Program Description

The Nursing Assistant program prepares students to successfully demonstrate required skills and proficiency knowledge on the state-required Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) exam. The curriculum is based upon 75 hours of combined theory, lab, and clinical instruction, practice, and skill validation. The course addresses the role of the CNA, patient care, anatomy and physiology, rehabilitation and restorative care, cultural diversity, infection control, safety, patient rights, and care for geriatric and dementia patients. Graduates are eligible to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam to become a part of the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry as a CNA.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student should be able to:

1. Perform as a valued member of the health care team within the approved nurse aide scope of practice.
2. Demonstrate safety and medical asepsis when providing patient care.
3. Perform in a manner appropriate of a nurse aide when communicating with patients, visitors, and other team members.
4. Demonstrate mandated skills for a nurse aide in the nursing care plan established for the patient.
5. Identify the common diseases and physical changes associated with the geriatric or dementia patient.
6. Perform within a legal and ethical framework based on patient rights as mandated in accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) policies.
7. Compile data necessary for the health care team to make informed decisions regarding the appropriate care plan for the health care consumer.

Admission Requirements

Admissions in the Nursing Assistant program requires the following:

• High school graduate or Wonderlic Entrance Score of 16 or 2.5 GPA at the end of the Sophomore year
• 16 years old
• Background check,
• Proof of Required Vaccinations

Attendance Requirements

The mandatory minimum of 75 hours for nursing assistant training programs is defined in the State of Wisconsin’s Division of Quality Assurance regulations DHS 129.  Any lost classroom/lab or clinical time for any reason will require satisfactory completion of make-up hours, up to a maximum of 8 hours. Please note:  Any event of tardiness will be rounded up to the next quarter hour.

If you have a medical reason for lost time causing you to exceed the number of hours that can be made up to total 75 hours, you must complete paperwork as directed by your instructor and provide medical provider documentation that states the reason for your absence. The Nursing Assistant program chair will submit these documents to DHS for an extension and will provide information throughout process. The program chair will submit these documents to DHS requesting extension to your existing program.  In the event DHS approves an extension, you will be notified of when you must complete.

Failure to comply with any of the following attendance policy components will result in being dropped from the program for excessive absenteeism as defined in DHS 129 regulations, and will result in your receiving a final course grade of “F”, which will remain on your school records permanently:

• Failure to schedule an appointment with your instructor to receive mandatory make-up work assignment for any lost course time
• Failure to satisfactorily complete make-up work assignment for missed course time outside of scheduled class time and/or by date given by instructor
• Absence/tardiness in any combination that exceeds 8 hours for the 75 hours course.

Note: This program is not eligible for financial aid.

Potential Occupational Titles

Potential occupational titles for this program include, but are not limited to Nursing Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant, or Nurse Aide.

Program Content

A minimum of 3.00 semester credit hours is required for graduation.