Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) & Home Health Aides
The Summer CNA course will be open for registration March 31st, 2025
The Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) courses allow students to be eligible for employment in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, including our local Plumas District Hospital. The nursing assistant serves as a helpful liaison between the RN or LVN and the patient.
Course Description & Information
We hold class 3 days per week for 8 weeks. Each day is approximately 8 hours long. The first 2 weeks are in the classroom here at Allied Health (Nursing) and the last 6 weeks are held in the local hospital. Upon successful completion of both the written and practical examinations, students will be eligible to take the exam to become a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). Certified nurse assistants may find employment opportunities in acute, long term care, and home health agencies.
This allied health program is approved by the California Department of Public Health and is a prerequisite for students entering the Vocational Nurse program offered at Feather River College as well as many other nursing/healthcare degree programs throughout the United States.
TB Screening (2-step process): Written proof of completing the required annual TB screening. A “2 step" TB screening means an initial test and then a second test, which must be completed at least one week later (healthcare worker standard). The 2-step TB test is FREE at Plumas County Public Health Agency with a FRC student ID.
Physical Screening: Written proof of a completed the physical screening report by a Physician’s Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician stating “that the student does not have a health condition that creates a hazard to self or others”.
Live-scan Fingerprinting: A Live Scan Fingerprint report will need to be completed. This service is provided by the Plumas County Sherriff’s Deptartment, if desired, and must be scheduled ahead of time. There is a live scan fee and students must bring valid identification and live scan form at the time of the appointment.
Current Immunizations: Hep B, Flu, MMR, TDAP, and Varicella
All pre-requisites must be completed by the end of the first week of class, otherwise students will be dropped from the course!
The textbook below is FREE, as it is part of an Open Educational Resource. Please inquire with instructors if you have questions regarding the textbook.
"Nursing Assistant" by Myra Sandquist Reuter, MA, BSN, RN
- Copyright © 2023 by Myra Reuter Sandquist. (2023). Ernstmeyer, K., and Christman, E. (Eds.). Nursing Assistant by Chippewa Valley Technical College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America ISBN 13: 978-1-73491-410-8
- Plain, black, straight legged scrubs will be required for this class. You may choose the brand, but they must be PLAIN BLACK.
- Clean nursing shoes or running/tennis shoes (black or white only, no sandals; toes and heels must be enclosed).
- Uniforms are available for purchase online or at scrub stores such as Uniform Advantage.
- A black, long-sleeved t-shirt may be worn underneath for warmth.
In addition to the required scrubs and shoes, students need the following:
- Analog watch with a second hand
- Notebook and pen (black ink)
- Note - Students may choose to purchase their own blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, and gait belt if they choose; however, these items will be available for use while in the classroom setting.
NURS 100 students are required to co-enroll in “CPR 001: Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers.”
Course Description: The American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers Course covers core material including adult and pediatric CPR (including two-rescuer scenarios and use of the bag mask), foreign-body airway obstruction, and automated external defibrillation. This course is for healthcare providers such as EMS personnel, physician assistants, doctors, dentists, nurses, respiratory therapists, and anyone who must have a credential (card) documenting successful completion of a CPR course.*
*This CPR course is offered before students begin the clinical/hospital portion of the NURS 100 course.
Students who complete the Nurse Assistant course will develop the knowledge and skills that are essential in the direct care of clients in a variety of settings. Students will be able to effectively utilize skills related to such topics as patient rights, interpersonal assistance, safety, asepsis, clinical expertise, nutrition, rehabilitation, documentation, and death and dying.
Career Opportunities
The Certified Nurse Assistant courses allow the student to be eligible for employment in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.
Nursing assistants can work in a wide variety of settings: nursing homes, hospitals, adult day care centers, personal homes and assisted living facilities. The nursing assistant serves as a helpful liaison between the RN or LVN and the patient.
The nursing assistant provides care for patients of any age, ethnicity or gender. Since nursing assistants have daily contact with patients, they are gatherers of vital information about the patients’ conditions, which they must then transmit to their supervisors. A CNA’s workload can become intense and fast-paced, but the human contact and ability to help those in medical need is a strong motivating factor. A desire to help people and compassion for patients can help a nurse’s assistant get through difficult days.
You will connect directly with the Licensed Vocational Nurse program offered by FRC. The nursing community is connected with our programs and is eager to include graduates into the medical fields locally and out of Plumas County. Upon completion of the program, many of our students have gone on to work right away.
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