Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program

Course Goals & Objectives

• Safely provide basic hygiene and personal care needs of long term care and hospitalized patients.
• Demonstrate safe effective infection control practices with particular attention to the diseases of AIDS and Bloodborne Pathogens.
• Demonstrates competency in assisting the patient/resident in elimination activities being mindful to provide for patient/resident dignity.
• Discuss role of CNA in skin care activities with special focus on the prevention of integumentary breakdown.
• Competently perform vital signs and distinguish normal and abnormal.
• Demonstrate knowledge of pain being the 5th vital sign and discuss different pain management techniques and the importance of effectively controlling pain.
• Prevent injury by utilizing proper body mechanics in all work activities with emphasis on safely moving and positioning residents/patients.
• Properly demonstrate care and use of assistive, orthotic and prosthetic devices.
• Define the role of the CNA and demonstrate specific performance skills in a safe and organized manner, providing competent care associated with the CNA scope and standards of care as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Document in clinical record, describing accurately specific tasks performed with patient response.
• Describe functions associated with each of the following systems in regard to disease management and the aging process: Integumentary, Musculoskeletal, Digestive, Cardiovascular, Urinary, and Nervous systems.
• Identify importance of Nutrition, demonstrating proper feeding techniques and incorporating strategies for promoting good dietary health.
• Demonstrate care of the terminally ill patient and learn techniques used to better understand and respond to the dying process.
• Discuss care of the pre and post-operative patient.
• Demonstrate the CNA’s role in assisting to making the admission, transfer and discharge process a smooth transition for the patient/resident and care team.
• Communicate and effectively manage conflict with staff, patient, patient’s family, and visitors.
• Discuss patient’s rights, demonstrating the understanding of the uniqueness of the individual in regard to physical, cultural and psychological traits.
• Provide care that fosters promoting quality of life to the highest level attainable for the patient/resident.
• Attain AHA certification, including understanding and skills demonstration of CPR and FBAO for adults, pediatrics and infants.
• Validate understanding of basic medical terminology and common medical abbreviations.
• Verbalize knowledge of emergency codes and the CNA’s response to these codes in providing for patient/resident safety.
• List and define the roles of the interdisciplinary team.
• Describe a long term care facility and discuss the reasons why people are admitted to long term care.
• Verbalize understanding of patient/resident individuality; including defining values, cultural, and ethnical diversity
• Participate in loving care and explain the importance of the family and their impact in caring for the patient/resident.
• Incorporate positive effective communication techniques while coordinating the care of the resident.
• Identify the signs and symptoms of abuse and care giver strain and discuss the importance of following correct procedures in reporting.
• Discuss patient safety issues and provide examples of alternatives to the use of restraints.
• Competently provide care for the cognitively impaired resident by seeking to understand behavior and responding appropriately with care methods that reduce effects of impairment.