Program Info
Program Description
This five-week certificate program prepares individuals to become a Nurse Aide. Aide's render care to clients in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and in home-care. The program consists of 40 hours of course work in theory, 50 hours of laboratory activities, and 30 hours in a clinical agency. The course requires consistent attendance from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., four days a week.
Successful mastery allows testing at the state level to receive the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) designation. After certification, many students return to school to become nurses or other health care professionals. The CNA program is a great foundation for an Associate Degree in Applied Science.
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate competency in skills necessary for nurse assistants.
- Demonstrate professional behavior by communicating effectively and incorporating legal and ethical values into the care of residents.
- Provide safe, quality care to residents.
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Home health care
Because nurse assistants are required to lift, move, and transfer patients; stand for long period of times; possess certain fine motor skills; and sufficient visual acuity to care for patients, additional physical capabilities are required for entrance into the program. Applicants considering a career in health care may be exposed to infectious diseases during their course of study and in subsequent employment in the field, and are likely to work in situations where exposure to infectious disease is possible. Persons should not become health care workers unless they recognize and accept this risk. Proper education and strict adherence to well established infection-control guidelines can reduce the risk to a minimum. Thorough education in infection control procedures is an important part of the program of study.
NOTE: Early recognition of sensitization to natural rubber latex (NRL) is crucial to prevent the occurrence of life-threatening reactions in sensitized health care workers. Nursing faculty strongly advise that students sensitized or allergic to latex consult a physician for guidance on the merits of continuing in a health care career. NRL sensitized students who choose to continue in the nursing program must notify the program director/coordinator upon admission.
Upon successful completion of the course and two tests, the knowledge and clinical skills test, an applicant is issued a certification by Prometric. The certification allows the applicant to work as a CNA for a two year period.
Admission Requirements
- High School Diploma/GED
- Satisfactory completion of ENG-081, or a satisfactory score on the English placement exam.
- Current Basic Life Support (CPR) card from American Red Cross or American Heart Association.
- Drug screening and criminal background check.
NOTE: Students with a history of alcohol-related driving offenses or felony convictions will find it difficult, if not impossible, to gain employment in health care. The specific process is explained in information sessions in the Nursing Skills program. Drug screening must also be paid for by the student, and this is explained during HFC's new student information session. Students who are not cleared for clinical placement through the physical examination, criminal background check, and drug screen will not be able to complete NCS-110.
Program Requirements
| Course name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| NCS-110: Competency Evaluated Nurse Assistant | 6.00 |