Many, like Major Daniel LaFontaine, had been deployed to the Middle East and other spots around the state and across the globe before, but said this training was a different kind of difficult.
“It definitely is more intimate,” LaFontaine said of the kind of mission they were expected to carry out. “Honestly, it’s kind of humbling, because it might seem pretty straightforward but it’s not an easy job.”
The soldiers were training to become certified nursing assistants, and they would go assist RNs at facilities like nursing homes and rehab hospitals.
“We are there to support the facility,” said Lt. Col. Brian Douty. “We are not there to take over that facility. We’re going to work with the staff that’s there, and maybe augment them. We’ll let them work 40 hours a week instead of 50-60 hours a week, just to kind of relieve the stress a little bit.”
Lt. Col. Douty said he was impressed with how quickly the colleges were able to develop a curriculum that normally would require 75 hours of instruction and training.
“Minnesota colleges really pulled through on this for us to assist us,” said Douty. “They were on-call and ready to go within three days.”
Nursing instructors say the kind of work these soldiers will ultimately be doing is critical to long-term patient care.
“All of the curriculum includes stuff we do for ourselves every day,” said Laura Cleveland, Director of Customized Training for Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Tech. She said they’d be responsible for helping patients get dressed and clean up and being transferred to a bed or wheelchair.
“They’re the eyes and ears for the nurses at the facilities, too,” said Cleveland. “They’ll be the first ones to pick up on if something’s changed and if someone might need additional care or if someone’s getting sick.”
Despite the learning curve, soldiers like LaFontaine said missions like these are why he signed up for the Guard.
“It’s kind of an honor,” he said. “I think most of us signed up for, you know, basically helping out fellow Minnesotans.”
