At Gritman Medical Center, Hollie Mooney is helping build a direct connection between education and the healthcare workforce—one that benefits both students and the broader community.

A nurse since 1991, Mooney brings decades of experience in hospital care, long-term care and home health into her role as instructor for the Moscow School District’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Pathway. Through a partnership with Gritman, students train inside a working hospital, gaining both technical skills and the professional expectations required in patient care.

“The program reflects a deliberate investment by Gritman in growing its own workforce while strengthening the local community,” Mooney said. “By opening its doors to high school students, the hospital provides access to real-world training that would otherwise be difficult to replicate in a traditional classroom.”

Students attend class at the hospital four days a week, moving through the same spaces as staff and patients. That visibility reinforces expectations around professionalism from the start—how students present themselves, how they communicate and how they carry themselves in a healthcare environment.

The partnership allows students to experience multiple sides of healthcare. They train in simulation labs within the hospital and complete clinical hours in both hospital and long-term care settings, giving them a broader understanding of patient care.

At the same time, Gritman staff play an active role in the program. Nurses, department leaders and support staff regularly engage with students, reinforcing a culture that values mentorship and education.

“No one has said, ‘I don’t want to come and talk to the class,’” Mooney said.

That culture extends beyond the classroom. Gritman’s approach emphasizes “growing your own” workforce—creating pathways for local students to enter healthcare careers while supporting long-term workforce needs.

“It’s Gritman’s way of saying we care about our community and want to participate in educating our young people,” Mooney said.

The program begins with a fundamentals course that introduces students to healthcare careers, safety, communication and teamwork. Students earn CPR certification, participate in mock interviews and engage with professionals across a range of roles.

In the spring, students move into hands-on CNA training, completing more than 40 hours of clinical experience. The program also offers dual credit through Lewis-Clark State College, allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school.

“It gives them that exposure to see if this is something they really want to do before they spend years and money pursuing it,” Mooney said.

As the program has grown from four students in its first year to 15 today, Mooney sees it as a model for future expansion, including additional healthcare pathways like EMT and medical assistant training.

For Gritman, the investment is both practical and long-term—strengthening its workforce pipeline while reinforcing its role as a community partner in education.

“It takes a village to support these students and help them succeed,” Mooney said.

For Mooney, the goal is clear: prepare students not only with skills, but with the professionalism, empathy and responsibility required to care for others.

“They are the lifeline for those patients, and they are the heart of what healthcare is,” Mooney said.