Allied Health of Maryland
CNA Program Overview
This course covers basic nursing skills including taking vital signs, assuring patients safety, and caring for geriatric clients in resident facilities. Those wishing to be employed as Geriatric Nursing Assistants can complete this Certified Nursing Assistant course and then apply for Certified Nursing Assistant licensing examination. Our classes consist of 60 hours of classroom, 20 hours of lab skills and 40 hours of clinical experience in and outside facility. Classrooms are held Monday to Friday 8 am to 12.30pm, for a period of 5 weeks, with three10-minute breaks. Clinical days are held Monday to Friday starting 6.30am and ending 4.30pm for a period of 4 weeks upon completion of all checkoffs and didactic work.
Objectives: This course prepares students for the entry level position.
At the completion of the program, the graduate is able to:
Describe the nursing assistants roles and responsibilities in regard to residents rights,
neglect/abuse, legal responsibilities, communication, ethics, and compliance with the
Maryland Department of Health regulations.
Practice restorative skills (independence/self-care, prevention) to help residents adapt to
living safely and as independently as possible.
Practice psychosocial care skills to address residents mental and physical needs.
Demonstrate compliance with confidentiality and privacy laws.
Demonstrate professional and ethical behavior, including teamwork.
Acquire and practice skills of effective communication, including ethical and legal
responsibilities, reporting, recording, and proper communication with colleagues and residents in clinical sites.
Demonstrate infection control and safety practices in compliance with nursing assistants
standards of practice (SOPs).
Describe body systems and their functions within the scope of nursing assistants practice to help residents acquire functional independence.
Demonstrate proficiency and competency in the following nurse aide skills:
Interpersonal skills
Emergency techniques such as Heimlich maneuver
Care to special needs clients and those with cognitive impairment
Elimination techniques, including use of catheters and bedpan.
Exercise performing motion ranges for position on side, one shoulder, one ankle, and one knee.
Nutritional support, such as feeding residents unable to feed themselves.
Vital signs measuring and recording weight, urinary output, blood pressure, and radial respiration/pulse of clients.
Personal care providing perineal care, mouth care, foot care, giving bed baths, cleaning dentures, and applying elastic stockings.
Infection control and safety use of transfer belt, safe ambulatory practices,
donning and removal of personal protective equipment, and hand hygiene.
