NURSING ASSISTANT

The Nursing Assistant program is a four or six week (depending on chosen schedule), (96 clock hours) program. It is taught on campus and at a local, Long Term Care Facility. This course meets the state of Georgia requirements for students to pass the Georgia Medical Care Foundation oral and written exams for certification and employment in hospitals, nursing homes, and personal care homes as a Nursing Assistant.

This course introduces the student to basic nursing care and clinical skills. Consideration is given to the fundamental role of the Nursing Assistant to develop skills in communication, resident safety, infection control, body mechanics, bed making, and assisting residents with daily care. Students are also introduced to the Patients' Bill of Rights and the laws of privacy and confidentiality within a clinical environment.

What is a Nursing Assistant?

A Nursing Assistant is a healthcare professional who assists individuals with basic, non-invasive healthcare needs including basic nursing procedures-all under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.

What does a Nursing Assistant do?

Nursing Assistants provide safe and reliable care for those who need help or cannot care for themselves. A nursing assistant may be the first responder when a patient calls for help.

A Nursing Assistant's job duties include but are not limited to:

• Measure Vital Signs

  Taking a patient's vital signs is one of the most common tasks performed by a CNA. Vital signs include the patient's temperature, blood pressure, rate of respiration and pulse. The nursing assistant records all vital signs and reports any problems or irregularities to the doctor or nurse. If the patient needs help getting comfortable, the CNA will assist them in finding a more comfortable position. Also, if the patient has any questions or concerns while the CNA is taking the vitals, the CNA will relay those to the doctor or nurse.

• Clean Patient Rooms

  A Nursing Assistant in a nursing home or hospital will also tidy up the patient's room. A custodial staff member usually does the deeper cleaning, but the CNA will do some light cleaning if it's needed. Making beds and putting away laundry are two responsibilities that often fall on the CNA. They make sure that the room is clean and sanitary between deeper cleanings.

• Assist Patient with Mobility

  Some patients need help walking. A CNA will be there for the patient to help them get up from their bed or chair and go wherever they need to go. If the patient needs to use the restroom, the CNA will help them into the bathroom and make sure they are safe before leaving them. The CNA will also help the patient with daily walks to promote good health and recovery. When the patient returns to the room, the CNA will help him back into the bed or chair and make sure he is comfortable before leaving the room.

• Provide Patient Hygiene

  CNAs also assist patients with daily hygiene. These tasks range from shaving a man's beard to helping the patient get dressed each morning. A CNA may also assist patients with bathing or showering, if they cannot do it themselves. Brushing teeth, soaking dentures and brushing hair are also daily activities that a CNA will help with.

• Feeding Patients

  Nursing Assistants also help patients feed themselves. In a nursing home facility, the CNA will help the patient into the dining room, help them carry their food to the table and make sure they eat enough. Not all patients require the CNA to hand feed them, but sometimes that is necessary. Once the patient is finished with the meal, the CNA cleans her up and helps her to her next activity or back to her room.

Course Objectives for Nursing Assistant program

At the completion of the Nursing Assistant course, the student will be able to:

• Adapt basic nursing skills used in the long-term care setting to the care of client in the home environment
• Define functions and responsibilities of the nursing assistant
• Interpret the importance of agency policies regarding employment practices, policies and procedures, supervision, and ethics and confidentiality
• Interpret medical and social needs of the client being served including various disease states and the effects on the client and their family.
• Assist the client and the family adjust to illness and disability
• Assist the client in the home environment with personal care services including personal hygiene, self-care activities such as bathing, dressing and feeding, and assisting with mobility
• Assist the client with cleaning and care tasks such as home safety measures, the use of cleaning materials, maintenance of cleanliness in the kitchen, general cleanliness in the home environment, and the handling of dishes and laundry
• State an understanding of nutrition concepts including the basic principles of diet, meal planning and serving, and food purchasing, preparation, sanitation and storage.

Class Schedules

• Day program, Monday - Thursday 9a.m. - 3p.m.
• Evening program, Monday - Thursday 6p.m.-10p.m

Education requirements

Applicants must meet the following pre-requisites: High school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), and must also meet with the Program Director for a formal interview. At this interview the applicant will be asked standardized questions. Student selection into the program will then be based on previous education, and experience in an allied health field, grade point averages from high school and/or college transcripts, motivation, communication skills and others.

In order for a graduate of the Nursing Assistant program to become certified, they must take and pass the certification exam given by the NACESPlus Foundation. Please visit their website at www. nacesplus.org

Policy for Granting Credit for Previous Education and Training

Credit for advanced placement or appropriate experiential learning will be given consideration when such education or experience is determined to be comparable to the courses offered at the Sleep Studies School. Sleep Studies School considers the transfer of credits from other institutions accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Tuition & Fees

The tuition for the Nursing Assistant program is $850.00. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Tuition includes lab fees & liability insurance. It does not include: textbooks, uniforms, housing, or meals.

Financing

Private loans are available!

To help make training more affordable, private loans for this course are available through Springleaf Financial Services. There is no application fee, and the company offers a variety of loan sizes to meet your needs. Simply visit http://www.springleaffinancial.com/ and select, "Apply Now" to see if you qualify. Once an application form is filled-out, a representative from the branch closest to you will contact you.

Here are a few facts about the loans:

• Private Student Loan
• Based on credit and ability to pay
• Finances education and travel costs
• No application fees
• Different loan sizes available
• Monthly payments
• Allows co-applicants

In addition, Sleep School at Rockdale is a proud WorkForce Initiative Eligible Provider. All of our Allied Health Programs are included on the Atlanta Regional Workforce Board's (ARWB) local Intensive Service Listing. To see if you are eligible for this program, fill out an application at www.atlantaregional.com/wiatraining

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nursing Assistant jobs are expected to grow by 19% between the years of 2008 and 2018, which represents a growth that is faster than the average growth of other professions.

Part of this expected nursing job growth might be because of the projected need for more health care workers in long term care facilities as the population of the United States ages. Patient numbers in long term care facilities will also increase as health insurance forces them out of hospitals earlier than usual.

This will create a demand for Nursing Assistant jobs in long term care and community settings as well. Health care technology continues to create a greater need for the Nursing Assistant profession, as modern technology enables people to live longer and survive illness or injury that would have ended their lives just a few years ago.