Program Length – 126 clock hours completed over six to seven weeks. 

(Classroom lectures:————————60 hours

Laboratory hours:—————————20 hours

CPR Time: ———————————-06 hours

Clinical Time:——————————-40 hours) 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Basic Nurse Assistant Program educates students in both theory and practical experiences, which will prepare them for employment in the professional healthcare field. Students will receive a thorough education, which includes basic human anatomy and patient care. The program aims to assist students in developing the characteristics needed to succeed in the healthcare profession.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Basic Nurse Assistant Program provides classroom, laboratory instruction, and supervised practice in area nursing homes and hospitals. The Illinois Department of Public Health Office of Quality Assurance approves it. After completing the program, students will be eligible to complete the written and skills exams to obtain their certificates issued by IDPH. 

PROGRAM GOAL

• To provide education using theory and practical experiences in all areas of basic nursing care needed for students to obtain gainful employment as Certified Nurse Assistants.
• To assist in developing patient service, communication, employer, and co-worker communication skills.
• To instill knowledge of entry-level skills required of an employee in the health field.
• To prepare students to pass the school’s final written and the state competency and performance exams.

PROGRAM METHODOLOGY

• The program educates trainees with the knowledge and skills to care for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or private homes. 
• Teaching is done by a Registered Nurse who has completed the Train-The-Trainee certification program. 
• The nurse assistant will learn to administer basic nursing care, including bed making, bed baths, vital sign measurement, transporting, moving, and transferring of patients, rehabilitation nursing, care of the patient in isolation, and care of the terminally ill.
• After completing the program, the Nurse Assistant student will graduate with a good knowledge of patient care as a Nurse Assistant as allowed by the Illinois Department of Public Health and will be allowed to write the state exam.
• After successfully passing the state exam, the student will be certified by the Illinois Department of Public Health as a Certified Nurse Assistant. 

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Employers will expect you, as a Nursing Assistant graduate, to be able to:

• Communicate effectively with clients, families, and the healthcare team.
• Perform safe and effective basic nursing skills.
• Provide personal care for clients.
• Promote the fullest possible level of client functioning.
• Promote clients’ rights.
• Meet the basic needs of clients with dementia.

STUDENT PROFILE

Nursing Assistant students should be:

• Flexible, empathetic, and nonjudgmental.
• Emotionally stable.
• Able to adjust to diverse personalities and backgrounds.
• Able to display a caring attitude toward ill patients.
• Able to work under stress,
• Compassionate, flexible, and personable.
• Able to communicate effectively.

READING MATERIALS

Textbook and Workbook for Nursing Assisting: A Foundation in Care Giving, 6th.Edition by Diana L. Dungan. 

Every student gets a copy of the reading material.

CLASS SCHEDULE AND TIMES

A new session of the Basic Nurse Assistant program starts approximately every six to seven weeks.

Weekday morning class schedule: 

Group 1: Monday through Wednesday 

Group 2: Thursday through Saturday 

Class time: 9:00 am to 3:30 pm

Weekday evening class Schedule:

Group 1: Monday through Wednesday 

Group 2: Thursday through Saturday 

Class time: 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Weekend Class Schedule:

Saturdays and Sundays 

Class time: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Clinical Rotation Schedule

Weekday classes: Saturdays, 7 am to 3:30 pm

Weekend class: Held on a weekday (determined at the beginning of the program per facility availability).

TEST/FINAL EXAM

Students will take two tests during the program and are required to complete a performance evaluation exam at the end of the program. The exam comprises both written and performance sections. Students will need to score 75% on each of the two tests and the final exam to pass or a 75% average. Students are allowed one makeup test for each if required. 

CLASSROOM LECTURES TOPICS

Week-1

1. THE NURSING ASSISTING IN LONG-TERM CARE: CHAPTER
2. ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES: CHAPTER 2
3. COMMUNICATION SKILLS: CHAPTER 3
4. COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES: CHAPTER 4
5. BED MAKING AND UNIT CARE: CHAPTER 10
6. VITAL SIGNS: 13

Week-2

1. DIVERSITY AND HUMAN NEEDS AND DEVELOPMENT: CHAPTER 5
2. INFECTION CONTROL: CHAPTER 6
3. SAFETY AND BODY MECHANICS: CHAPTER 7
4. EMERGENCY CARE, FIRST AID, AND DISASTERS: CHAPTER 9
5. POSITIONING, MOVING, AND LIFTING: CHAPTER 11
6. ADMISSION, TRANSFER, DISCHARGE, AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: CHAPTER 8

Week-3

1. PERSONAL CARE: CHAPTER 12
2. NUTRITION AND FLUID BALANCE: CHAPTER 14
3. THE GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM: CHAPTER 15
4. THE URINARY SYSTEM: CHAPTER 16
5. THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: CHAPTER 17

Week-4

1. THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM: CHAPTER 18
2. THE CIRCULATORY AND CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: CHAPTER 19
3. THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: CHAPTER 20
4. THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: CHAPTER 21

Week-5

1. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: CHAPTER 22
2. THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: CHAPTER 23
3. THE IMMUNE AND LYMPHATIC SYSTEM AND CANCER: CHAPTER 24
4. REHABILITATION AND RESTORATIVE CARE: CHA

Week-6

1. SUBACUTE CARE: CHAPTER 26
2. END OF LIFE CARE: CHAPTER 27
3. YOUR NEW POSITION: CHAPTER 28
4. REVIEW FOR STATE EXAM