The Nursing Assistant course (NAS100) will prepare a person to work under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and give direct patient care in a variety of health-care settings. Successful completion of the course allows eligibility to write the State Nursing Assistant Certification exam through PROMETRIC. The Nursing Assistant Curriculum at Calhoun Community College is approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Admission Requirements:
• Must have dual enrollment status through the College
Enrollment Requirements/Background Checks/Drug Testing
Program Costs
Students will be required to provide his/her own transportation to assigned clinical facility
Additional expenses include:
| Textbooks | $100.00 |
| Uniforms and Supplies | Varies |
| Malpractice Insurance (per year) | VARIES |
| Drug Testing/Background Check | $71.50 |
| CPR Class (EMS 100) | $160.00 |
| Certification Exam through PROMETRIC | $100.00 |
| Health exams, PPD and Immunizations | VARIES |
| Tuition | (See Semester Class Schedule) |
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Nursing Assistants may be employed by hospitals, nursing homes, long-term health care facilities, and other community health care.
GENERAL INFORMATION
ACCREDITATION STATUS
Nursing programs have the full approval of the Alabama Board of Nursing and are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Accreditation information regarding the nursing program may be obtained from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, 3343 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326. Telephone: 404-975-5000. www.acenursing.org
CAREER DESCRIPTION
The practice of nursing is for individuals who are service-oriented, intellectually mature with a strong sense of self-direction and motivation, and who are able to work and interact with people of all ages and from various backgrounds. Registered Nurses (RN) assess the current health status of clients, plan care, administer treatments and medications, and provide education and emotional support for clients and their families. They perform a variety of nursing functions requiring communication skills, critical thinking, decision making, and sound judgment. RNs work in hospitals, long term care facilities, home health care, physician offices, outpatient clinics and other settings, and play a vital role in the quality and effectiveness of health care. RNs can specialize in a variety of areas of patient care, and with additional education, RNs have the opportunity to function in advance practice roles such as nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or nurse educator. The CCC ADN program is designed to educate individuals in providing nursing care to patients of all ages in a variety of health care settings. Nursing is a collaborative and/or independent process in which the nurse interacts with individuals applying documented, scientific knowledge through the use of the nursing process. Nursing courses provide sequential nursing knowledge, experience, and skills for the safe practice of nursing. Ethical and legal accountability are stressed.
Licensure Information
Upon graduation from a nursing program an individual will be eligible to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) or for Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) and apply to any state board of nursing for licensure as a practical or registered nurse. However, completion of an academic program in nursing in no way assures an individual of licensure. Legal requirements for licensure may be found in the Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) Administrative Code (www.abn.state. al.us) and include being of good moral character. Applicants who have been found guilty of any offenses listed in the Code may be denied licensure by the ABN and any other state board of nursing. The ABN, as well as other state boards of nursing, has the power to deny eligibility for licensure to any candidate who is guilty of fraud or deceit in attempting to procure a licensure; has been convicted of a felony; is guilty of a crime involving moral turpitude or gross immorality that would tend to bring reproach upon the nursing profession; is unfit or incompetent due to the use of alcohol, or is addicted to the use of habit forming drugs to such an extent as to render him or her unsafe or unreliable as a licensee; has been convicted of any violation of a federal or state law relating to controlled substances; is mentally incompetent; is guilty of unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or injure the public in matters pertaining to health or has willfully or repeatedly violated any of the provisions of this article as defined by board rules and regulations.
ALABAMA BOARD OF NURSING
REGULATORY QUESTIONS FOR EXAM APPLICANTS
1. Have you ever been arrested for, been charged with, been convicted of, entered a plea of guilty to, entered a plea of nolo contendere or no contest for, received deferred prosecution or adjudication for, had judgment withheld for, received pretrial diversion for, or pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect to any crime other than a minor traffic violation in any state, territory or country? Any crime related to driving while impaired or while under the influence of any substance is not a “minor traffic violation”.
2. In the past five years, have you abused alcohol, drugs (whether legal or illegal, prescribed or unauthorized), and/or other chemical substances or received treatment or been recommended for treatment for dependency to alcohol, drugs (whether legal or illegal, prescribed or unauthorized) and/or other chemical substances?
3. Have you ever been arrested or convicted for driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol?
4. In the past five years, have you had, or do you now have, a physical or mental health problem that may impair your ability to provide safe nursing care?
5. Has the licensing authority of any state, territory, or country denied, revoked, suspended, reprimanded, fined, accepted your surrender of, restricted, limited, placed on probation, or in any other way disciplined your nursing and/or any other occupational license, registration, certification, or approval?
6. Is the Board of Nursing or other licensing authority of any state, territory, or country, including but not limited to the Alabama Board of Nursing, currently investigating you?
7. Is disciplinary action pending against you with the Board of Nursing or other licensing authority of any state, territory or country, including but not limited to the Alabama Board of Nursing?
8. Have you ever been placed on a state and/or federal abuse registry?
9. Has any branch of the armed services ever administratively discharged you with any characterization of service besides “Honorable” and/or court-martialed you?
An applicant who answers ‘’YES’’ to a question is not automatically denied licensure but must provide the ABN with a detailed, written explanation and the appropriate court/treatment records must accompany the application for examination and licensure. If the documents are not received along with the application, the applicants can expect to be delayed in taking the examination. By a full explanation, the Board expects more than a statement naming the crime for which the applicant was convicted. The explanation should contain a full recitation of whom and why the crime occurred and the applicant’s history since the crime. If the applicant has indicated a history of mental illness or chemical dependency, a full explanation including treatment records, urine screens, doctor’s statements, etc. must be received with the application. Applicants also should be aware that they must disclose arrests that did not result in convictions and attach those court records. Misdemeanors also must be disclosed. These include checks written on accounts with insufficient funds and DUI. Minor traffic violations are excluded. If the Board of Nursing later learns of arrests or convictions not originally disclosed, such will be considered to be fraud and deceit in procuring a license and disciplinary action will be forthcoming. The Alabama Board of Nursing will determine whether or not the applicant may write the examination for licensure and be licensed as a registered nurse. Any questions regarding this matter should be directed to the ABN.
Student Standards of Conduct
The nursing student shall comply with the legal, ethical, moral, and legislative standards, which determine acceptable behavior of a nurse and shall avoid those behaviors which may be cause for denial of licensure to practice as a nurse, in accordance with Alabama law regulating practice of Registered and Practical Nursing and the ABN Administrative Code. When there is probable cause, the nursing department faculty reserves the right to require a prospective student, a student currently enrolled in a program, or a returning student to submit to psychological testing/counseling, drug screening, and/or a physical examination by a licensed physician at the student’s expense and to submit a report of the outcome to the nursing faculty. The department will provide a specific form for this purpose, when applicable. All reports may be reviewed by the department faculty to determine if a student may be admitted, readmitted, or retained in the nursing program.
Drug Testing and Background Checks
As stipulated by the health division contracts for clinical education, each student accepted in any nursing program will undergo drug testing and a criminal background check as a precondition to enrollment. Students will also be subject to random drug or alcohol testing for “cause”. All testing fees are the responsibility of the student. Related policy is provided to the student upon enrollment in a program. Students who test positive for drugs or alcohol and/or are denied clinical access by a clinical affiliate based on the criminal background check will be disallowed from clinical learning experiences, resulting in a failure of the course.
Eligibility Criteria for Nursing Programs
The purpose of the Eligibility Criteria is to outline the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills deemed minimally necessary for admission, progression, and graduation and for the provision of safe and effective patient care. The Alabama Community College System endorses the Americans with Disabilities Act. If a student cannot demonstrate the skills and abilities delineated in the Eligibility Criteria, it is the responsibility of the student to request an appropriate accommodation through the Office of Student Disability Services/ADA. In accordance with College policy, when requested, reasonable accommodations may be provided for individuals with disabilities. The Eligibility Criteria can be found on the nursing website and in program applications.
Program Requirements
1. Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course completion of the BLS or Healthcare Provider Level – must be American Heart Association, American Safety and Health Institute, or American Red Cross
2. Current CCC Student Health Form and Eligibility Criteria Form that have been completed in their entirety by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, verifying a state of physical and mental health such that the student is able to complete all program requirements without presenting undue risk/harm to the student or other persons. (Forms available on Calhoun Nursing webpage)
3. Up-to-date immunizations including:
- Two-step TB Mantoux skin test, T-spot test (or chest x-ray history of positive TB results) OR three consecutive annual negative skin tests. Annual update is required;
- 2 MMR Vaccinations or titer verifying immunity;
- 2 Varicella (chicken pox) Vaccinations or titer verifying immunity;
- Tetanus/Diphtheria Vaccination within the last 10 years;
- Hepatitis B immunization series of 3, or titer verifying immunity or a signed waiver. It is recommended that all nursing students be immunized against Hepatitis B.
- Influenza vaccination
4. Verification of current health/hospitalization/accident insurance or signed waiver of liability; and purchase of Professional Liability (Malpractice) Insurance through the college
5. “Clear” background check and drug screen results completed by the College’s selected agency at the student’s expense. Annual update is required.
6. Abide by the policies of the College and Nursing Department Student Policy Manual.
7. Valid photo ID (current driver’s license, military ID or passport)