CNA Course

Lesson 1 • Healthcare Team and Communication

Maps the interdisciplinary team hierarchy and communication channels CNAs use daily. Effective reporting prevents errors and supports patient safety.

Lesson 2 • Professionalism and Work Ethics

Addresses attendance, appearance, attitude, and boundary maintenance in care settings. Professional conduct directly impacts patient trust and team cohesion.

Lesson 3 • Role and Scope of the CNA

Defines CNA duties, limitations, and legal boundaries within long-term and acute care. Anchors all subsequent clinical learning in professional accountability.

Lesson 1 • Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions

Differentiates standard precautions from contact, droplet, and airborne isolation protocols. Correct precaution selection protects staff, patients, and visitors.

Lesson 2 • Disaster Preparedness in Care Facilities

Introduces emergency response plans, evacuation roles, and utility failure protocols. CNAs must act decisively during disasters to protect vulnerable residents.

Lesson 3 • Environmental Safety and Hazard Management

Covers fall prevention, fire safety, and safe handling of sharps and biohazardous waste. A safe environment reduces preventable injuries for patients and staff.

Lesson 4 • Hand Hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment

Teaches correct handwashing technique and PPE selection, donning, and doffing sequences. Proper technique is the single most effective infection prevention measure.

Lesson 1 • Common Conditions in Long-Term Care

Describes prevalent diagnoses CNAs encounter, including diabetes, COPD, and dementia. Understanding pathophysiology improves observation accuracy and care delivery.

Lesson 2 • Medical Terminology Basics

Deconstructs prefixes, suffixes, and root words to build clinical vocabulary efficiently. Accurate terminology prevents miscommunication in documentation and reporting.

Lesson 3 • Normal vs. Abnormal Findings

Trains recognition of normal physiological parameters versus signs requiring reporting. Early identification of abnormal findings prevents adverse patient outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Bathing Techniques and Skin Care

Covers bed bath, tub, shower, and partial bath procedures with skin inspection integrated. Proper technique prevents skin breakdown and maintains patient comfort.

Lesson 2 • Oral, Hair, and Nail Care

Teaches routine and denture oral care, hair grooming, and safe nail care practices. Oral hygiene directly impacts nutrition, infection risk, and patient self-esteem.

Lesson 3 • Dressing and Undressing Assistance

Demonstrates proper sequencing for dressing patients with weakness or paralysis. Correct technique protects joints and promotes maximum patient participation.

Lesson 4 • Toileting and Continence Care

Addresses bedpan, urinal, commode, and incontinence pad use with dignity-centered technique. Proper continence care prevents skin breakdown and urinary tract infections.

Lesson 1 • Height, Weight, and Intake-Output Monitoring

Demonstrates standing, chair, and bed scale weighing plus accurate intake-output documentation. Weight trends and fluid balance data guide nutrition and medication decisions.

Lesson 2 • Temperature Measurement Methods

Compares oral, axillary, tympanic, temporal, and rectal routes with accuracy and safety considerations. Route selection depends on patient age, condition, and cooperation level.

Lesson 3 • Blood Pressure Measurement

Covers manual sphygmomanometer and automated cuff technique with error prevention strategies. Accurate blood pressure readings are essential for hypertension and cardiac monitoring.

Lesson 4 • Pulse and Respiration Assessment

Teaches radial pulse palpation, apical pulse auscultation, and respiratory rate counting. Rhythm and depth observations add clinical value beyond rate alone.

Lesson 1 • Ambulation Assistance and Fall Prevention

Guides supervised walking with and without assistive devices, including fall response procedures. Ambulation promotes circulation, strength, and psychological well-being.

Lesson 2 • Range of Motion Exercises

Demonstrates passive, active-assistive, and active ROM exercises for all major joints. Regular ROM prevents contractures and maintains joint function in immobile patients.

Lesson 3 • Positioning Patients in Bed

Covers supine, lateral, prone, Fowler's, and Sims' positions with pressure injury prevention. Correct positioning maintains alignment, comfort, and respiratory function.

Lesson 4 • Transfers: Bed to Chair and Back

Teaches one-assist and two-assist transfers using gait belts, slide boards, and mechanical lifts. Safe transfer technique is among the highest-risk skills in CNA practice.

Lesson 1 • Urinary Catheter and Ostomy Care

Teaches indwelling catheter care, drainage bag management, and basic ostomy pouch maintenance. Proper technique prevents catheter-associated infections and skin complications.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Restorative Nursing

Defines restorative care philosophy, goal-setting, and the CNA's role in rehabilitation teams. Restorative approaches reduce decline and support return to highest functional level.

Lesson 3 • Pressure Injury Prevention and Wound Care

Covers staging, risk assessment tools, and CNA-level wound observation and reporting duties. Pressure injuries are largely preventable with consistent repositioning and skin care.

Lesson 4 • End-of-Life and Palliative Care Support

Addresses physical comfort measures, emotional support, and postmortem care responsibilities. CNAs provide compassionate presence during one of the most significant life events.

Lesson 1 • Observation and Change-of-Condition Reporting

Trains systematic head-to-toe observation and structured verbal reporting to nurses. Timely reporting of change-of-condition findings prevents serious adverse events.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Accurate Documentation

Establishes rules for objective, timely, and legible charting in paper and electronic records. Accurate documentation is a legal record and a patient safety tool.

Lesson 3 • Written Examination Strategies

Builds test-taking skills for the knowledge component of certification examinations. Strategic preparation maximizes performance on multiple-choice and scenario-based questions.

Lesson 4 • Skills Testing Preparation and Practice

Prepares students for standardized clinical skills evaluation through structured practice and self-assessment. Consistent skill performance under observation is required for certification.