Nursing Assistant (CNA)

This foundational course equips nursing assistant students with the safety protocols, medical math, communication skills, and career readiness knowledge required before entering direct patient care settings. Students earn OSHA 10 and CPR/First Aid credentials, practice healthcare-specific calculations and documentation, and develop the professional behaviors and digital literacy that underpin every subsequent CNA course. Lessons are mapped to the domains tested on the state CNA competency examination, including safety and emergency procedures, communication, and legal/ethical behavior.

How the course runs. 7 blocks: Workplace Safety and OSHA 10 for Healthcare Settings; CPR, AED, and First Aid Certification; Medical Math and Measurement for CNAs; Medical Terminology, Technical Reading, and Documentation; Communication, Patient Rights, and Legal/Ethical Responsibilities; Digital Literacy and Electronic Health Records for CNAs; Career Readiness and Professional Preparation.

What competent looks like. Demonstrate safe workplace practices consistent with OSHA general industry standards and healthcare facility infection-control requirements, including proper use of personal protective equipment. Perform adult CPR, infant CPR, and basic first aid to current American Heart Association or American Red Cross standards and hold a valid certification card upon course completion. Accurately convert between metric and household units, calculate intake and output in milliliters, and read and record vital-sign values using the mathematical skills required for entry-level CNA practice. Read and interpret standard healthcare documents—including care plans, assignment sheets, and Material Safety Data Sheets—and document observations using correct medical terminology and abbreviations. Use facility-standard digital tools (electronic health record training modules, secure messaging simulations, and telehealth basics) to locate patient information and communicate within scope of practice. Apply professional and ethical standards—including patient rights under HIPAA, mandatory-reporting obligations, and scope-of-practice boundaries—in simulated workplace scenarios.

This course covers the foundational hands-on skills a nursing assistant performs daily: personal hygiene, bathing, grooming, oral care, dressing, toileting, positioning, and nutrition assistance. Students learn to perform each skill safely within CNA scope of practice, with continuous attention to patient dignity, communication, and reporting obligations. Lesson content maps directly to the personal care and restorative care domains tested on the state CNA competency evaluation.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Hygiene and Grooming: Bathing, Oral Care, and Skin Inspection; Dressing, Undressing, and Perineal Care; Positioning, Alignment, and Pressure Injury Prevention; Toileting Assistance, Elimination Observation, and Specimen Collection; Nutrition Assistance, Feeding, and Hydration Monitoring.

What competent looks like. Perform complete bed bath, partial bath, and shower/tub assist using proper body mechanics and infection-control technique without prompting. Provide oral hygiene, denture care, hair care, nail care, and shaving assistance while maintaining patient dignity and safety. Assist patients with dressing, undressing, and toileting using standard CNA technique, adapting for patients with weakness or physical limitations. Position and reposition a bedridden patient in supine, lateral, Fowler's, and semi-Fowler's positions using correct alignment and pressure-injury prevention measures. Assist patients with meal setup, feeding, and fluid intake, accurately recording intake as required and recognizing signs of dysphagia that must be reported. Identify deviations from normal skin condition, elimination patterns, and nutritional intake that fall outside CNA scope and must be reported to a licensed nurse.

Students learn to accurately measure, record, and report the five vital signs—temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation—using clinical-grade equipment under realistic conditions. Emphasis is placed on recognizing normal versus abnormal values, understanding when to report findings immediately, and documenting results clearly in the resident's record. Lesson content maps directly to the Resident Care and Communication and Interpersonal Skills domains of the State CNA Registry competency exam.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Understanding Vital Signs: Purpose, Normal Ranges, and Patient Safety; Temperature and Pulse: Equipment, Technique, and Documentation; Respiration, Blood Pressure, and Oxygen Saturation: Technique and Abnormal Recognition; Integrated Vital Signs Procedure and Electronic Documentation; Clinical Judgment, Reporting, and Exam Readiness for Vital Signs.

What competent looks like. Demonstrate correct technique for measuring oral, axillary, and tympanic temperature using a clinical thermometer and report readings outside normal reference ranges to a supervising nurse. Obtain an accurate radial pulse rate and respiratory rate by 60-second count, identify irregular rhythms and abnormal rates, and document findings using standard terminology. Measure blood pressure manually with a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, and electronically with an automated cuff, and state reportable threshold values for hypertension and hypotension. Apply a pulse oximeter correctly, interpret SpO2 readings in context of patient condition, and describe circumstances requiring immediate escalation. Record all five vital signs legibly and in correct format in a simulated paper flow sheet and an electronic health record entry, correcting errors per facility policy without obliterating the original entry. Perform a complete set of vital signs on a simulated resident while maintaining infection control precautions and patient dignity throughout the procedure.

This course teaches nursing assistants to safely move, transfer, reposition, and ambulate patients using correct body mechanics, assistive devices, and lift equipment to prevent injury to both patient and caregiver. Learners apply functional anatomy and fall-prevention principles to real clinical scenarios. All content maps directly to the CNA state registry competency areas of safe care environment, personal care, and basic restorative services.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Body Mechanics, Functional Anatomy, and Injury Prevention; Positioning and Bed Mobility; Transfers: Gait Belt, Pivot, and Mechanical Lift; Ambulation, Assistive Devices, and Fall Prevention; Documentation, Reporting, and Scope of Practice in Mobility Care.

What competent looks like. Demonstrate correct body mechanics during all patient handling tasks to prevent musculoskeletal injury to self and patient. Perform bed mobility skills including turning, positioning, and moving a patient up in bed using standard techniques and positioning aids. Execute assisted transfers between bed, wheelchair, chair, and toilet using gait belts and mechanical lift equipment according to facility protocol. Ambulate patients safely with appropriate assistive devices, including cane, walker, and crutches, applying fall-prevention measures throughout. Identify patients at high fall risk using observable indicators and implement facility fall-prevention interventions within CNA scope of practice. Document mobility assistance accurately and report changes in patient mobility status or tolerance to the supervising nurse in a timely manner.

This course covers the principles and practices nursing assistants use every day to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare settings, including standard precautions, transmission-based precautions, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and proper handling of contaminated materials. Students learn to recognize the chain of infection and apply facility protocols that protect patients, coworkers, and themselves. Lessons map directly to the infection-control domain tested on the state CNA competency evaluation.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: The Chain of Infection and Standard Precautions; Hand Hygiene: Technique, Timing, and Competency; Personal Protective Equipment: Selection, Donning, and Doffing; Transmission-Based Precautions, Isolation Procedures, and Biohazardous Waste; Infection Control in Daily CNA Practice: Integration and Review.

What competent looks like. Explain the chain of infection and identify at least four ways to break it in a healthcare setting. Perform correct hand hygiene using both soap-and-water and alcohol-based hand rub techniques, meeting the CDC five-moments standard. Select, don, doff, and dispose of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the correct sequence without self-contamination. Implement standard precautions and the three categories of transmission-based precautions (contact, droplet, airborne) for assigned patient scenarios. Handle, bag, and dispose of contaminated items and biohazardous waste according to OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard requirements. Demonstrate proper isolation-room set-up, signage recognition, and entry/exit procedures that protect the patient, staff, and visitors.

Students apply nursing assistant skills learned in prior courses directly to real or simulated resident and patient care scenarios, integrating personal care, vital signs, mobility, infection control, and communication under direct instructor supervision. Emphasis is placed on safe, dignified, person-centered care and accurate documentation as required in clinical environments. Lesson performance and competency checks are mapped to the state CNA certification exam skill areas to ensure exam readiness.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: The Clinical Environment: Orientation, Resident Rights, and Safety Walkthrough; Personal Care Skills: Bathing, Grooming, Oral Care, and Perineal Care; Vital Signs, Intake and Output, and Clinical Documentation; Mobility, Transfers, and Fall Prevention in the Clinical Setting; Integrated Clinical Simulation: Full Resident Care Assignment.

What competent looks like. Perform a minimum of 8 CNA certification exam skill areas correctly and safely on a peer or mannequin with no critical safety errors. Demonstrate proper infection control technique, including standard precautions and PPE use, throughout every resident care interaction. Accurately document care provided using facility-style flow sheets and electronic health record (EHR) sample forms. Communicate resident status changes, pain reports, and unusual findings to a simulated charge nurse using SBAR format. Identify and correct at least three common safety hazards in a simulated clinical environment during a structured walkthrough. Apply resident rights principles, including privacy, refusal of care, and dignity, in every clinical scenario.

Students synthesize skills from all prior courses by completing a structured, multi-phase capstone project that simulates a real CNA caseload: performing head-to-toe assessments, executing care procedures, documenting accurately, and responding to safety scenarios. The course culminates in a portfolio defense in which students present their documented work and demonstrate readiness for the state CNA Registry examination and clinical practicum.

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Capstone Planning: Case Assignment, Skills Audit, and Documentation Setup; Integrated Patient Care Simulation — Full Caseload Execution; Portfolio Assembly and Remediation; Capstone Defense: Faculty Panel Oral Examination.

What competent looks like. Perform a complete, documented patient care simulation—including vital signs, mobility assistance, personal care, and infection control—meeting the standard required on the state CNA competency evaluation. Produce a professional care documentation record (ADL flow sheet, incident report, and communication log) free of errors that would constitute a legal or safety violation. Demonstrate correct responses to at least three simulated emergency or safety scenarios (choking, fall, fire evacuation) consistent with facility policy and scope-of-practice boundaries. Self-assess performance against the state CNA skills checklist, identify personal gaps, and articulate a written remediation plan. Present a professional portfolio—including completed skills checklists, documentation samples, and a career readiness artifact—and defend competence verbally before a faculty panel. Apply medical math and measurement skills (unit conversion, intake/output recording, vital-sign ranges) accurately within integrated simulation tasks.

Students complete supervised hands-on clinical hours in a licensed long-term care or acute-care facility, applying every skill taught in the program under the direct observation of a licensed nurse preceptor. This externship satisfies the state-required clinical hours component of CNA certification eligibility and bridges classroom competency to real-world patient care. Performance is evaluated against the same skill standards used on the state CNA competency examination.

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Facility Orientation and Clinical Readiness; Supervised Direct Patient Care: Activities of Daily Living; Supervised Clinical Skills: Vitals, Specimen Collection, and Restorative Care; Professional Integration and End-of-Practicum Review.

What competent looks like. Perform at least five direct patient-care skills (including bed bath, transfers, vital signs, peri-care, and oral hygiene) meeting facility and state-exam competency standards under nurse-preceptor observation. Demonstrate safe patient handling, standard precautions, and fall-prevention measures in a live clinical environment without a single documented unsafe act. Communicate accurately in written and verbal form with supervising nurses, documenting care provided using facility charting procedures and appropriate medical terminology. Maintain professional conduct—punctuality, dress code, HIPAA confidentiality, and respectful patient interaction—as rated Satisfactory or above on the employer evaluation for every shift. Complete a clinical skills log documenting each skill performed, the date, patient scenario, and preceptor sign-off, with all required skills recorded before the final week. Self-identify and report to the supervising nurse any task that falls outside CNA scope of practice, demonstrating safe boundary recognition in real patient-care situations.

This course prepares nursing assistant students to pass the state CNA competency evaluation by systematically reviewing all tested knowledge and skill domains through targeted instruction, practice questions, and full-length mock examinations. Students identify personal knowledge gaps, practice timed written questions mapped to exam content areas, and demonstrate hands-on clinical skills under test-like conditions. Successful completion positions students to sit the state CNA registry examination with confidence and legal authorization to practice as a nursing assistant.

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Exam Overview, Eligibility, and Diagnostic Assessment; Written Exam Content Review: Resident Rights, Safety, Infection Control, and Communication; Clinical Skills Examination Review and Observed Skills Practice; Full Mock Certification Examination and Personalized Remediation.

What competent looks like. Correctly answer practice questions across all major CNA written exam content domains at a passing rate consistent with state competency standards. Demonstrate at least five randomly selected CNA clinical skills in correct procedural order under timed, evaluator-observed conditions without prompting. Apply effective test-taking strategies—including question analysis, elimination of distractors, and time management—to timed written and skills examinations. Identify personal knowledge and skill gaps through diagnostic practice testing and create a targeted self-study plan to address deficiencies before the credential exam. Explain the state CNA registry examination registration process, eligibility requirements, scheduling procedures, and consequences of practicing without licensure. Articulate scope of practice boundaries and patient safety priorities as applied to scenario-based questions representative of the state competency examination.