Whether you are looking to get your feet wet and learn what it is like to be a nursing assistant, College of DuPage can help get you started. COD offers:

• Passionate instructors with years of working in the nursing field.
• Fully-equipped lab at the Westmont Regional Center.
• A high CNA competency examination pass rate. Over 96 percent of students who take the CNA certification exam pass successfully. 
• The opportunity to continue the program and earn an Associate Degree in Nursing at COD. 

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Certificate

Certified Nursing Assistants are entry level providers of direct patient care in today's health care environment, including long-term care, hospitals, home health agencies, rehabilitation and hospice. Routine care is administered by the nursing assistant under the direct supervision of a nurse. Nurse assistant training is completed in one semester of classroom instruction with a clinical component. The Certified Nursing Assistant Training program meets the guidelines set by federal and state government. Upon successful completion of the program students are eligible to take the certification competency exam in Illinois to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). This exam is managed and approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). This certificate requires a total of 6 credits.

Students are expected to provide proof of a Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan prior to the start of the program or clinical start. The insurance plan must cover you throughout the length of your clinical experience, which in most cases, consists of the entire length of the program. If you are in need of Health Insurance, please note the following important dates and visit cod.studentbenefitplans.com.

Important Dates

• Open Enrollment: Typically opens November through mid-January
  If you will need health insurance ANYTIME within the next year, you must apply during the current open enrollment period.

If you miss open enrollment, but have a qualifying life event, you can still apply during a Special Enrollment Period.

While we cannot guarantee your official acceptance into the program, you need to be aware that there is short timeframe of when you are able to purchase a Health Insurance plan. The purpose of this step is to make you aware and that the time to research and purchase is NOW. Purchasing health insurance outside of this timeframe will take months and may prohibit your admittance into the Program. NOTE: Obtaining Health Insurance is NOT an application requirement but it is a requirement to be in the program.

Incoming health science students have certain requirements that must be met throughout the program. Refer to the resources below for more information.

• Clinical Requirements Packet - Learn more about health requirements you may need to complete prior to registration or after program admission.
• Social Security Number (SSN) Requirements - While the College may not require an SSN for admission to all healthcare programs, students should be aware that the absence of an SSN may limit or prevent their ability to participate in certain clinical experiences, obtain required licensure or certification or secure employment upon graduation. Many healthcare employers, clinical education sites, licensing agencies and credentialing organizations require a valid SSN for employment, criminal background checks, payroll processing and/or professional licensure or certification. Students are strongly encouraged to verify SSN requirements with the applicable licensing board, certifying agency and prospective employers before enrolling in a healthcare program.

CNA program graduates will:

• Perform as a valued member of the health care team within the approved scope of practice allowed for a nursing assistant
• Demonstrate safety, medical asepsis, and awareness of patient/resident rights
• Identify methods for controlling the spread of infection
• Demonstrate the principles of basic human anatomy and physiology
• Define medical terms and abbreviations
• Compile data necessary for the health care team to make informed decisions regarding the appropriate care plan for the health care consumer
• Evaluate patient's responses to the provided care
• Describe the principles and role of the nurse assistant in rehabilitative and restorative care facilities
• Identify the common diseases and physical changes associated with the geriatric population
• List the needs of the dying patient and the role of the nurse assistant in delivering post-mortem care
• Complete the Alzheimer's disease and related disorders protocol
• Perform the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) mandated skills for a nurse assistant
• Implement holistic patient care based on the skills required by the State of Illinois for a nurse assistant
• Demonstrate skills in the nursing care plan established for the patient
• Perform in a manner appropriate of a nursing assistant when communicating with patients, visitors, instructors, and other team members
• Perform within a legal and ethical framework based on patient rights as mandated in accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) policies
• Perform self-evaluation to ensure the highest level of quality patient care

Motor Capability

• Move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces
• Squat, crawl, bend/stoop, reach above shoulder level, use standing balance, and climb stairs
• Lift and carry up to 50 , and exert up to 100 lbs. force or push/pull
• Use hands repetitively; use manual dexterity; sufficient fine motor function
• Must be able to walk and stand for extended periods of time
• Perform CPR
• Travel to and from academic and clinical sites

Sensory Capability

• Coordinate verbal and manual instruction
• Auditory ability sufficient to hear verbal communication from clients and members of the health team; includes ability to respond to emergency signals.
• Discern soft sounds, such as those associated with taking a blood pressure
• Visual acuity to acquire information from documents such as charts
• Comfortable working in close physical proximity to patient

Communication Ability

• Communicate effectively in English with patients, families, and other health care providers, both verbally and in writing
• Effectively adapt communication for intended audience
• Interact; establish rapport with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds
• Assume the role of a health care team member
• Function effectively under supervision
• Sufficient command of the English language in order to read and retrieve information from lectures, textbooks, as well as understand medical terminology
• Skills include computer literacy

Problem Solving Ability

• Function effectively under stress
• Respond appropriately to emergencies
• Adhere to infection control procedures
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills in patient care (measure, calculate, reason, prioritize, and synthesize data).
• Use sound judgment and safety precautions
• Address problems or questions to the appropriate persons at the appropriate time
• Organize and prioritize job tasks

Behavioral Skills and Professionalism

• Follow policies and procedures required by academic and clinical settings
• Adheres to College of DuPage Academic Honesty Policy (per College Catalog)
• Adheres to College of DuPage Code of Conduct (per College Catalog)
• Abides by the guidelines set forth in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, i.e., the national privacy act)

If you are new to College of DuPage, you should start by talking to an Admissions Representative at (630) 942-2626. If you have taken classes here before, you should start by completing the online Information Session; these are posted online.

All health requirements must be completed before you can register for the program. The QuantiFERON TB Gold test and drug screen must be completed according to the dates posted in the registration packet.

 A composite 20 on the ACT will satisfy the reading requirement only.

If a nurse aide is in good standing with no findings of abuse, neglect or theft and has not worked for pay in the nursing-related services for 12 consecutive months or more, he/she may be able to re-certify by either retraining and testing or testing only. Visit nurseaidetesting.com for recertification details.

Yes, as long as you meet the requirements set forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

• Have been deemed competent on another state's registry for CNAs.
• Meet Illinois CNA employer requirements

Participants in an Illinois Department of Public Health approved CNATP must be at least 16 years of age. Certain employers may not hire you until you are at least 18.