Nurse Aide Training

Nurse Aide Training is designed to prepare students for careers as nurse aides and for taking the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) examination. Learning takes place in a long-term clinical care setting as well as in the classroom and laboratory. Topics include basic nursing and personal care, residents’ rights, caring for residents who have cognitive impairment, and mental health, social, and restorative services. The course requires completion of at least eight hours more of clinical time than the minimum contact hours required by the Alabama Department of Public Health. The nurse aide training program and health science instructor must be approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Division of Healthcare Services, for students to be eligible to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment. Students must successfully complete an approved program and pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment certification exam in order to become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA). Current guidelines and information can be found on the Alabama Department of Public Health website. The course of study subscribes to the Health Department’s requirement that a student must complete at least 16 hours of training in the following areas before any direct contact with patients or residents: communication and interpersonal skills, infection control, safety and emergency procedures, promoting residents’ independence, and respecting residents’ rights. Career and Technical Student Organizations are integral, co-curricular components of each career and technical education course. These organizations enhance classroom instruction while helping students develop leadership abilities, expand workplace-readiness skills, and access opportunities for personal and professional growth. Students in the Health Science cluster affiliate with HOSA–Future Health Professionals.