Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Prep

• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the nursing assistant in health care.
• Identify and demonstrate beginning nursing assistant knowledge, skills, and attitudes for providing quality nursing care.
• Demonstrate communication techniques appropriate to a nursing assistant.
• Perform resident care procedures according to the Indiana State Department of Health standards.
• Utilize knowledge of the legal and ethical aspects of health care related to the responsibilities as a nursing assistant and member of the health care team.
• Apply basic math skills to patient care situations.
• Apply knowledge of Infection Control Standard Operating Procedures, visitation guidelines for Long-term Care Facilities and proper use of PPE in the practice of skills during clinical

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Describe the CNA role within the healthcare team, including scope of practice, communication pathways, and professional expectations.
• Apply legal and ethical principles, including resident rights, confidentiality (HIPAA), consent, boundaries, and mandatory reporting.
• Demonstrate infection prevention and control practices, including hand hygiene, standard precautions, PPE use, isolation awareness, and cleaning/disinfection basics.
• Promote safety and prevent injury by using proper body mechanics, transfer techniques, fall prevention strategies, and safe environmental practices.
• Perform and document routine measurements and observations, including vital signs, intake and output, pain cues, and reporting abnormal findings using appropriate communication methods.
• Provide person-centered assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, grooming, oral care, toileting, dressing, mobility, and comfort measures while maintaining dignity and privacy.
• Support nutrition and hydration by assisting with meal set-up, feeding techniques (as permitted), aspiration precautions, and reporting concerns such as swallowing difficulty or poor intake.
• Provide basic restorative and supportive care, including positioning, range-of-motion assistance, skin integrity awareness, pressure injury prevention, and comfort-focused interventions.
• Use therapeutic communication skills to support psychosocial needs, including respectful interaction with diverse populations and care considerations for dementia and mental health conditions.
• Demonstrate accurate, timely documentation and reporting aligned to facility expectations and state-tested CNA competencies.
• Respond appropriately to common emergencies and changes in condition by following facility protocols, recognizing warning signs, and escalating concerns promptly.

PREREQUISITES: Regulations per the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH).

https://www.in.gov/health/ltc/aide-training-and-certification/cna/how-do-i-become-a-cna/