Behind every confident caregiver at Excel Nursing Services is a solid foundation of training—and much of that foundation is built at Excel Training Institute in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. The Institute’s 75‑hour Nurse Aide/Home Health Aide hybrid course is specifically designed for people who want to start or advance a career in caregiving, home health, or medical services.
The program is divided into two components. First, students complete approximately 40 hours of online study over two weeks, on a flexible schedule that fits around work and family responsibilities. Then they transition into a third week of in‑person learning: three days in a skills laboratory and two days of clinical externship in a local facility, all under the guidance of a Registered Nurse. The emphasis is on hands‑on demonstrations, skills practice, and real‑world interaction with residents.
Throughout the course, students learn how to assist with bathing, grooming, toileting, transfers, mobility, exercises, nutrition, and medication reminders. They are trained in infection control, communication with clients and families, observation and reporting, and how to support individuals living with chronic conditions or recovering from illness and injury. The goal is to develop a workforce that is not only clinically competent but also compassionate and dependable.
Upon successful completion, graduates qualify to take the Massachusetts Nursing Assistant State Competency Exam and receive a Certificate of Completion for Home Health Aide training. Small clinical groups—each RN instructor supervises no more than 10 students—ensure that each learner gets individualized feedback and encouragement.
From there, graduates have options. Many choose to apply directly to Excel Nursing Services, where Rebecca’s team can place them in home care or home health roles with robust RN supervision. Others leverage Excel’s community connections to secure positions in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice agencies, assisted living communities, or schools. Over time, some move on to nursing school, Medical Assistant programs, or Physician Assistant training, using their CNA and HHA experience as a stepping stone.
Excel Training Institute’s mission is clear: “to provide exceptional training to individuals who seek a career in the healthcare field” and to offer opportunities that let them grow both professionally and personally. Under Rebecca Paquette’s leadership, the program does more than prepare students for a test—it prepares them for a lifetime of meaningful work in caregiving and healthcare.
