Health Occupations - Long Term Care
Nurse
Aide Training Program
Des Moines Area Community College offers training programs for people interested
in becoming nurse aides/orderlies. These programs are offered several times a
year in a variety of locations and are taught by Registered Nurses. These courses
are designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to care for patients/residents
in a variety of long term care facilities and to be successful on the Iowa Direct
Care Worker registry exams. Successful completion of these exams is required
by Federal Legislation to work in a long-term care facility. The Nurse Aide courses
are offered for college credit and are prerequisites to the nursing program.
After successful completion of the Nurse Aide/Orderly 75 hour course, CNAs wanting
hospital employment are eligible to take the Advanced Nurse Aide 75 hour course.
75
Hour Nurse Aide/Orderly Training - 3 credits
This course prepares you to work in a nursing home, home health
care agency, or group home and/or hospital. The first 45 hours
of the course are held in a classroom/lab and the 30 clinical
hours will be in a nursing home. You will give patient care under
the supervision of your instructor. At the end of this course,
you must take the nurse aide competency written and skills exam
if you want to work in a nursing home in the State of Iowa. Upon
successful completion of the Nurse Aide Competency and Skills
Exams, you will be placed on the Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry
and may be hired by a nursing home.
75
Hour Advanced Nurse Aide - 3 credits
This program is designed for CNAs who have completed the 75-hour
state approved course. The course provides an opportunity to
gain the additional competencies and clinical experiences needed
to seek employment in a hospital. The first 45 hours of the course
are held in the classroom/lab and 30 clinical hours are in the
hospital. Job opportunities include, but are not limited to,
EKG tech, Emergency Tech, Scot Tech, Surgery Tech, and OB Tech.
The agency or hospital will provide additional training in these
specialized areas. You must show proof of current immunizations
prior to attending clinical. Proof of state approved Nurse Aide
course required.
Nurse
Aide Competency Exams
These tests are required by Federal and State legislation to work
in a nursing home as a nurse aide. When you pass these exams,
your name will be entered on the Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry.
Your name will remain on the registry as long as you are employed
in an approved agency. If you are not employed for a period of
two years, your name will be removed from the Registry and you
will need to take Nurse Aide Competency testing again to demonstrate
your competency and skills. If you have questions about your
registry status, call:
State of Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals 1-866-876-1997
And for assistance the Help Desk 1-800-532-1174 or 1-515-281-5703
or 1-515-281-4077
The competency exams are given in two parts - a written exam and
a skills demonstration.
The written exam includes 100 multiple-choice questions. You must
answer 70% of these questions correctly. You will be notified of
your results within a month. Please let us know in advance if you
need the test read to you. The skills exam is a practical, "hands-on" test.
You will be given a scenario that describes the "patient" you
will be caring for and the tasks you need to do. Your performance
will be recorded by two evaluators, (1) a Registered Nurse who
will watch you as you work and, (2) the "patient" who
is also a Registered Nurse. You will have three opportunities to
pass the written and/or skills exams. If you are unsuccessful in
three attempts, the Federal regulation requires that you enroll
in a nurse aide-training program again.
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