Courses in Health Occupations are designed for those who wish to enter one of the many health career programs in the Los Angeles Community College District and/ or prepare for a job in a related health care position in the Los Angeles area. These courses serve as the foundational knowledge base to enter the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Certified Home Health Aide (HHA) courses and to achieve Certificates of Achievement in each.

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate prepares students for a career in an area with a high demand for employment. The CNA provides basic nursing care for patients in hospitals, assisted living, or long-term care. The CNA course consists of both classroom and clinical experiences. The course covers basic theory and skills, such as patient rights, interpersonal skills, infection control, emergencies, body mechanics, patient care skills and procedures, vital signs, nutrition, observation and charting, long-term care, and rehabilitation. The program is approved by the California Department of Public Health. Upon successful completion of the course, students are eligible to apply to take the state of California certification examination for CNA.

NEXT SCHEDULED CNA / CNHA SESSION:

FALL 2024

The CNA program includes 72 hours of theory and 112 hours of clinical work.

• Theory classes are in the evening from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.*
• Clinical are scheduled in nursing facilities from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm.*
• You must attend all classes to complete the required hours.

*See the class schedule for updated class dates and times. Theory and Clinical times subject to change.

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be eligible for the state of California Certification Examination.

• The State application for certification requires fingerprinting and a background check.
• Applicants who have been convicted of a criminal offense may not be eligible for certification.

To Apply

Visit the California Department of Public Health website for:

• Further information on requirements, exceptions, and certification information
• Program Application

Prerequisites:

There are NO prerequisite courses for the CNA Program

Admission to the Nursing program is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. You will need to meet all the following requirements to be consider for enrollment into the program:

1. Complete Application for Los Angeles Southwest College and obtain student ID number
2. Attend orientation/information session and receive your nursing assistant application.
3. Complete Nursing Assistant Program Application
4. Physical examination (completed within two months prior to application date).
5. Proof of vaccination or titer:
6. Tetanus (within past 10 years).
7. Hepatitis B
8. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella).
9. Proof of Absence of Tuberculosis (negative skin test or negative chest x-ray within two months prior to application date).
10. Varicella (Chicken pox - titer or proof of vaccination).
11. Proof of Flu Shot (within two months prior to application date).
12. Drug screen (completed within two months prior to application date)
13. American Heart Association CPR card for the Healthcare Provider
14. Malpractice insurance with coverage that includes $1,000,000 single occurrence & $3,000,000 aggregate (Choose "California" as state of residence and select "student" to apply) - Go to: www.nso.com or call 800-247-1500 for rates

Applications can be submitted, with all required documents, to the School of Career and Technical Education (SOCTE) Building Room 132 or emailed to lascnurseinfo@lasc.edu

• Evaluate nursing care provided to patients, families, and communities across the lifespan from diverse backgrounds in a variety of settings to ensure that it is compassionate, age and culturally appropriate and based on a patient's preferences, values and needs.
• Collaborate with members of the interprofessional health care team to manage and coordinate the provision of safe, quality care for patients, families, and groups.
• Demonstrate use of best current evidence and clinical expertise when making clinical decisions in the provision of patient-centered care.
• Use evidence-based information and patient care technology to communicate relevant patient information, manage care and mitigate error in the provision of safe, quality patient-centered care.
• Use evidence-based quality improvement processes to effect change in the delivery of patient-centered care.
• Demonstrate effective use of strategies to mitigate errors and reduce the risk of harm to patients, self and others in healthcare, home, and community settings.
• Use leadership, management and priority-setting skills in the provision and management of safe, quality patient-centered care.
• Assimilate integrity and accountability into practices that uphold established regulatory, legal, and ethical principles while providing patient-centered, standard-based nursing care.
• Provide health-related information to patients, families, and communities using varying teaching methods, which facilitate the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.
• Model verbal and nonverbal communication strategies that promote an effective exchange of information, development of therapeutic relationships and shared decision making with patients, families, and communities from diverse backgrounds.