Certified Nurse Aide, Certificate

Certificate Course

The nurse aide program is designed to prepare an individual to fulfill the role of direct caregiver/nursing aide. The course emphasizes the skills and behaviors that are significant to employers of nurse aides.

This course includes classroom activities, skills practice time in the laboratory, and supervised clinical practice at a long-term care facility. Students are expected to show competency in skills before the clinical portion of the course in order to proceed and complete the course. Upon completion, students will be eligible to take the clinical and written exams required for certification as a nurse aide in the State of Michigan.

Major units include: orientation to long term care, understanding long term care and patient ethical/legal aspects of health care, fire/disaster safety, safe patient environment, communication, planning and organizing work, medical and charting terminology, activities of daily living, measuring intake and output, standard precautions, infection control, body mechanics, positioning, range of motion, lifting, transfers, ambulation, vital signs, nutrition, elimination, the reproductive system of the elderly, care of specific disorders, restorative nursing, spiritual and religious needs, and death and dying.

Being a nurse aide, as well as taking course work to become a nurse aide, requires direct care of clients and is characterized by the application of verified knowledge in the skillful performance of nurse aide duties.

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of this course, students will be eligible to take the clinical and written exams required for certification as a nurse aide in the State of Michigan. Employment opportunities are very  favorable and exist in long-term care settings, acute care hospitals, in-home healthcare organizations, and community settings.

Technical Standards

The purpose of the technical standards is to inform students choosing to enter into a health occupation program of the basic minimal technical standard requirements that must be met in order to complete all coursework, objectives and student learning outcomes. The listed standards encompass what is minimally required to perform necessary tasks. This list is not exhaustive and can be modified as the college deems necessary at any time. Students enrolled in a health occupation program at MCCC must provide care that is safe and effective. These technical standards apply to any student enrolling in any one of the health occupation programs. The student must be able to demonstrate sufficient cognitive, professional, motor (physical), sensory, and other abilities, with or without accommodation, to meet program technical standards.

Technical standard requirements are listed below. Examples of tasks associated with each requirement and standard are available for review by visiting the Health Sciences Division section of the MCCC website. Prospective students are encouraged to review the Technical Standards for Health Occupational Programs document in its entirety prior to enrolling in or applying to any health occupation course or program.

• Critical Thinking and Cognitive Competencies:
  Sufficient critical thinking and cognitive abilities in classroom and clinical settings.
• Professionalism: 
  Interpersonal skills sufficient for professional interaction with a diverse population of individuals, families and groups.
• Communication: 
  Communication sufficient for professional interactions.
• Mobility: 
  Physical abilities sufficient for movement from room to room and in small spaces.
• Motor Skills: 
  Gross and fine motor abilities which are sufficiently effective and safe for providing allied health care.
• Sensory: 
  Auditory and visual ability sufficient for observing, monitoring and assessing health needs.
• Observation: 
  Ability to sufficiently make observations in a health care environment consistent with program competencies.
• Tactile sense: 
  Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment.

The Americans with Disabilities Act with Amendments (2008) affords students an equal opportunity to participate in educational courses/programs/services. If a student has a disability for which accommodations may be appropriate, students are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Office at (734) 384-4167, located in the Student Success Center in Founders Hall.

Students must meet agency health and security requirements prior to the first clinical experience. These requirements include:

1. Immunizations and health examinations at the student’s expense to ensure that the student can meet the technical requirements of the program and the requirements of partner clinical agencies.
2. Students must hold an active American Heart Association cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate for professional rescuer of infant, child, and adult for the duration of the clinical component of the course.
3. Nurse aide students are required to have professional liability and personal health insurance. The professional liability insurance is provided by the college. Personal health insurance must be obtained by the student and maintained throughout the clinical portion of the course in order to comply with clinical agency requirements. Proof of insurance will be required prior to participating in any clinical activity.
4. Students admitted to health science programs must consent to background/security checks including a criminal background check and drug screening. The student is responsible for any cost associated with the background/security/drug screening checks. Certain criminal convictions may render a student ineligible to train at clinical sites which are necessary in order to successfully complete the program. Additionally, certain criminal convictions may render an individual ineligible to take the licensing/certification exam or to be licensed/certified in the State of Michigan or other states. The college will review the results and determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether to deny admission to any individual based on the results of the background check, criminal background check, and drug screening. Despite the passage of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act in November 2018, the possession of marijuana remains prohibited under United States Federal Law and MCCC policy (6.21). The College and Health Sciences Division prohibits employees, students, and members of the public from possessing or using marijuana (legal or medicinal) on College property or during any College activity. Health occupation students must consent to random drug screening with negative results for marijuana or any illicit substance. Failure to provide a negative drug screen will prevent participation in the program and/or result in program dismissal. 
5. In addition to the general college rules, CNA students are required to adhere to policies and procedures outlined in the Nurse Aide Student Information Handbook. Students are encouraged to review the handbook prior to enrolling in the course. A copy of the handbook is available in the CNA section of the MCCC website.