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Nursing Assisting

Overview

Nursing assisting programs prepare people to give routine nursing care to patients under the supervision of nurses.

Nursing assisting programs prepare people to give routine nursing care to patients. Students learn first aid and basic patient care. They often train and work under the direction of nurses.

Nursing assisting programs include topics such as:

Nursing assisting programs may also offer a specialization in medications.

Schools

Nursing assistant programs are offered at many community colleges, hospitals, vocational centers, health agencies, and occasionally through high schools. They typically take from two to five weeks to complete.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program of study by getting your high school diploma or GED.

A few programs only require that you be 16 years old before enrolling. Therefore, you need not be a high school graduate to become a nursing assistant. However, it is a good idea to take high school courses in biology, chemistry, and communication. If you wish to eventually become a licensed practical or registered nurse, you should definitely get your high school diploma.

Additional requirements at most programs include:

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Things to Know

Most states require you to become certified in order to care for patients. Typically, you must pass practical and written exams after you complete your course work to become a CNA, or Certified Nursing Assistant.

Depending on where you work, you might be called a nursing assistant, nurse's aide, home health aide, personal care assistant, or patient care technician.

Many people choose to become a nursing assistant to gain experience while studying to become a registered nurse.

Schools

East Side Area

Big Bend Community College

Job Corps - Columbia Basin

Walla Walla Community College

Walla Walla Community College (Clarkston)

Wenatchee Valley College

Wenatchee Valley College (Omak Campus)

King-Snohomish Area

Bellevue College

Blossom Nursing Assistant Training School

DT&T NA Training School

Edmonds Community College

Everett Community College

Green River College

Health Professionals Institute

Highline College

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

MEDPREP Vocational Training Center

North Seattle College

Nursing Assistant Training Institute

Renton Technical College

Seattle Central College

Shoreline Community College

Kitsap Area

Olympic College

Spokane Area

Spokane Community College

Tacoma Area

Bates Technical College

Clover Park Technical College

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom

Pierce College Puyallup

Tacoma Community College

Tri-Cities Area

Columbia Basin College

Vancouver Area

Clark County Career Development Center

Mary Ann's CNA Training School of Nursing, Inc.

West Side Area

Bellingham Technical College

Career in Caregiving

Centralia College

Grays Harbor College

Job Corps - Cascades Job Corps College & Career Academy

Lower Columbia College

Olympic College (Shelton Campus)

Peninsula College

Skagit Valley College

Skagit Valley College (Whidbey Island Campus)

Whatcom Community College

Yakima Area

Yakima Valley College (Grandview)