About the Nurse Assistant Program

Nurse assistants are employed in health care facilities to assist nurses in providing patient care.

Southwestern Illinois College's Nurse Assistant program trains students to perform functions and procedures relating to the personal hygiene, safety, nutrition, exercise and elimination needs of patients.

Related duties include lifting and moving patients, observing the patient, helping promote the patient's physical comfort and collecting specimens. Students also will assist with admission and discharge of patients, and measure temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure.

If a student is interested in a career in the health care field, this course is an excellent introduction.

Southwestern's Nurse Assistant program is approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The program is offered in either accelerated (six weeks) or extended (16 weeks) time frames. Classes are held at all three Southwestern campuses.

Students completing the Nurse Assistant course are awarded a certificate of proficiency and are eligible to register for the Nurse Assistant Competency Examination. The state exam costs $50.

Illinois requires a criminal background check on all individuals applying for direct patient care positions. This check will be initiated on the first day of class.

Students must pass the criminal background check in order to remain in the program, be eligible to participate in certification exams and be eligible for employment.

Career Opportunities

Following course completion and successful passage of competency exam, graduates may be employed in acute and longterm care settings and home health to provide personal care under the direction of an RN or LPN.

Programs Available:

Certificate (AAS) (025A)

This one semester certificate course prepares the nurse assistant students to perform simple and basic functions under the supervision of a nurse and to apply for the CNA competency test. The program’s purpose is to provide the health care community with knowledgeable and skilled nurse assistants who recognize that the patient/resident/client is a unique individual with needs and rights deserving of holistic care.

Students enrolling in the six-credit hour Nurse Assistant course- HRO 105-should be aware that criminal background checks are required to take competency exams. Students may be dropped from the program if they fail to pass the criminal background check as required by IDPH. Contact the program coordinator or an academic counselor for more information. A physical exam and immunizations are required. Students enrolling in all Allied Health programs should be aware that some clinical facilities may require auto and/or health insurance. Malpractice insurance, when required, is provided by the college through assessment of lab fees. Some clinical sites may require drug testing. This information will be provided in the first class. Students must also meet any requirements of the clinical sites or may be dropped from the program.

Nurse Assistant Attendance Policy

Students participating in the Nurse Assistant Program-HRO 105-are subject to all of the provisions of the existing college catalog and IDPH program requirements with respect to attendance during the period of their enrollment.