Nurse Aide

Nurse Aide is a comprehensive occupational training course that focuses on human body systems and common diseases. Students are prepared for advanced clinical care of patients in medical-surgical, rehabilitative, and community health settings. Students receive skills training in patient care, safety, and infection control, and hands-on clinical experiences in a healthcare setting that include patient-nurse aide communication and professionalism, measuring and recording vital signs, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and proper documentation. Work-based learning in a healthcare facility is a required component of the course, and students must maintain the American Heart Association's Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) training during this course. This course requires students to meet the Virginia Board of Nursing required clock hours to be eligible to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam.

Contextual instruction and student participation in co-curricular career and technical student organization (CTSO) activities will develop leadership, interpersonal, and career skills. High-quality work-based learning (HQWBL) will provide experiential learning opportunities related to students' career goals and/or interests, integrated with instruction, and performed in partnership with local businesses and organizations.

Notes: Board-approved programs must maintain regulatory compliance for all enrolled students. For students to be considered graduates of any approved program, the program must be completed in entirety to include both classroom and clinical portions of the program. Further, pursuant to regulation (18VAC90-26-50 (C)(3)), clinical must include a minimum of 40 hours of direct client care. Hours of observation shall not be included in the required 40 hours of clinical training. Simulation/lab does not count as direct client care clinical experiences.

Some healthcare facilities that accept federal funding (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid) may require criminal background checks and drug screens for students participating in a clinical experience. An updated immunization record will be required prior to the student participating in the clinical experience.