Patrick & Henry Community College

The purpose of this program is that it prepares a student for entry level practice in the health care field to provide patient care in a variety of health service facilities. Students who successfully complete the appropriate courses may be eligible for employment in hospitals, skilled/residential nursing facilities, home care, physician offices, or other health related facilities. After successful completion of the nurse aide courses, student will be eligible to apply to take the certification test for Certified Nurse Aide in Virginia. After successful completion of the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation course, student will receive American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification. A student who resides outside of Virginia and plans to apply for certification as a nurse aide subsequent to completion of this education program may not meet the requirements of certification for the student’s state of residence. (Highly Recommended: Biology II).

The program prepares completers to demonstrate skillful delivery of patient care at the nurse aide level of preparation.

Physical Requirement

The minimal functional requirements for all entering nurse aide students include:

• sufficient eye-hand coordination and manual and finger dexterity to provide direct patient care and to manipulate and operate equipment in the delivery of patient care;
• sufficient ability to fully observe patients/patient conditions and provide patient care, read patient health information, and observe and manipulate equipment, including in dimly lit environments;
• sufficient hearing to communicate with patients and healthcare team members, including ability to recognize and report changes;
• satisfactory communication skills, to include competence in reading, writing and speaking in English, in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings to allow for accurate recording and reporting of patient information;
• ability to perform patient care activities that require full range of motion including handling, lifting, or moving patients and/or equipment;
• ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds;
• ability to successfully perform all required duties and responsibilities in classroom, laboratory and clinical settings in stressful situations or conditions;

Nurse Aide Students will be required to undergo mandatory drug screening and criminal background check. Students must have a negative drug screen and criminal background check to be eligible for clinical learning experiences. Students must earn a grade of B (80%) or higher in the nurse aide lecture, lab, and clinical courses (NUR 27 and NUR 21) in order to earn the career studies certificate. Clinical/field/preceptor experiences require access to contracted clinical agencies.

Courses Required

• NUR 27 5 credits (lecture/lab) total instructional hours 60 Lecture/45 lab
• NUR 21 1 credit (clinical) includes 45 total hours
• HLT 105 1 credit CPR (this will only be needed if the students do not have AHA CPR from the high school).

Participation Requirements

• Drug screening
• Criminal background check
• Uniform with closed toe/heel white shoe
• Watch with a second hand
• Physical examination and TB Skin Test
• Textbook/Workbook
• Certification examination
• COVID Vaccine (May be required by Medical Facility in which clinical hours take place)
• Transportation to clinical agencies as required
• The program has an attendance policy that is strictly adhered to. Failure to follow the attendance policy will result in removal from the program.