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Nursing Assistant Certified (CNA)

Nursing is a dynamic and essential discipline within the healthcare sector, focused on the care and well-being of individuals across various stages of life. At its core, nursing is rooted in compassion, ethics, and a commitment to patient-centered care. Nurses play a critical role in promoting health, preventing illness, and providing holistic care to patients, which encompasses physical, emotional, and social dimensions.

The discipline is characterized by its emphasis on evidence-based practice, where nurses utilize current research and clinical guidelines to inform their care decisions. This scientific foundation supports the delivery of safe and effective care, ensuring that nurses are equipped to respond to the complex needs of patients.

Collaboration is a key aspect of nursing, as professionals work closely with physicians, therapists, and other healthcare providers to develop comprehensive care plans. This interdisciplinary approach fosters an environment where patient outcomes can be optimized through shared knowledge and resources.

Nursing also encompasses a commitment to advocacy, with nurses often serving as the voice for patients’ needs and preferences. This advocacy extends to public health initiatives and community education, where nurses engage in efforts to improve overall health and well-being at the population level.

The profession is continuously evolving, influenced by advancements in technology, changes in healthcare policy, and emerging health challenges. As such, lifelong learning and professional development are integral to nursing, allowing practitioners to stay current and responsive to the evolving landscape of healthcare.

  1. The Nursing Assistant graduate will provide patient care and assist with patient basic daily needs in hospitals, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, extended care facilities, convalescent centers and home health care settings.
  2. The Nursing Assistant graduate will be able to care for patients in a variety of health care settings and will recognize physical, social and emotional patient needs, and will care for these patients and meet their needs in a caring manner.
  3. The Nursing assistant graduate will be able to discuss the cause and effect of common disease processes and the interventions needed for preventative care and personal safety.
  4. The Nursing assistant graduate will understand the effect of various disease processes and the interventions needed for wellness promotion, prevention of illness, injury and restorative care.
  5. The Nursing Assistant graduate will be able to apply cultural awareness in all aspects of care, building on the student’s own cultural strengths. 
  6. The Nurse Assistant will Demonstrate professional communication skills, including recording, reporting and legal and ethical responsibilities. 
  7. The Nursing Assistant will Demonstrate safety and infection control practices that comply with standards of practice for nursing assistants. 
  8. The Nursing Assistant will Demonstrate Competence and proficiency in the care giving skills of a NAC including but not limited to: communication and interpersonal relationships, safety and infection control, personal care procedures, vital signs, nutritional requirements and techniques, admission / discharge procedures, exercise and activity, elimination, care of clients with special needs, end of life care, care of clients with cognitive impairment. 
  9. The Nursing Assistant will Demonstrate behaviors consistent with professional work ethics.
  10. The Nursing Assistant will Comply with privacy and confidentiality laws.
  11. The Nursing assistant will Adhere to the policies and procedures of clinical sites.
  12. The Nursing Assistant graduate will have completed the required forty-four (44) didactic hours plus Thirty-three skills lab (33) hours in the classroom and fifty (50) supervised clinical hours in a skilled nursing facility.
  13. The Nursing Assistant graduate will be eligible to take the Washington State Certified Nursing Assistant test, which includes a written and skills test with minimal competency according to the state standards.

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Placement

Math placement is not required for this program.
English placement is not required for this program.

Nursing assistants care for patients in hospitals, long–term care facilities, hospice, and in the home. These courses introduce students to this fulfilling career, covering basic nursing assistant skills, patient and family relationships, health care teams and legal issues. CPR and HIV/AIDS training is included in this program.
 
Students will be prepared to provide direct patient care in a variety of health care settings. The Nursing Assistant Certified has direct contact with the patients and residents in these settings in the process of providing care for their basic daily needs. Students learn to recognize the patient’s physical, social, and emotional needs and to care for these patients and meet their needs in a caring manner.
 
In a single quarter, students are well prepared to sit for the Nursing Assistant Certified exam and once certified, our students are free to work for any organization accepting a NAC certification. Unlike students graduating from many private programs, our students are not required to work for any specific employers after graduation, giving them the freedom to build a satisfying career in healthcare immediately after graduation and certification.

This program is best suited for students who:

  • Are looking for a way to increase their skills and pay in entry level healthcare jobs.
  • Want flexibility. Our students can work for any employer they are not committed to an employer who provided their training and certification.
  • Can commit to a single quarter of full-time classes.
  • Please visit our Detailed Information page for more information.

Program Map for

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Total Program Credits: 9


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
NURS 108
Nursing Assistant Certified Theory   1
5
NURS 109
Nursing Assistant Certified Skills Lab & Clinical  
4
Total Credits
 
9

1 NURS 108 and 109 must be taken concurrently. Students must recieve 80% or better in NURS 108 to progress to the clinical portion of NURS 109.

Attendance is required in lectures, skills, and clinicals to qualify to take the Nursing Assistant Certification exam. Attendance is expected in every class, lab and clinical day. There are no guaranteed provisions for the makeup of homework, labs, class assignments, quizzes, or clinicals missed due to absence or tardiness.

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 1,188
$ 1,613
$ 3,054
Books
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Course Fees
$ 73
$ 73
$ 73
Institutional Fees
$ 108
$ 108
$ 528
Supplies and Materials
$ 50
$ 50
$ 50
Total Costs
$ 1,419
$ 1,844
$ 3,705

Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

The Nursing Assistant Certified program is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON).

Upon completion of the Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) program at Spokane Community College (SCC), students are eligible to take the NAC Exam and earn their credential through the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON).

WABON exam and certification information

Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) Exam | Washington State Board of Nursing

Students are accepted into the Nursing Assistant Certified program from an interest list maintained by our Pathway Specialists. To be added to the list, students must be current students at SCC or be returning students expressing their intent to attend the program by completing a student information update.

Our Pathway Specialist will reach out to you when registration opens for each quarter the program is offered. Enrollment is based on a first come, first served basis and we accept up to 20 students each quarter.

Current Admission Requirements:

  • Students must be at least 18 years of age
  • Accept 100% attendance requirement
  • Completed criminal background check on or before the first day of class
  • Acceptable documentation proving the status of US citizenship or lawful residency with authorization to work in the US.
  • Proof of Tuberculosis clearance within the first three weeks of the program.
  • Students must be able to read, write, and understand English and comprehend medical terminology while working safely in the clinical environment.
  • A commitment to professionalism and respect to encompass but not limited to one’s communication and conduct in the classroom, clinical environments, and any electronic communication.
APPLY TO SCC
STUDENT INFORMATION UPDATE

Students must work with our Pathway Specialists for advising and enrolling in this program, counseling does not help with the Nursing Assistant Certified.

Our Pathway Specialist’s information is on our Contact Us page.

Nursing Assistant Certified

  • Students who would like to be eligible for entry level jobs in healthcare.
  • Students who would like to enter the workforce as quickly as possible.
  • Students who can commit to full-time attendance for a single quarter.
  • Students who would like to earn their certification without being committed to an employer in exchange for training and certification.
  • If this sounds like you, please visit our Contact Us page and reach out to a Counselor for more information.

Details

  • No required support courses.
  • No competitive entry.
  • Program can be completed in a single quarter.
  • Requires students to commit to attending clinical hours off campus at various times and locations. These hours are required and may fall outside of a standard class schedule.
  • Background checks and vaccination records are required for clinicals.
  • The estimated costs to attend can be found on our What to Expect to Pay page.
  • Students will sit for their NAC exam administered by the Washington State Board of Nursing.

Resources

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Note: Spokane Community College does not assume any responsibility for the contents of the external and independent sites linked here.

Have a question? Let's hear it.

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Cecilia Owsley

Program Lead
Cecilia.Owsley@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8083

Mary Golden

Co-Chair
Mary.Golden@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8128

Karlee Kedroske

Co-Chair
Karlee.Kedroske@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7416

Pathway Specialists

scc.reg-office@scc.spokane.edu

509-533-8400

Academic Counseling

counseling@scc.spokane.edu

509-533-7264