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Nursing Assistant Training

IMG_3891NA Program Description

The Nursing Assistant training program prepares students to assist with patient care and function as an effective member of the healthcare team. The program consists of 65 hours of classroom and lab instruction and 40 hours of hands on, supervised clinical training in a long term nursing facility. Students will be actively involved in the classroom with lectures, videos, guest speakers, and skills lab time. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be eligible to sit for the Oregon State Board of Nursing Certified Nursing Assistant examination.

Your new position at a nursing facility may reimburse your tuition fees!

DOWNLOAD THE FORM HERE

 

Professional Opportunities

Professional opportunities for Certified Nursing Assistants (Nursing Assistant) include working under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in a long term facility, a hospital, or in home health. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, Nursing Assistant jobs are increasing in number, making it an optimal career path. Positions for Nursing Assistant’s are expected to grow an estimated 19% over the next ten years, which is a faster rate than the national average. Better yet, working as a Nursing Assistant provides an exceptional foundation upon which to build a professional career in healthcare.

Program Eligibility Criteria

  • Be able to read, write and communicate English fluently.
  • Be able to meet the physical and mental demands of working as a Nursing Assistant
  • Pass a criminal background check. Click here for a list of Oregon DHS disqualifying Crimes.
  • Complete a TB test
  • Complete an American Heart Association CPR class.

NA Tuition & Fees

NA Program Tuition is $1,650 and includes:

  • 65 hours of classroom instruction
  • 40 hours of clinical instruction
  • Course text book
  • Stethoscope
  • Blood pressure cuff
  • Gait belt
  • Name badge
  • Lab Supplies
  • Study sessions prior to state testing

The following are not included in tuition and are estimated costs:

  • Background check, finger printing & drug screen: $110
  • State board testing fees: $106
  • OSBN finger print processing fee: $70.50
  • Insurance fee: $35
  • TB test: $50 to $125 estimate
  • Navy blue scrubs $80 to $160, safe slip resistant/skid resistant shoes, watch, school supplies
  • It is recommended that you purchase your own textbook, Mosby’s 8th edition Nursing Assistant textbook, available from Amazon, Barnes & noble, RCC book store. Used prices from $45-$55. New from $78.
  • Nursing shoes: $60 to $150
  • American Heart Association CPR Class: $60

Admissions & Fees

  • All students are required to attend a mandatory orientation to register for the course. This is a regulation of the Oregon State Board of Nursing.
  • The first 20 students who fill out the enrollment agreement and pay for the course will be admitted.
  • A minimum of 50% of the tuition will hold a seat in the next class.

Ready to Get Started?

  • Orientation Dates: Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm.
  • Orientation sessions are required by the Oregon State board of Nursing and it is mandatory that all students attend an orientation session prior to enrolling in a Nursing Assistant class.

You must register for orientation because space is very limited.

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL FOR AN ORIENTATION

Program FAQs

What to Expect

How much can I expect to make as a Nursing Assistant 1?

Entry-level Nursing Assistants can make between $12 and $15 an hour, depending on prior work experience, employer, and clinical experience. Find out more by visiting the Oregon Employment Division website.

Do I have to have a high school diploma or GED?

A high school diploma is recommended, but not required. However, you do need to be at least 16 years of age for the NA-1 training program course (if under 18 a legal guardian’s signature is required).

Do I have to attend an information session before enrolling?

It is a policy of PHCT that all students must complete a free, no-obligation online information session prior to enrolling in classes in the NA-1, Nursing Assistant-2 and MA programs.

Can I reserve a spot in a particular class?

No. Before you can register for a class you must attend an orientation. Click here to enroll in an orientation.

Nursing Assistant 1 vs Nursing Assistant 2

I see that there’s both Nursing Assistant 1 and Nursing Assistant 2. What’s the difference? Do I have to take both?

No, you do not have to take both! You can get your Nursing Assistant 1 and start working as a Nursing Assistant right away. The Nursing Assistant 1 training allows students to obtain employment in many areas of the medical field, including: assisted living facilities (ALF), intermediate care facilities (ICF), and skilled nursing facilities (SNF).

The Nursing Assistant 2 is an added level of certification that will let you perform additional, more complex skills, and thus work in acute care environment and earn more money. Nursing Assistant 2 certification is required to work in a hospital, so if your ultimate goal is to work in a hospital environment you will want to eventually pursue a Nursing Assistant 2.

Can I take the Nursing Assistant 2 class directly after taking the Nursing Assistant 1 class?

You must pass the OSBN state board exam before taking the Nursing Assistant 2 class. Depending upon when you complete your Nursing Assistant 1 class, how quickly you are able to get scheduled for the state exam, and if you pass on the first try, you may or may not be able to take our classes within consecutive terms.
We also suggest that you get a job prior to beginning the Nursing Assistant 2 program, so that you have some job experience before applying for Nursing Assistant.

Does PHCT offer financial aid?

The Nursing Assistant Training Program is a noncredit class, which means it is not eligible for financial aid. However, PHCT does offer scholarships.

Do I have to apply to this program?

No. The Nursing Assistant Training Program is open registration, so anyone can register. However, there are certain requirements you will need to fulfill once you are registered.

Are there prerequisites for the Nursing Assistant program?

No. There are no required prerequisites for the program; you do not need a GED or high school diploma to register. However, we do recommend that you be proficient in English, including reading, writing, and speaking.

What are the requirements I need to fulfill?

You must attend an orientation before the first day of class. Registration is required to attend an orientation. You can view the full schedule of orientations here. At orientation, you will learn about Nursing Assistant training as well as other requirements that you will have to fulfill, including a background check and drug screen.

I want to go to an orientation now, but I can’t take the program until next term. Will my orientation still meet the requirements for the next term?

Yes, attendance at an orientation is valid for one full year.

Approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing, the Institute for Health Professionals’ Nursing Assistant 1 training program teaches hands-on skills that students will use every day to provide patients with exceptional health care. After practicing these skills in a lecture and lab setting, you will put them to use in the real world during a clinical practicum at one of several Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) in the Southern Oregon area.

Part I: Lecture & Lab, 80.5 h

  • Learn about the principles of health care, various diseases and body systems
  • Work with other students to practice skills like taking vital signs, dressing and undressing clients, and assisting with feeding

Part II: Clinical, 76 hours

After successful completion of the lecture and lab portion, you will move on to a clinical rotation.

  • Put your skills to work during 76 hours of real-world experience
  • Interact with patients and health care workers, and view the healthcare industry from the front lines
  • PHCT will place students in a clinical rotation; students will not need to arrange their own clinical internship.

After completing the program, you will be prepared to pass the Oregon State Board of Nursing exam, which allows you to work as a Nursing Assistant 1 in the state of Oregon.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Pass the state board exam, which grants licensure as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
  • Apply a working knowledge of a variety of human body systems, including the circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system, and more
  • Understand and treat a variety of human disease processes, including cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, strokes, and substance abuse, among many others
  • Understand standard precautions and the importance of keeping a clean and sterile environment, as well as how to prevent and halt the spread of disease by maintaining cleanliness
  • Perform a vast number of skills essential to the role of a Nursing Assistant, including taking vital signs like pulse and blood pressure; helping with activities of daily living like feeding, dressing, or hair and nail care; and assisting clients with walking and range-of-motion exercises
  • Gain insight into the psychological struggles of patients and clients, listening to, empathizing, and connecting with people
  • Understand the rights and responsibilities of nursing assistants, including which tasks they are prohibited from, and how to earn and maintain licensure
  • Network with nurses, doctors, physician assistants, physical therapists and others to provide total care
  • Use effective time management to maintain a work-life balance
  • Exercise professionalism, appropriate conduct, and other soft-skills that will help in finding, securing and maintaining long-term employment.
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