Nursing Assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, help provide basic care to patients such as bathing and dressing, helping patients eat, taking vital signs, lifting patients into beds and wheelchairs, providing and emptying bedpans and changing bed sheets.
In nursing homes and residential care facilities, assistants are often the principal caregivers. They have more contact with residents than other members of the staff. Because some residents stay in a nursing home for months or years, assistants may develop close relationships with their residents. Some nursing assistants also may dispense medication, depending on their training level and the state in which they work.
Nursing assistant training at NPC prepares graduates for healthcare careers. The required five-credit course, NAT 101 Nursing Assistant, features both lecture and hands-on lab classes that include all required content and hours specified by the Arizona Nurse Practice Act. Upon successful completion of the course, you become eligible to take the Arizona State Board of Nursing examination to become a Certified or Licensed Nursing Assistant (CNA/LNA).
Before Enrolling
**To qualify for enrollment in NAT 101, students must provide a DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card prior to course registration to meet Department of Health Services requirements. Learn How to Apply!- Students seeking federal financial aid may take additional courses in English, Math, Medical Terminology and Science to earn a Certificate of Proficiency (CP).
- Applicants to the NPC Nursing Program must have a current Arizona Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license in good standing.
- For more information about this program, please contact an NPC Academic Advisor. Also see the current NPC College Catalog and class schedule.
Labs and Classrooms
The Nursing Assistant (NAT) training course is offered face-to-face for both lecture and hands-on courses. Hands-on laboratory training is offered at the Show Low, Snowflake/Taylor, and Winslow campuses, as well as the Whiteriver and Springerville centers. (Actual clinical sites may vary each semester. Check with your academic advisor or the NPC Division of Nursing for details.)
Supplies / Tools
Royal blue scrubs, clean athletic shoes, a watch with a second hand and course textbook.
Students are also responsible for the cost of providing proof of required testing and immunizations, and the DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card, prior to admission to the NAT 101 course, and a second set of fingerprints if seeking Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) certification.
Entry Requirements
Prerequisite for admission to the CNA course/program:
- Satisfactory reading and math placement scores;
- Healthcare Provider CPR and First Aid certification (EMT 104 CPR & First Aid or equivalent);
- A current TB skin test and proof of immunization for Hep B, MMR, and Varicella must be provided;
- Students are required to provide fingerprint identification for a criminal background check and proof of legal presence in the United States when applying for a CNA/LNA license.
Before Enrolling
To qualify for enrollment in NAT 101, students must provide a DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card** prior to course registration to meet Department of Health Services requirements. Learn How to Apply!Under the Arizona Nurse Practice Act, an applicant for CNA/LNA licensure can be denied certification if convicted of a felony or addicted to habit-forming drugs or if the applicant in any other way fails to meet qualifications required by law. – A.R.S. §32-1606(B)(17)
Pursuant to A.R.S. 15-108, NPC prohibits the possession and use of marijuana on all campuses and in all off campus student activities, including internships and clinical learning experiences in health programs, regardless of whether the possessor or user is in possession of a medical marijuana card. Medical marijuana, or its metabolite, is not an accepted substance in urine drug screens and will result in a positive urine drug screen. Students with a prescription for medical marijuana are NOT considered exempt from urine drug screening. ALL nursing assistant students are required to submit to urine drug screening prior to the start of clinical experiences.
Work Environment
Nursing Assistants work in nursing and residential care facilities and in hospitals. They are often physically active spending much of their time on their feet as they take care of many patients or residents. The work of nursing assistants can be strenuous as they may need to help lift or move patients.
Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunity for nursing assistants is expected to grow by 4% through 2032. This is due to long-term care needs of a growing elderly population, plus the many advancements of modern medical technology that save and extend lives, increasing the need for long-term care provided by nursing assistants.
Potential Job Titles
Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), nurse's aide, orderly
Accreditation/Affiliations
The NPC Nursing Assistant (CNA/LNA) program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing.
Articulations
Applicants to the NPC Nursing program must have a current Arizona Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) license in good standing.
Student Outcomes
Between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, 80.3% of the students in NPC's Nursing Assistant Training course successfully completed the state knowledge exam and 80.9% passed the skills testing necessary to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Contact Information
1001 W. Deuce of Clubs
Ponderosa Center, Nursing Offices
Show Low,
AZ 85901
Northland Pioneer College
Northland Pioneer College
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