Nursing Assistant

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) work under the direct supervision of an RN or LPN assisting with the activities of daily living. These activities include helping patients/residents with meals, personal bathing, grooming, elimination, transfers, and range of motion exercises. Nursing Assistants also obtain vital signs and communicate with other medical professionals regarding the status of patients/residents.

Nursing assistants are required to be on their feet for long periods of time, caring for patients/residents at the bedside, transferring, and positioning them. A high level of manual dexterity, emotional maturity, psychomotor skills, professionalism, and personal integrity are vital. Nursing assistants need sufficient strength to work and/or stand up for 12 hour shifts, lift at least 50lbs, and perform tasks requiring good hand-eye coordination. Nursing assistants must be able to carry out verbal and written instructions and be able to work independently, efficiently, and calmly in stressful situations.

This course series will provide an 88-hour theory course which includes hands-on practice lab sessions and completes with a 48-hour clinical rotation at a local healthcare institution. The program is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) and covers the skills needed for both CNA and GNA certification in Maryland. When completed, students will be registered with MBON to apply for their CNA certification and eligible to sit for the GNA certification exam.

Nursing assistants may provide care in a hospital setting, long-term care facilities, or in private homes through nursing agencies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2018, patient preferences and shifts in federal and state funding are increasing demand for home and community-based long-term care, which should lead to increased opportunities for nursing assistants working in home health and community rehabilitation services.

Program Course Sequence

For successful program completion, students are required to:

• maintain an 75% average in theory
• obtain at least a 75% on the final exam
• perform satisfactorily in the clinical environment

CPR class requires 100% attendance. Students arriving late to class will not be admitted. Late arrival to, or early exit from, class will also result in a failing grade. Students will then be required to retake the class at their expense.​