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Nursing Student

NURSE AIDE

CERTIFICATE


Are you a natural caretaker? Do you enjoy working with others? If so, ACC’s Nurse Aide program could be a great fit for you!

Nurse aides, also referred to as Nursing Assistants or CNAs, help make sure the patient is receiving the best care possible. Their duties usually include feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, and changing linens. Individuals who enjoy socializing and helping others might enjoy this career, which requires organizational and problem-solving skills in a hands-on environment.

 


 

Essential Functions and Technical Standards for Nurse Aide Students

Purpose Statement:

The following technical standards represent the essential nonacademic requirements of the Nurse Aide Program that a student must master to successfully participate in the program and become employable. In adopting these standards the Nurse Aide Program is mindful of the patient’s right to safe and quality health care by students. The Nurse Aide student must be able to apply the knowledge and skills necessary to function in a broad variety of clinical situations while providing the spectrum of nurse aide interventions. These standards do reflect what may be required for employment of the graduate. To verify the students’ ability to perform these essential functions, students may be required to demonstrate the technical standards/essential functions below.
Meeting these technical standards does not guarantee employment in this field upon graduation. Ability to meet the program’s technical standards does not guarantee a student’s eligibility for any licensure, certification exam, or successful completion of the program.

Technical Standards
Definition of Standards
Examples
Critical Thinking/Problem-Solving Skills Ability to collect, interpret and integrate information and make decisions within range of function

While maintaining safety:

  • Read and comprehend relevant information in textbooks and medical records.
  • Prioritization of patient care delivery.
Interpersonal Skills Ability to collaboratively work with students and program faculty in the classroom, lab and clinical setting, as well as employers, community members and host sites.

While maintaining safety:

  • Establish rapport with patients and colleagues;
  • Participate in lab situations to role play both care provider and patient role.
  • Interact appropriately with individuals from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
  • Ability to employ basic conflict management skills.

 

Professionalism/Professional Boundaries 

A skill or behavior that shows consideration and respect for others.

While maintain safety: 

  • Demonstrates commitment and confidence.
  • Demonstrates a sense of responsibility and dependability.
Coping Skills

Works under time constraints. Concentrates in distracting situations. 


Follows supervisor instruction in a timely manner. Accepts and responds appropriately to constructive feedback from supervisors.   

While maintain safety: 

  • Manage academic schedules and deadlines.
  • Perform in fast paced lab and clinical situations.
Communication Skills Express him/herself effectively in English using verbal, nonverbal and written format with faculty, students, patients, families and other health care workers.  

While maintain safety: 

  • Give directions and answer questions patients and health care workers may have.
  • Keep accurate records using appropriate medical terminology and spelling
  • Demonstrate active listening skills
  • Recognize, interpret and respond to non-verbal behavior of self and others.
Mobility/Motor Skills Good dexterity (eye and hand coordination) Sufficient gross and fine motor skills to manipulate equipment lift stoop or bend during the safe delivery of care. Sufficient strength to assist patients that have physical limitations.

While maintain safety: 

  • Use equipment appropriately i.e.: mechanical lifts, w/chairs stretchers
  • Administer CPR
  • Position and transfer patients.
  • Move around in patients’ rooms and treatment areas
  • Maneuver in confined spaces
  • Physical activities may include:
    • Running
    • Bending
    • Stooping
    • Lifting
    • Reaching

Sensory

  • sight
  • sound
  • taste
  • touch
  • smell
Sufficient eyesight to observe patients, read charts and records. Read equipment. Visually monitor patients in dim lighting. Listening skills sufficient to communicate with others. Sufficient hearing to communicate with patients and members of the health care delivery team, monitor patients using electronic equipment. Identify various sounds. Ability to touch and locate anatomy on patients to perform physical assessments. Ability to tolerate various odors.  

While maintain safety: 

  • Observes and report patient skin color change
  • Records accurately patient activities
  • Reads glass thermometers
  • Reads sphygmomanometers
  • Reads and interprets height and weight on a stand up scale
  • Detect a pulse
  • Detect changes in water, food and skin temperatures
  • Hear monitor alarms, hear call bells, patient safety alarms, heart and breath sounds and blood pressure sounds.
  • Hear necessary sounds during operation of equipment
  • Work with patients with poor hygiene

Environmental/Occupational Exposure

Frequent exposure to communicable and infectious diseases, secretions, blood and bodily fluids. Exposure to environmental hazards. Possible exposure to X-ray radiation. Ability to work under high stress situations and respond promptly. Work in confined spaces

While maintain safety: 

  • Possible exposure to HIV, hepatitis, etc.
  • Exposure to X-ray radiation, medicinal preparations, latex, and toxic substances
  • Respond appropriately in emergency to maintain patient safety and care
  • Wear a face mask

Behavioral/Emotional

Shows respect for self and others. Projects an image of professionalism and strong work ethic. Arrives on time for professional commitments.

While maintain safety: 

  • Demonstrate initiative, flexibility, enthusiasm, honesty, cooperative behavior
  • Demonstrate respect for patient, other health care providers and the nursing profession.
  • Perform duties efficiently, willingly and thoroughly
  • Present professional appearance and maintain personal hygiene

 

Alamance Community College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities. Students who require accessibility services or reasonable accommodations must identify themselves as having a disability and provide current diagnostic documentation to the Accessibility Services Office located in the Main Building, Room 233. All information is confidential.

Please contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator for more information at 336-506-4130 or email at accessibilityservices@alamancecc.edu and notify your course instructor of your special needs, as appropriate. Students should initiate this process as soon as possible (prior to the start of classes and/or field experience).

 


 

Nursing

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