The Office of Long-Term Care approves the Nursing Assistant Program. Graduates are eligible to take the Written and Skills Assessment Exams for certification. Graduates should be aware that violation of any federal, state, or local drug law or conviction of a crime may prohibit the student from entering a clinical agency to care for clients. Background checks will be completed as a condition for admissions. In addition, clinical facilities also may require a substance abuse test as a condition of clinical practice in the respective facility. Inability to complete the clinical course because of failure to meet these requirements will result in course failure. The Office of Long-Term Care may be contacted at:

Post Office Box 8059
Little Rock, AR 72203-8059
501-682-1807
www.medicaid.state.ar.us/ltc/index.htm

Benefits of the Nursing Assistant Program

The Nursing Assistant program is ideal for the person who thinks he/she might want to enter a career in the healthcare field. Completion of this one semester couse allows the candidate to complete the state certification test and work in a variety of settings including nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living centers or home health. It also can be the first step on the career ladder leading to higher levels of nursing care. It is an opportunity for the student who plans on attending the LPN or RN program to build skills and to enter the workforce in their field of study and earn money while attending school.

Job Specific Skills

The functions and job responsibilities of the Nursing Assistant are:

Knowledge of uncomplicated nursing procedures and ability to assist LPNs and RNs in direct client care
Principles of communication and effective interaction
Sensitivity to clients’ emotional, social, and mental health needs
Strategies to assist clients to maintain functional independence
Observational and documentation skills

Admission Requirements

Students may be admitted to the Nursing Assistant Program (NA) every semester. No pre-requisite courses are required; however, students who wish to be considered for enrollment must meet the following criteria:

Be at least 18 years of age.
Fulfill all college admission requirements as follows:

Complete on online application to NPCC: https://express.npcc.edu/admap/admapp.html
Submit official high school transcript documenting graduation from high school or official Arkansas High School Diploma/GED certificate to the Nursing Office.

Provide SAT, ACT, COMPASS, or TABE test scores taken within the last 4 years that meet the requirements for entry into Reading II. COMPASS tests are provided in the NPCC Testing Center at no charge. The Testing Center is located in the Counseling Center on the second floor of the Gerald Fisher Campus Center and the phone number is 501-760-4376. NOTE: If you have already attended college, this testing requirement is not necessary; however, an unofficial copy of your college transcript(s) is/are required for the Nursing Assistant Program.
Submit a completed nursing assistant application - Nursing Assistant Application
Complete a Criminal History Consent Form provided by the Nursing Assistant Program as background checks are a condition for admission. Graduates should be aware that violation of any federal, state, or local law or conviction of a crime may prohibit the student from entering a clinical agency to care for residents/clients.
Students who meet the above criteria are accepted into the program and will be automatically enrolled in the courses, in the order of file completion.

Nursing Assistant Curriculum/Certificate of Proficiency or Technical Certificate

The Nursing Assistant program includes three courses. They are designed to be completed in only one semester, either fall or spring sessions. Generally, students will spend approximately 90 hours in the classroom and around 90 hours in clinical settings administering patient/resident care. Clinical experiences occur in long-term care and in hospital settings and are designed to promote the graduate’s confidence in the health care setting. Students may also choose to enroll in an elective course which concentrates on the nursing assistant role in the hospital setting. In order to obtain the necessary skills to be eligible to take the state certification exam to become a “Certified” Nursing Assistant, the successful completion of the following two courses are required in the order below:

Required	NA 1104 Nursing Assistant Course Description (2-4-4) This course provides training in basic nursing assistant behaviors and procedures including communication and interpersonal skills, infection prevention and control, safety and emergency procedures, and resident rights. Nursing procedures are related to transferring and positioning techniques, and personal care skills for activities of daily living. In addition, other selected basic nursing skills are covered. A unit on social/cognitive/behavioral behavior with emphasis on dementia is also included. This course is based on the Arkansas Long-Term Care Facility Nursing Assistant Training Curriculum and has been approved by the Arkansas Office of Long-Term Care. There is also a unit related to significant acute care issues for the nursing assistant. Graduates of this course are prepared to write the state of Arkansas Competency Examination for Nursing Assistants.
Required	NA 1101 Nursing Assistant Clinical I (0-6-1) This course provides students with an opportunity to engage in clinical learning experiences. Emphasis is placed on clinical competence of basic nursing assistant skills including communication, infection control, safety and emergency procedures, resident’s rights, feeding techniques, elimination procedures, skin care, transferring, positioning and turning techniques, dressing, and range-of-motion exercises.
Elective	NA 1201 Nursing Assistant Clinical II (0-6-1) This course provides students with an opportunity to engage in clinical learning experiences in the acute care settings. Students will grow in their ability to implement basic nursing skills and adapt these to the hospital environment. Students will be introduced to the current technology used in the clinical setting. Students will be assigned a preceptor with supervision provided by NPCC faculty. Times for this clinical will 12 hr. shifts and may be day or evening/night.
	Click here to access the degree plan for the Technical Certificate
	Click here to access the degree plan for the Certificate of Proficiency

Enrollment Process

Upon acceptance and prior to enrolling in Nursing Assistant courses, the student must provide the following documents:

Signed Responsibility forms (provided by the Nursing Assistant Program)
Completed Data Health Form which includes proof of immunization compliance including the following:

Current MMR, if born after 1957
Initiation of Hepatitis B series or signature on declination statement
Proof of TB skin test within the last year

Signed Promotional Permission form
Signed Substance Abuse Policy Release form
Complete CPR training

No late enrollment is allowed. Students are expected to furnish their own transportation to school and to and from the clinical area.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

All students are required to have professional liability insurance.
Registration fees for NA 1133 will include a fee that will provide this insurance.

Estimated Costs for Nursing Assistant Program- vary depending on course selection projected on Certificate of Proficiency credits
Description	Cost
College Registration Fee (Per Semester)	$50.00
College Infrastructure Fee (Per Semester)	$50.00
Technology Fee ($3 per credit hour x 7 Credit Hours)	$21.00
Tuition ($73 per hour x 10 Credit Hours) May be higher if out of county resident	$511.00
Nursing Assistant malpractice fee	$25.00
Criminal Background Check Fee	$39.00
Drug Screening Fee	$30.00
Books	$74.00
White Leather Tennis Shoes (Student Choice/Cost Estimated)	$15.00
Watch w/Second Hand (Student Choice/Cost Estimated)	$10.00
One uniform set with top, pant and jacket. Cost approximate	$50
Approximate Grand Total	$876 $



Financial Aid Information - please see the Financial Aid Office or the Career Pathways Office for guidance in this area. Students enrolled in certificate of proficiency programs are not eligible for Pell grants. However, there may be other sources available to assist you.