Learn more about our Nursing Assistant Program

Our Nursing Assistant Program is Short

  • In 6 short weeks, you are prepared to sit for Tennessee’s Certified Nursing Assistant Exam. Earn a great income in a rewarding career in just weeks!   

Our Programs Costs Less Than Other Schools

  • This, of course, saves you money. And with Affordable Payment Plans available, we can help every student afford a quality education. Tuition reimbursement programs are also available with select employment partners in the greater Chattanooga area!

Our Graduates Get Jobs!

  • The Academy partners with every major hospital and most nursing home/assisted living facilities in the greater Chattanooga area. Over 96% of the Academy’s graduates go to work in their chosen field immediately upon graduation!

The Academy is a Unique and Special Place!

  • Read our reviews on Google and Facebook and you’ll see that our students love our culture and how different we are from other colleges and universities. Our amazing instructors and relaxed environment allow our students to excel in class, achieve their goals, and change their lives!   

Course Summary

Course Content

Length

Fees

Admission Requirements

Authorization

Course Summary

This program prepares students to work as Nursing Assistants (NAs) in hospitals, nursing homes, or residential care facilities.  Through classroom lectures, campus labs, and clinical training, participants learn the skills required of NAs.  Program completers will be eligible to take the State of Tennessee Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam.


Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the program the student will be able to:

  • Demonstrate professional communication skills including reporting and recording.

  • Describe the functions of body systems appropriate to the CNA.

  • Demonstrate safety/emergency procedures and infection control measures.

  • Respect patients’/residents’ rights and promote independence.

  • Demonstrate proficiency in basic and personal care skills required of the CNA.

  • Care for cognitively impaired patients/residents.  

  • Respond appropriately to mental health and social service needs of patients/residents.

  • Perform basic restorative services for patients/residents as needed.

*Students will receive supervised practical training and will be found proficient in the following areas prior to being allowed to participate in supervised clinical:

  • Communication & Interpersonal skills

  • Infection Control

  • Safety and emergency procedures, including the Heimlich Maneuver

  • Promoting Resident Independence

  • Respecting Resident Rights

  • Abuse and the Abuse Registry

Content

Skills


  • Orientation to AAHC




  • Understanding Healthcare Settings
  • The Nursing Assistant and Care Team
  • Legal & Ethical Issues - HIPAA
  • Communication and Cultural Diversity
    Patient/resident abuse prevention –
  •  “Hand in Hand “ video



  • Recording and reporting
  • Medical Terminology
  • Patient/Resident rights
  • Injury/abuse prevention



  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • Safety and Body Mechanics


  • Standard Precautions
  • Hand hygiene
  • Use of PPE
  • OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
  • Cleaning, Disinfection, Sterilization
  • Oxygen use
  • Restraints
  • Body mechanics
  • Fire safety guidelines



  • Emergency Care and Disaster Preparation –
    CPR & abdominal thrust
    (conscious and unconscious choking victims)


  • First Aid
  • Disaster guidelines
  • CPR
  • Abdominal Thrust



  • Healthy Human Body (Anatomy & Physiology)
  • Positioning, Transfer & Ambulation
  • Admitting, Transferring, and Discharging
  • Basic Nursing Skills


  • Transfer and ambulation
  • Assisting with physical exam
  • Vital signs (T, P, R, BP)
  • Height & weight
  • Pain management
  • Warm and Cold applications
  • Dressings (non-sterile and sterile)
  • Elastic bandages
  • O2 therapy



  • Personal Care Skills


  • Skin care
  • Bathing/grooming/dressing
  • Oral care/care of dentures
  • Toileting
  • Bed making
  • Making an occupied bed
  • Moving up in bed




  • Nutrition & Hydration


  • Special diets
  • Feeding – assisting with meals
  • I&O



  • Urinary Elimination
  • Bowel Elimination


  • Collection of specimens
  • Catheter care
  • Enemas
  • Occult blood testing
  • Bowel and bladder training



  • Confusion, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Mental Health and Mental Illness
  • Rehabilitation and restorative care


  • ADLs
  • Motivate resident/stop when resists
  • Use of assistive devices
  • Care and use of prosthetic devices
  • Range of motion exercises
  • Deep breathing exercises



  • Dying, Death and Hospice



  • End of life care
  • Physical care of body after death


Length of Program

The Nursing Assistant program is a total of 144 contact hours consisting of: Class room – 72 contact hours, Campus lab – 24 contact hours, Supervised Clinical - 48 contact hours.   Classes will be held from 9am – 3pm four (4) days per week (Monday – Thursday). The DAY Nursing Assistant program will take 6 weeks to complete. The EVENING Nursing Assistant program will take 9 weeks to complete.  We cannot guarantee placement for students that choose not to be vaccinated.

Fees


Fees

  • Application Fee $100.00 (non-refundable)
  • Books Fee $90.00
  • Materials Fee $85.00
  • Lab Fee $150.00
  • Tuition $1350.00

 Additional Cost:

  • CPR Certification $25.00
  • Student Liability Insurance $45.00
  • Student ID Badge $15.00
  • State Board Exam $150.00 (additional fees may apply)

Total Program Cost $2010.00

The deadline to apply for Financial Aid is 2 weeks prior to each program’s start date.   The Academy cannot guarantee access to Financial Aid resources after this deadline.


Required Textbook / Workbook:

Hedman, S., Fuzy, J. & Howard, K. (2022). Hartman’s Nursing Assistant Care: The Basics. 6th Edition. Hartman Publishing Company. ISBN: 978-1-60425-141-8

Hedman, S. (2022). Workbook -Hartman’s Nursing Assistant Care: The Basics 6th Edition. Hartman Publishing Company. ISBN: 978-1-60425-142-5

Additional Supplies:

A current Medical Dictionary is strongly suggested for class and can be obtained from any bookstore for approximately $10. Students will need general school supplies such as: binders, notebook, paper, pens, pencils, erasers, and highlighters. Students are required to purchase a minimum of two pair of scrubs that must always be worn during clinicals and enclosed shoes (color based on clinical assignment). These are approximately $50.00 a pair and can be purchased at any uniform or retail store.  A student name badge is part of student uniform and is required for clinicals.  Students are encouraged to purchase any additional uniforms you may feel necessary for class/clinicals. Liability insurance is required for each student before student is placed in clinicals. The student may also incur expenses related to specific agency requirements for immunizations, TB skin test (x-rays if required), respiratory fit test, background checks, and drug screens. At completion of course (including ALL clinical hours), students will take the State of Tennessee Board exam.


Cancellation / Withdrawal / Refund Policy:

In accordance with the TENNESSEE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION (THEC), The Academy of Allied Health Careers utilizes enrollment contracts/agreements and must maintain a cancellation and settlement policy for a full refund of all monies paid by a student if a student cancels the enrollment agreement or contract within 72 hours or 3 business days (Excluding Saturday, Sunday and Legal Holidays) after the enrollment contract is signed by the prospective student.  

                    1.  If the student begins classes within the 72-hour cancellation privilege period, the regular refund applies.  This refund is described below.

                    2.  If tuition or fees are collected in advance of entrance into a course, and if the student withdraws after the 72-hour expiration of the cancellation privilege but before the class has started, the Academy will retain no more than $100.

                    3.  If tuition and fees are collected in advance of the start date and the Academy cancels the class, the student may elect to transfer any tuition and fees paid to the next scheduled class if they so choose or receive a refund of 100% of the tuition and fees collected. 

For the student who begins any of the Academy’s programs and terminates or withdraws, the Academy will retain the $100.00 non-refundable Application Fee and the minimum refund of the remaining tuition will be calculated.

                    1.  Class refunds are prorated for the time you have spent in class (see guidelines below for withdrawal dates). This refund amount will be dependent on the length of course, total tuition for the course and amount of time spent in the course. You will be charged for the entire cost of tuition divided by (÷) the total number of weeks the class is scheduled, then multiplied by the total number of weeks you attended class according to our withdrawal date policy below. (For example: Tuition for Nursing Assistant is $1350.00. The Nursing Assistant day class is 4 weeks of class and student attended 2 weeks of class. Therefore: $ 1350 ÷ 4 weeks = $337.50 per week. So, $337.50 x 2 weeks = $675.00. The student in this situation would owe $675.00 for tuition.)

                     2.  Tuition refunds do not include any additional fees such as: Application Fee, Book Fees, Material Fees, Insurance Used, Uniforms Purchased, Physicals, etc.

                     3.  The effective date of the termination for refund purposes will be the following:

                                        a.  The last day of attendance if the student is terminated by the institution.

                                        b.  The date of receipt of written notice from the student.

                                        c.  Ten school days following the last day of attendance.

                                        d.  Refunds will be totally consummated within at least 45 days after the effective date of termination.


Financial Assistance:

The Academy is an eligible training provider for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.  Information related to eligibility for both programs is available at your local American Jobs Center.  The Academy is also approved by the Tennessee State Approving Agency for the training of veterans and their eligible dependents. In addition, the Academy offers payment plans for students admitted to its programs. Further information will be provided during the interview process. Students receiving any type of financial assistances will meet with an administrator to review their responsibilities. This program does not qualify for students to receive Title IV (Pell Grant) funding. The following programs DO qualify for students to receive Title IV (Pell Grant) funding:  MAA/CMA BUNDLE Program, Professional Coder PLUS Program. 

Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for admission prospective students must:

  1. Attend a Career Overview session to gain information re: programs offered and expectations
  2. Interview with Academy staff
  3. Complete entrance assessment (basic reading and math skills). Note: Results are used for advisement purposes only.  No passing score identified.
  4. Submit the following:
    1. A copy of a government approved photo ID (examples may include driver's license or state-issued ID)
    2. Completed Program Application/Enrollment Agreement

Students sponsored by WIOA or any other funding source are interviewed a 2nd time by Academy staff. The purpose of the second interview is to reinforce the Academy’s commitment to the objectives of the funding source (i.e. job search and employment).


The following minimal physical and mental requirements are necessary for successful progression through the Nursing Assistant program:

  • Ability to lift or move weights of up to 35% of recommended bodyweight (approx. 50 pounds).
  • Motor ability necessary to ambulate independently in clients’ rooms and in work areas.
  • Visual acuity sufficient to observe and assess client behavior, prepare and to administer medications, and accurately read monitors and computer screens.
  • Auditory acuity sufficient to hear instructions, requests, monitoring alarms, and to auscultate heart tones, breath sounds, and bowel sounds.
  • The ability to speak, write, and comprehend the English language proficiently (safety issue).
  • The ability to communicate in a professional manner and establish rapport with clients and colleagues.


Criminal background checks and drug screens are required at the affiliated clinical sites for training. Based on the results of these checks, an affiliated clinical site may determine to not allow your presence at their facility. This could result in your inability to successfully complete the requirements of this program. Additionally, a criminal background may preclude licensure or employment.


Immunizations / Vaccinations

The Academy does NOT require proof of any immunizations/vaccinations including, but not limited to: Hepatitis B, COVID-19, Flu, or TB skin test. However, many of our affiliated clinical sites do require these, and perhaps other, immunizations and vaccinations. Because of this, we cannot guarantee placement for students that choose not to be vaccinated.

Authorization

The Nursing Assistant program is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). This authorization must be renewed each year and is based on an evaluation by minimum standards concerning the quality of education, ethical business practices, health and safety and fiscal responsibility. The Nursing Assistant program is also approved by the Tennessee Department of Health.

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