Nursing Assistant

The Nursing Assistant program is one semester in length and requires the successful completion of NAS 100: Long-Term Care Nursing Assistant, a four (4) credit hour classroom and clinical course, which fulfills the requirements of the seventy-five (75) hour Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) for the training of long-term care nursing assistants. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) provide basic patient care under the direction of licensed nursing staff. Duties may include: bathing, grooming and feeding patients; obtaining and monitoring vital signs; ambulatory assistance and comfort measures. Nursing assistants care for patients confined to acute care hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, mental health centers and their homes. Because many CNAs are employed in long-term care facilities and because the population of older Americans is growing, there are many job opportunities available for the Certified Nursing Assistant. Upon successful 

completion of  NAS 100, a student is eligible to take the Alabama Nurse Aide Certification Exam. Students who demonstrate competency on the exam will be placed on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Required Course 

  • NAS 100 - Long-Term Care Nursing Assistant: 4 credits

Required Documents

Students must submit all required health documents, as outlined at the beginning of NAS coursework. Students who do not have proof of BLS Provider level CPR certification must also enroll in  EMS 100 and complete the training required for the certification prior to the deadline to submit health documentation. The deadline to submit health documentation will be provided by the NAS instructor the first week of class each semester.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

NAS 100: Long Term Care Nursing Assistant

Semester Hours 4

This course fulfills the seventy-five (75) hour Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) requirements for training long-term care nursing assistants in preparation for certification through competency evaluation. Emphasis is placed on developing the knowledge, attitudes, and skills required for the long-term nursing assistant. Upon completing this course, the student should perform satisfactorily on written examinations and clinical skills. Course graduates are awarded a certification of completion and are eligible to take the certification examination to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

NAS 120: Fundamentals of Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide

Semester Hours 7

This course provides the student with the necessary theory and laboratory experiences to develop the skills required to qualify as a long-term care Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide. Emphasis is placed on acquiring skills in communication, observation, safety, mobility/body mechanics, personal and restorative care, and infection control necessary to care for patients and clients of all ages. Upon completing this course, the student will be able to apply concepts and skills in areas required by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) and the National Association of Home Care.

NAS 121: Fundamentals of Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide

Semester Hours 3

This course is designed for students to apply the knowledge and skills needed to perform basic nursing care safely and efficiently in various supervised healthcare settings. Emphasis is placed on safety, therapeutic communication, infection control, critical thinking, and proper documentation. Upon completing this course, the student will demonstrate beginning competency in delivering care to patients and clients in various healthcare settings.