Common Course Outline

Catalog Description

Course Description

This course introduces the knowledge and concepts of basic needs and basic nursing skills for the long-term care and acute care settings. Skills are taught in a nursing laboratory setting utilizing demonstration of skills and guided practice. Students will develop the competency to provide safe and quality care. After successful completion of the theory and lab components, students will have a clinical experience in both the long-term care and acute care settings. This course meets the Federal OBRA law and Minnesota Department of Health requirements for educating the Nursing Assistant. Upon completion of the class, the student will be eligible to complete the Minnesota Nursing Assistant State Competency Exam for the state NA Registry. This course is a required course for the Surgical Technology program.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

May, 2023

Outline of Major Content Areas

1. Introduction to Nursing Assistant role and responsibilities in both long-term care and acute care settings.
2. Basic Human Needs and the Aging Process
3. Communication in Healthcare and Reporting/Recording resident/patient information.
4. Ensuring and Maintaining a Safe and Clean Environment
5. Responding to Emergency Situations
6. Vital Signs and Measures
7. Activity and Exercise
8. Food and Fluid Needs
9. Elimination Needs
10. Caring for Residents with Special Needs
11. Caring for Patients Exhibiting Challenging Behaviors
12. Common Diseases and Conditions
13. Care of the Patient Undergoing Surgery
14. Process for Applying and Getting Hired in Healthcare
15. Personal Care Skills

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

1. Describe role of the healthcare worker.
2. Discuss patient/resident rights.
3. Identify the Vulnerable Adult Law.
4. Describe basic needs.
5. Describe death/dying and end of life care.
6. Discuss Advanced Directives.
7. Describe stages of growth and development in adulthood.
8. Describe communication techniques with hearing and vision impaired individuals.
9. Describe and demonstrate confidentiality.
10. Describe communication techniques with individuals that have speech impairments.
11. Explain observations to report and record.
12. Describe importance of documentation.
13. Describe and demonstrate infection control practices.
14. Discuss standard and transmission-based precautions.
15. Describe aging changes of the elderly.
16. Describe environmental safety.
17. Make an unoccupied and occupied bed.
18. Describe responding to emergency situations.
19. Perform clearing an obstructed airway.
20. Describe and demonstrate correct body mechanics.
21. Demonstrate positioning and transferring techniques.
22. Describe and perform personal care skills.
23. Describe nutrition and fluid principles.
24. Describe therapeutic diets.
25. Discuss elimination needs.
26. Discuss assisting with eliminations needs.
27. Describe special populations with mental health and social service needs.
28. Discuss the difference between the long-term care and hospital nursing assistant role.
29. Define and know medical abbreviations and terminology.
30. Describe admission and discharge procedures.
31. Describe confidentiality and HIPAA regulations.
32. Demonstrate vital signs.
33. Describe specimen collection.
34. Explain special procedures.
35. Describe the care of the patient pre and post operatively.
36. Orientation to the long-term care and hospital environment.
37. Perform personal and technical skills within the NA scope of practice and safe standards of care.
38. Describe intake and output measurement.
39. Demonstrate work organization.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

NA

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

• Objective and short answer tests.
• Written assignments
• Skill performance evaluations.

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Personal and Professional Accountability

Students will take responsibility as active learners for achieving their educational and personal goals.

Special Information (if any)

Required: A federal and state background check with fingerprinting, current tuberculin test or negative chest x-ray, designated health form and vaccinations as required by the clinical sites. Students are required to wear the designated uniform for the lab and clinical experiences. Students must complete the theory and lab satisfactorily to be eligible to attend clinical. This course utilizes a curriculum approved by the Minnesota Department of Health and 100 % attendance is required.