Nursing Assistant Certificate

300 Hours/Instructor supported/Textbooks included

Overview

If you've ever thought about becoming a nursing assistant, this in-depth curriculum could help you learn important fundamental, practical skills involved in a career as a nursing assistant. Unlike other online nursing classes, our program lets you study at home at a time and place that is most comfortable to you.

Nursing assistants, also known as nurse’s aides, orderlies or patient care technicians work under the supervision of a nurse to provide assistance to patients with daily living tasks.

Working closely with patients, nursing assistants are responsible for basic care services such as bathing, grooming and feeding patients, assisting nurses with medical equipment, and checking patient vital signs. Nursing assistants give patients important social and emotional support and also provide vital information on patient conditions to nurses.

Credentialing Requirements: Each state has its own requirements for Nursing Assistant Assistants. They can be found at http://www.cna-network.org/questions.htm#contact

Textbooks included with course:

• Nursing Assistant: A Nursing Process Approach Basics by Barbara Hegner, Barbara Acello, and Esther Caldwell
• Merriam-Webster’s Medical Desk Dictionary, Revised Edition
• Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide Exam, 3rd Edition (Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide Exam) by Learning Express Editors

Outline

Nursing Assistant Module 1

Introduction to Nursing Assisting & Scientific Principles

• Community Health Care
• Regulatory Agencies
• Role of the Nursing Assistant
• Patient Focused Care
• Lines of Authority
• Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
• Ethical and Legal Issues
• Medical Terminology
• Body Organization
• Classification of Disease
• Major Conditions and Diagnosis

Nursing Assistant Module 2

Basic Human Needs and Communication

• Communication in Health Care
• Guidelines for Communicating with Patients
• Communicating with Staff Members
• Observation, Reporting, and Documentation
• Meeting Basic Human Needs
• Dealing with Comfort and Pain
• The Need for Rest and Sleep
• Developing Cultural Sensitivity
• Race, Ethnicity and Culture

Nursing Assistant Module 3
Infection, Infection Control, Safety and Mobility

• The Chain of Infection
• Types of Infections
• Immunity and Immunizations
• Preventing Infections and Disease
• Maintaining Medical Asepsis
• Hand washing and Protecting Yourself
• Putting on a Gown and Gloves
• Dealing with Isolation Units
• Disinfection and Sterilization
• Environmental and Nursing Assistant Safety
• Violence in the Workplace
• Patient Safety
• Preventing Patient Falls
• Body Mechanics for the Patient
• Moving and Lifting Patients
• Guidelines for Safe Patient Transfers
• Ambulation and Assistive Devices
• Safe Use of Wheelchairs

Nursing Assistant Module 4
Measuring and Recording Vital Signs and Patient Care

• Body Temperature
• Pulse and Respiration
• Reading the Blood Pressure Gauge
• Measuring Height and Weight
• Admission Procedure
• Transferring the Patient
• Discharging a Patient
• Handling Linens and Making the Bed
• Making a Surgical Bed
• Patient Bathing
• Assisting with the Tub or Shower
• Hand and Fingernail Care
• Dressing and Undressing the Patient
• Assisting with Routine Oral Hygiene
• Daily Hair Care
• Assisting with a Bedpan and Bedside Commode

Nursing Assistant Module 5

Nutrition Balance and Special Care Procedures

• Normal Nutrition and Essential Nutrients
• Special Diets
• Dysphagia
• Fluid Balance
• Feeding Patients
• Therapy with Heat and Cold
• Hypothermia Blanket
• Assisting with the Physical Examination
• Dealing with the Surgical Patient
• Preoperative Care
• Postoperative Care
• Performing Postoperative Leg Exercises
• Applying Pneumatic Compression Hosiery
• Caring for the Emotionally Stressed Patient
• Professional Boundaries
• Caring for the Bariatric Patient
• Dealing with Death and Dying
• Five Stages of Grief
• Hospice Care
• Postmortem Care
• Home Care

Nursing Assistant Module 6
Body Systems, Common Disorders, and Related Care Procedure

• Integumentary System
• Respiratory System
• Circulatory (Cardiovascular) System
• Musculoskeletal System
• Endocrine System
• Nervous System
• Gastrointestinal System
• Urinary System
• Reproductive System

Nursing Assistant Module 7
Expanded Role of the Nursing Assistant

• Caring for the Patient with Cancer
• Rehabilitation and Restorative Services
• Obstetrical Patients and Neonates
• Pediatric Patients
• Special Advanced Procedures
• Response to Basic Emergencies
• Employment Opportunities and Career Growth
• Searching for a Job
• Assemble a Proper Resume’
• Keeping the Job
• Continue to Grow Throughout Your Career

Average Time of Completion: 4-6 months; Maximum Time to Completion: 1 Year

Computer Requirements

Internet Access

·         Broadband or high-speed internet access is strongly recommended. Broadband includes DSL, cable, and wireless connections.

·         Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Moodle pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible.

Hardware

·         Virtually all Windows-Mac-Linux hardware configurations and processors are acceptable.

·         1 GB RAM recommended

Software

·         Operating Systems

§  Windows XP or Vista and Mac OS X 10 and higher, most Linux distributions

·         Web Browsers

§  Mozilla Firefox 2 and 3 (previous versions will work also)

§  Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8

§  Safari is not currently recommended as it cannot display certain Moodle editing menus for both students and instructors

Media Plug-ins (These may be required depending on your course media-click on the links below to download the latest versions)

§  Adobe Flash Player

§  Adobe Acrobat Reader

§  Apple Quicktime

§  Windows Media Player

§  Real Player

§  PowerPoint Viewer (use this if you don’t have PowerPoint)