Start Your Career with the Nurse Aide Program

A Nurse Aide provides basic patient care under the direction of nursing staff. In this critical role, a Nurse Aide may be responsible for duties such as bathing, feeding, dressing, grooming, moving patients or changing linens. They may support patients to perform daily living activities such as standing, walking, exercising or getting out of bed. Opportunities for a Nurse Aide include employment in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, day-care centers, doctors’ offices, rehabilitation facilities, industry and private duty nursing.
Job Duties may include:
- Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients’ needs.
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.
- Review patients’ dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
- Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
- Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
- Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
- Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
- Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
- Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
- Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.
Employment Outlook Nurse Aide Program Overview
Start your career ladder in nursing by taking an entry-level healthcare class as a Nurse Aide. Your future job duties would include basic patient care, vital signs, bathing, and feeding for patients of all ages. Upon completion of the course, graduates are eligible to apply to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Examination for certification as a Nurse Aide. Clinical experience is a part of the class and attendance is mandatory. All students must complete a background check, drug screen and earn a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) before the start of class. You must also be 18 years of age. Tuition, books, CPR class, and exam fees are not included in the cost of the class. Space is limited so, sign up today to start your career and make an impact on patients lives!
Certifications
Upon completion of the course, graduates are eligible to apply to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Exam. Once the student has passed the exam they are eligible to be issued a Certified Nurse’s Aide License (C.N.A.) in Virginia.
Program Costs
Tuition, books, CPR class and exam fees are not included in the cost of the class.The course includes both classroom lecture and campus lab skills practice. Following completion of the classroom and campus lab component, students will begin their clinical experience in an area nursing home with an instructor. The clinical experience in the nursing home will be held during the regularly scheduled class time, plus additional scheduled clinical hours. Students are required by the Virginia Board of Nursing to complete all hours mandated for this course.