demonstrated work ethic (good attendance, reliability) 

Ability to travel, as classes, or clinical components of a class, may require travel to other Riverside facilities and locations 

Visit the careers section of our website to apply directly online for a Hospitality Assistant role to a location or locations that you’re interested in being considered for. This location is where you will work during the program and after program completion.

Once your application is received, a recruiter may reach out if they have any questions based on your resume or application before sending to the hiring manager for review.

If selected for an interview, a hiring manager or program director will reach out to you directly to schedule an in-person interview.

If selected for the program, a member of the Talent Acquisition team will call you to make a formal offer, discuss salary and benefits and schedule your start date and onboarding. Because of the sensitive nature of this position, background checks and employee health screenings are required for all new hires. Upon clearance of all requirements, new team members will complete System Wide Orientation on their first day of employment.