Program Information
The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course is designed to prepare students to be Nursing Assistants/Home Health Aides. CNAs are trained to perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. They maintain a safe environment and perform selected tasks related to patients' personal hygiene and comfort in private homes, nursing homes, hospitals, and long-term facilities. Nursing assistants observe patients’ physical, mental, and emotional conditions and report any changes to the nursing or medical staff.
Upon completion, students are eligible to take the Certification Examination for Nursing Assisting given by the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) and be placed on the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry.
Occupational Choices
Employment of nursing assistants is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
As the baby-boom population ages, nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed to help care for an increasing number of older patients in nursing and residential care facilities. Older people are more likely than younger people to have disorders such as dementia or to live with chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. More CNAs will be needed to care for patients with these conditions.
Demand for nursing assistants may be constrained by the fact that many nursing homes rely on government funding. Cuts to programs such as Medicare and Medicaid may affect patients’ ability to pay for nursing home care. In addition, patient preferences and shifts in federal and state funding are increasing the demand for home and community-based long-term care, which should lead to increased opportunities for nursing assistants working in home health and community rehabilitation services.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Modified September 6, 2023.
Average Full-Time Wage
The median annual wage for nursing assistants was $35,760 in May 2022. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,030, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $45,940.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Modified September 6, 2023.
Additional Requirements
- Students entering the CNA program must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
- Applicants not currently employed by a healthcare agency will be required to complete a background check and drug screen, which will be an additional expense.
Duration
5-6 hours per day
3-4 days per week
3-4 week course
(59 classroom hours; 16 clinical hours)
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance may be available for those who qualify.
Location
Training will be held at the Trenholm Campus located at 1225 Air Base Blvd., Montgomery. Clinicals will be held at a location to be determined.
Award Available
Certificate
Certified Nursing Assistant
Program Contact
334-420-4400
workforcedev@trenholmstate.edu
Estimated Program Length & Cost
|
Award |
Length |
Tuition/Fees |
Books |
|
Certificate |
3 Weeks |
$800 |
$0 |
Classes Required for CNA Certificate
(This program is non-credit and is not Pell Grant eligible)
Understanding Healthcare Systems
Human Needs & Human Development
Preventing Infection
The Healthy Human Body
The Resident’s
Special Care
All CNA Information can be found on the Trenholm State website at:
https://www.trenholmstate.edu/workforce-development/certified-nursing-assistant/
Certified Nursing Assistant Program Unit Descriptions
Course Descriptions
Understanding Healthcare Systems
This unit provides students with the knowledge of the requirements of a nursing assistant and the care team, an understanding of legal & ethical issues, as well as communication and cultural diversity.
Human Needs & Human Development
This unit provides a basic understanding of personal care, basic nursing skills, confusion, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, mental health & mental illness, as well as dying, death & hospice.
Preventing Infection
This unit provides students with an overview of infection prevention, safety in the home, body mechanics, positioning, transfers, ambulation, emergency care, and disaster preparation.
The Healthy Human Body
This unit provides students the knowledge of common chronic & acute conditions and urinary & bowel elimination.
The Residents
This unit provides instruction in rehabilitation & restorative care, nutrition, hydration, meal planning, shopping, preparation, and storage.
Special Care
This unit will provide the student with knowledge of new mothers, infants & children, managing time, energy & money in the home, as well as caring for your career and yourself.