Honors Nursing Assistant Program Guidelines

2016-2017

Course Objectives:

  • The student will be able to apply effective communication skills as well as learn basic competencies necessary for the treatment of the long term care patient.
  • The student will focus on how patients, residents, and clients respond to health problems.
  • The student will anticipate and meet the needs of the whole person rather than just the presenting health problem.
  • The student will blend their knowledge of disease and illness with a caring approach to restore and maintain health.

Class Commitment

Academic: Students must receive a semester grade average of at least 70 (C-) according to State Certification/Competency Guidelines. Progress reports and other communications will be readily available to keep students “on track.”

Clinical: Clinical is your outside nursing practice that takes place once a week at a local long term care facility (Mystic Rehabilitation Center) and Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. Clinical times correspond with our schedule, and are often after school. Each student is required to attend their clinical assignment which is one day per week for approximately 2 hours. Your clinical grade is 20% of your overall marking period grade.

You must maintain an overall clinical grade of 70 throughout the year as well as a semester grade of 70. You may not go onto Semester 2 unless you have achieved at least a grade of 70.

Attendance: Attendance is required for successful completion of this course. In order to take the State Certification Exam at the end of the year specific attendance demands are made. After 12 classroom absences semester 1, you will not be able to move on to semester 2. After 12 classroom absences Semester 2 (excused or unexcused) you will not be able to take the State Certification Exam. No exceptions are made due to the state requirements! Nursing theory and care is cumulative in nature; in other words, you are constantly building upon prior information. Being present in class will allow you the ability to move forward and develop your critical thinking skillsso that youare prepared for clinical.

Grading Requirements:

Major Assignments:Major assignments include unit tests, projects and papers. Tests will be announced at least 3 days prior to the day given and will cover material presented in class, including homework, group and classroom assignments. Major assignments are 50% of your grade. There are written tests in every unit.

Homework and Classwork: Homework assignments will be given on a regular basis. Homework is expected the day it is due and is not accepted late. If a student is absent (excused), homework should be handed in on the day they return. Homework and class work count 30% of your grade. Zeros are given for homework not passed in the day it is due. Assignments are posted daily in the class room as well as on the GPS Honors Nursing website. THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT IN THIS CLASS.

Class Participation: You are expected to actively participate in classroom discussions and collaborative group projects. Binders and textbooks aremandatory each day; organizational skills are reinforced with notebook checks. Your binder reflects your responsibility and organization; two very necessary skills for success in the health care field. Participation counts 20% of your grade.

To excel in this area, you must have good attendance, come prepared for class (binder and book every day), ask questions to clarify learning, show respect for others, pay attention, participate in group activities, and come to class on time.

Tardiness: Students must arrive on time to class. 3 unexcused tardies to class = 1 unexcused absence. Coming to class on time is an expected behavior.

Makeup Work: Any work missed due to an excused absence must be made up within 3 days. It is your responsibility to contact me and set up a time to make up the missed class work. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to comeme for missed assignments or after school help. (I am available every morning at 6:45 and here after school on Mondays).

**It is a privilege to go out into the community; therefore, if you are not appropriately prepared both in attendance and class room theory, or exhibit unprofessional or immature behavior, you will not be able to continue. Maturity and personal responsibility are expected at all times. If a student displays a poor attitude and shows a general lack of effort, that student will also not be able to continue their clinical and subsequently not move on to Semester 2.**

After successful completion of Semester 1 and Semester 2, the student is eligible to take the State of Connecticut Nurse Aide Competency Exam. This test is both a written/computer test and a skills based test

After passing each of the above tests with the State mandated grades, the student will receive their CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) license from the State of Connecticut.