Although you work under the direction of a registered nurse in most clinical settings, you are the person responsible for bathing and feeding patients who need help; making beds, transferring and transporting patients when needed, taking and recording vital signs as directed and a variety of other basic but essential services.
Because you work closely with patients, other staff members (including RNs, physicians and physical therapists) rely heavily on your observations and reports.
L&C has a strong reputation for training nurse assistants. In order to meet the clinical practicum requirement, you’ll attend 48 hours of clinical training in a long term care facility and/or hospital. These facilities often recruit L&C students for employment after graduation.
When you receive your Certificate of Completion you will be eligible to be tested for competency as a Certified Nurse Assistant by Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) Nurse Aid Testing Service for the Illinois Department of Public Health. Once certified, you will be eligible to work in long term care facilities, hospitals and community and public health services.
The final and most important ingredient for success as an NA: Empathy. You must have patience and compassion for people who are ill or need your assistance.
Student Achievement Data
L&C Nurse Assisting ProgramFirst-Time Pass Rates for the Nurse Aide Training Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) certified by the Illinois Department of Public Health |
Lewis and Clark Community College |
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
| 96% | 97% | 88% | 90% |
Lewis and Clark Community College - Jersey Community Hospital |
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
| 86% | 100% | 100% | 82% |
Lewis and Clark Community College - Secondary School |
| | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
| | 79% | 73% | 92% |
Lewis and Clark Community College - Eden Village Retirement Center |
| | | 2016 | |
| | | 100% | |
Offerings
Nurse Assistant | Certificate of Completion
Certified Nurse Assistant II | Certificate of Completion
See catalog for course planning information
*This is only meant as a guide. Please see an advisor when planning your courses.
Additional Course Requirements
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) requires that students who enroll in the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) course must provide evidence that they have completed the 8th grade or above. Evidence may include a high school diploma, a GED, or a transcript indicating completion of 8th grade or higher. The College requires students to complete the Next-Generation Accuplacer placement test with a 240 or higher reading score.
Students enrolled in the CNA course must also complete a satisfactory background check (additional fee required), obtain a negative drug test and have a valid CPR Class C card. For an additional fee, CNA students are issued CPR Class C cards during the course.
