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Nursing Assistant

Certificate

Credits required for graduation: 3.00

The Nursing Assistant program is designed to prepare an individual for employment as an entry-level nursing assistant in long-term care settings, hospitals, or adult day care facilities. The program provides training in communication skills, both oral and written, personal care, basic nursing skills, assisting individuals in maintaining independence and promoting rehabilitation, and appropriate interaction with individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The program consists of a combination of classroom and laboratory activities as well as clinical experience in long-term care settings. The program is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services as a Nursing Assistant Training program. Upon successful completion of the program, the student is eligible to competency test for the Nurse Aide Registry.

Admission Requirements

Western accepts COMPASS, ASSET or ACT –Testing may be waived with applicable post-secondary credits. There is a $20 fee for this assessment (fee subject to change). If you have taken the ACT, ASSET or COMPASS within the last five years, you can request that your scores be submitted to Western. The testing requirements are:

Nursing Assistant Follow-Up 2008-09 Information

Salary Data - Related Employment

Respondents In Related Occupations

Administrative Assistant; Lakeview Health Center, West Salem, WI
Admissions Counselor; Gundersen Lutheran, La Crosse, WI
Associate; Riverfront Inc., La Crosse, WI
Certified Peer Specialist; VA Medical Center, Tomah, WI
CAN; Unknown
CAN; WI
CAN; Racine, WI
CAN; A Touch of Home Inc.
CAN; Air Force, TX
CAN; Bethany Lutheran Homes, La Crosse, WI
CAN; Bethany Riverside, La Crosse, WI (4)
CAN; Bethany St. Joseph, La Crosse, WI (3)
CAN; Bethel Home and Services, Viroqua, WI (5)
CAN; Care Initiative Lantern Park, Coralville, IA
CAN; Clairemont Health, Eau Claire, WI
CAN; Close to Home, Tomah, WI
CAN; Comfort Keepers, La Crosse, WI
CAN; Cresent Nursing Home, New Lisbon, WI
CAN; Crest View
CAN; Crestview Nursing Home, New Lisbon, WI
CAN; Dove Healthcare, Eau Claire, WI
CAN; Fairview, Mauston, WI
CAN; Gundersen Lutheran, La Crosse, WI (7)
CAN; Gundersen Lutheran, Viroqua, WI
CAN; Heritage Manor, Elroy, WI
CAN; Hillview Health Care, La Crosse, WI (3)
CAN; Home Care, West Salem, WI
CAN; Homeward Bound, Prairie Du Chein, WI
CAN; John Sullivan, Sparta, WI
CAN; Lakeview Health Center, West Salem, WI (7)
CAN; Liberty Village, Tomah, WI
CAN; Mile Bluff Medical Center, Mauston, WI
CAN; Mile Bluff Medical Center, New Lisbon, WI
CAN; Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta, WI
CAN; Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta, WI (2)CAN; Mulder Health Care, West Salem, WI (5)
CAN; Norseland Nursing Home
CAN; Norseland Nursing Home, Westby, WI
CAN; Northland Nursing Home, Westby, WI
CAN; Onalaska Care Center, Onalaska, WI (3)
CAN; Phipa Pines, WI
CAN; Pine View Care Center, Black River Falls, WI
CAN; Rennes Health and Rehab, Weston, WI
CAN; Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center, Sparta, WI (3)
CAN; Scotland Homes, Hilton, WI
CAN; Spring Brook Assisted Living, Onalaska, WI
CAN; St. Joseph’s Rehab Center, La Crosse, WI (5)
CAN; St. Michaels Lutheran Home, Fountain City, MN
CAN; Sterling House, Onalaska, WI
CAN; Sunset Ridge Estates, Tomah, WI
CAN; TCHCC, Whitehall, WI
CAN; Tomah Health Care Center, Tomah, WI (2)
CAN; Touch of Home, Tomah, WI
CAN; Trempealeau County Health Center, Trempealeau, WI
CAN; Trempealeau County Health Center, Whitehall, WI
CAN; Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home, Whitehall, WI (3)
CAN; VA Medical Center, Tomah, WI
CAN; Vernon Manor, Viroqua, WI (2)
CAN; Vernon Memorial Healthcare, Viroqua, WI (3)
CAN; Villa St Joe’s, La Crosse, WI
CAN and Dietary Aid; St. Michaels Lutheran Home, Fountain City, MN
CAN/Medical Records; Trempealeau County Health Center, Whitehall, WI
Day Services Program Coordinator; Bethany Lutheran Homes, La Crosse, WI
Dietary Aid; Gundersen Lutheran, La Crosse, WI
Direct Support Provider; Able Inc., La Crescent, MN
EMT; Black River Falls Fire and Rescue, Black River Falls, WI
GCA Lab Consultant; UW-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI
Health Care Specialist; U.S. Army, Jacksonville, FL
License Child Care Provider; Owner, Sparta, WI
LPN; Pine View Care Center, Black River Falls, WI
Medical Assistant; Cashton Clinic, Cashton, WI
Medical Assistant; Gundersen Lutheran, Onalaska, WI
Medical Assistant; Options Clinic, La Crosse, WI
Medical Records; Tomah Memorial Hospital, Tomah, WI
Medical Transcriptionist; Gundersen Lutheran, La Crosse, WI
Medication Passer; Harmony Assisted Living, Sun Prairie, WI
Neurodiagnostic Tech; Gundersen Lutheran, La Crosse, WI
Nursing Assistant; Heritage Manor, Elroy, WI
Nursing Assistant; Norseland Nursing Home, Westby, WI
Nursing Assistant; St. Joseph’s Rehab Center, La Crosse, WI
Orthodontic Assistant; Heim & Grimslid Orthodontics, La Crosse, WI
Patient Care Technician; Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, La Crosse, WI
Patient Liaison; Gundersen Lutheran, La Crosse, WI
Patient Liaison; Gundersen Lutheran, Onalaska, WI
Personal Care Assistant; Cooperating Community Programs, Woodbury, MN
Pharmaceutical Technician; Shopko, La Crosse, WI
Pharmacy Technician; Peterson Pharmacy, Hillsboro, WI
Pharmacy Technician; Walgreen, Mauston, WI
Phlebotomist; BioLife Plasma Services, Onalaska, WI
Phlebotomist; Gundersen Lutheran, La Crosse, WI
Program Manager; Woodgreen Estates, Richland Center, WI
RA; Lakeview Health Center, West Salem, WI
RA; Parkside, Black River Falls, WI
RCT; Bethany St. Joseph, La Crosse, WI
Resident Aide; Lakeview Health Center, West Salem, WI
Resident Care Assistant; Assisted Living, La Crosse, WI
Resident Care Assistant; Brookdale Senior Living, La Crosse, WI
Resident Care Technician; Bethany St. Joseph, La Crosse, WI
Residential Coordinator; CCLS, Black River Falls, WI
Respiratory Therapist; Total Home Health
ROI Specialist; Gundersen Lutheran, La Crosse, WI
Teacher; Independence Children Center, Independence, WI
Teacher CPR; Western Technical College, La Crosse, WI
Waitress; Greenwood Café, Tomah, WI

Nursing Assistant

The Nursing Assistant program prepares individuals for employment as an entry level nursing assistant in a health care facility where he/she will perform selected patient care tasks supportive to nursing under the supervision of a licensed nurse. These tasks include bed-making, feeding, bathing, and dressing the patient. The Nursing Assistant program includes 33 hours of classroom lecture, 32 hours of classroom laboratory, and 55 hours of clinical.

Scheduled Offerings

The Nursing Assistant program is offered on the La Crosse campus, as well as the Regional Learning Centers each semester including summer. Program offerings have varied time frames. Program offering may be 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 weeks in length.

The Internet option is 33 hours of video lecture with accompanying worksheets. Students meet face to face with the instructor and classmates for the remaining 87 hours of lab and clinical.

Program Head:

Linda Schneider
608.785.9413
Schneiderl@westerntc.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make an inquiry or register for the program?

Interested students may go to any Western campus or contact the campus by phone to request an application packet for the Nursing Assistant program. (Independence 715-985-3392, Black River Falls 715.284.2253, Tomah 608.374.7700, Mauston 608.847.7364, Viroqua 608.637.2612. In La Crosse see Deb Kaiser in the Welcome Center, or call 608.785.9078.) The application and other required forms are contained in the packet. All admission requirements as listed in the packet must be completed and returned to Deb Kaiser before you can register. Please remember that all items in the packet are to be submitted at one time when completed.

When should I register?

It takes time to complete the testing and immunization admission requirements. The earlier you get started and complete the requirements, the more likely you will get the class you desire. Evening and weekend classes are very popular and tend to fill quickly.

Where do I go for clinical?

There are 55 hours of clinical experience in the Nursing Assistant program. It is necessary to travel to the clinical agencies (nursing homes) in the general area of the individual campus. Students are responsible for their own transportation to clinical agencies.

Will I be required to wear a uniform?

Students are required to purchase a uniform for their clinical experience. It is not necessary to have the uniform prior to the start of the class. Uniform requirements are reviewed and explained on the first day of class. They include appropriate pants/skirt and top, shoes, and watch with a second hand.

How do I get on the Nursing Assistant Registry?

Students who successfully complete the program are required to take the Nursing Assistant Registry Exam offered by Pearson Vue if they desire employment in a federally funded health care facility, that is, a facility that accepts Medicare and Medicaid patients. The exam must be taken within one year of program completion. The current cost for the exam is $115.00*. *Testing fee is set by the testing agency. The fee can change without notice.

Where are nursing assistants employed? What do they earn?

There are many opportunities for nursing assistants to be employed in nursing homes, hospitals, group homes, and home care. The median part-time wage for 2006 graduates (the last statistics available) was $10.76/hour.

Questions

For inquiries about admission and questions regarding the nursing assistant program you can read the online orientation.

For space availability in the Nursing Assistant classes contact:

Debra Kaiser
Enrollment Services Advisor
608.785.9078
kaiserd@westerntc.edu

Paula Zastrow
Administrative Program Assistant
608.785.9409
zastrowp@westerntc.edu

Essential Functions:

Essential functions have been identified for each program. These essential functions specify the physical, environmental, and cognitive/mental requirements that students may be expected to perform to complete the program. To obtain a detailed list of these functions, or inquire about accommodations for a documented disability, please contact Kristina Puent, Instructional Support Services at 608.785.9875, or PuentK@westerntc.edu . Students applying for admission to a program will be mailed a copy of the program's essential functions.