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Nursing Assistants care for physically or mentally ill, injured, disabled, or infirmed individuals who are confined to hospitals, nursing care facilities, and mental health settings. Home Health Aides have similar duties, but they work in patients’ homes.
Nursing Assistants perform a variety of routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff.
Such Tasks May Include:
- Answer Patient Call Lights
- Take Temperature
- Check Pulse and Respiration Rate
- Check Blood Pressure
- Set Up Equipment
- Store and Move Supplies
- Assist With Some Procedures
- Provide Skin Care
- Deliver Messages
- Serve Meals
- Keep Patient Rooms Neat
- Escort Patients to Operating and Exam Rooms
- Help Patients Get In and Out of Bed
- Assist patients to Eat, Dress, and Bathe
Nursing Assistant Course
The Nursing Assistant course at El Paso Community College is 210 hours, six weeks long. Students are on campus Monday through Friday, for four weeks and are in a clinical setting for two weeks. Upon completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the Texas State Exam to obtain certification.
Admission Requirements
- Students must be 17 years old by the first day of class
- Current BLS Provider and First Aid certifications
- Tested 8th grade reading level
- Physical exam by a licensed US physician or nurse practitioner
- Proof of measles, tetanus, and hepatitis B immunizations
- Negative TB test
- Background clearance
- Drug Screen
- HIPAA certificate
- Community Wide Orientation certificate