Certified Nurse Assistant Programs

A Comparison Study of Community College

ProgramsGreater Puget Sound Area

A Comparison of Nine Programs

Bellevue Community CollegeEdmonds Community CollegeHighline Community CollegeLower Columbia CollegePierce CollegeRenton Technical CollegeShoreline Community CollegeSouth Seattle Community CollegeYakima Valley Community College

Comparison by admission criteriaCollege Program CASAS/ESL Compass English/Other

Bellevue CC

CNA-Regular 80 or >

Bellevue CC

CNA-ESL Level 5

Edmonds CC

Vocational ESL

Level 5

Edmonds CC

Allied Health(prerequisites

)

English 100-1 level below ENG 101

Edmonds CC

CNA GPA 2.0 or >

Highline CC

Fundamentals of Health

Care

Level 4

Highline CC

CNA-I-BEST Level 5

Comparison by admission criteriaCollege Program CASAS/ESL Compas

sEnglish

Lower Columbia CC

Health Occupations Core-Regular

English 37

Math-91

Or Eng 100

Lower Columbia CC

Health Occupations Core-I-BEST

Level 4

Pierce College College

Foundations of Allied Health

Level high 4-5

Pierce College

CNA-I-BEST Level 5

Renton Technical College

CNA-I-BEST None none

Shoreline CC CNA Level 4-5

Comparison by admission criteriaCollege Program CASAS/ESL Compass English

South Seattle CC

CNA-I-BEST

Level 5 Math and English

220 or >

Yakima Valley CC

CNA-I-BEST

221 or >

CNA: Comparison of Clinical HoursBellevue Community College

64

Edmonds Community College

64

Highline Community College

80

Pierce College 50

Renton Technical College 96

Shoreline Community College

64

South Seattle Community College

50

Yakima Valley Community College

64

CNA: Comparison of Classroom HoursEdmonds CC 100

Highline CC 110

Pierce College 110

Bellevue CC 120

Shoreline CC 126

Renton Technical College 132

Yakima Valley CC 172

South Seattle CC 200

Best Practices-CNA Programs

Clinical placements in both hospital and long-term care facility give students experience in different settings (Bellevue CC)

Evening and Saturday classes (Bellevue CC)

Although a longer program, after finishing Allied Health prerequisites-students can enter a number of different fields (Edmonds CC)

Best Practices-CNA Programs

Students are connected immediately with advisor and instructors (Highline Community College)

Different tracks for those wishing to enter program from those already working in health care field (Lower Columbia College)

2 quarter CNA program with first quarter providing a certificate in CPR, HIV/AIDS (Pierce College)

Immediate preparation for LPN program by way of CNA program (Renton Technical College and South Seattle CC)

Best Practices-CNA Programs

Study Hall incorporated into weekly CNA schedule (Shoreline CC)

First come, first served (South Seattle CC)

2 quarter CNA program with intensive basic instructions in first quarter (Yakima Valley CC)

Foundations of Health Care class (precursor to CNA program for all TANF recipients) includes 20 hours a week of classes in Math, Medical English (learning how to write paragraphs, cultural issues) Medical Terminology (making a presentation on one body system), Computer Literacy and Job Readiness. These classes are all taught by different subject-specific instructors. (Yakima Valley CC)

RecommendationsEach successful CNA program visited is built upon a solid

partnership between the CAN Content/Lab and ESL instructors. This is a must for any successful CNA/ESL program!

Consider restructuring the ESL Health Bridge classes in 07-08 to connect to a specific vocational program (ie- Caregiving certificate or CNA).

Combine health bridge classes into one quarter and extend the number of hours each week for these classes.

RecommendationsOnce 07-08 health bridge courses have been established,

institute an outreach program to ancillary staff in local long-term care facilities (housekeeping, dietary, transport etc).

Make contact with Master degree programs in Nursing and/or Nursing Education to recruit new nursing instructors specifically for CNA program.

Additional suggestions for a CNA program at NSCC have already been submitted to the Health and Human Services Division at North Seattle Community College.

Questions?