75 Hour Certified Nurse Assistant Course
Class Schedule: Click here for Class Schedule
To register please fill out registration and background check form and return with payment to IWCC.
PDF Form Registration Form
Type-in-the-Blank Word Form Click Here
Online registration for CNA classes is not available.
Course Policies
Course Description
Iowa Western Community College offers training for those interested in becoming Nurse Assistants. The 75 Hour Course is offered monthly in a variety of locations and taught by Registered Nurses. These courses are designed to provide knowledge and basic nursing skills needed to care for patients and residents in a variety of long term care facilities. The Nurse Aide course is a non-credit course and a prerequisite to the IWCC Nursing program. The 75 Hour Nurse Assistant course consist of 30 hours of classroom, 15 hours of lab and 30 hours of clinical. The class schedules are available by clicking on the link at the top of this page. Each student will be provided with a course syllabus and the skills checklist, these are valuable tools for the nurse assistant course and state testing.
Course Approval
Iowa Western Community College Nurse Assistant Training Program is approved by the Department of Inspections and Appeals. The Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) web site provides information for Nurse Assistants regarding state registry status. Nurse Assistants can also print cards form this web site.
Required Supplies
You must bring the following supplies to the class: 3-ring binder, stethoscope, and watch with a second hand.Scrubs are required for the clinical portion of the class.
Criminal Background Checks
Iowa Western will complete a criminal background check on all persons who wish to register for the certified nurse assistant course. Students are required to complete the paperwork for the background check at the time of registration. Criminal convictions or documented history of abuse will delay and could prevent students from participating in clinical. Successful completion of the course requires the student to meet grade and attendance requirements for both the classroom and lab section and 30 hours of clinical.
Criminal History
Results of the criminal record and child and adult abuse registry checks will be released to the Department of Human Services. The Department of Human Services will determine if the crime or founded abuse warrants prohibition from the clinical education experience.
TB Test
All students must provide written documentation of a negative TB (Mantoux) test within the last six months. This test may be performed by the student’s regular physician. These test results must be submitted with your registration. IWCC Nurse Instructors will not administer the TB tests or read test results.
Student Health
Nurse Assistant students who are pregnant must provide a doctor’s statement with approval to participate in the program. Any health problem (i.e. a back injury requiring limited use of lifting, etc.) must have a doctor’s verification specifying limits.
Withdraw Fee and Refunds
There will be a $25 drop fee for all class withdrawals prior to 1 business day in advance. There is a $50 fee for all transfers into another class (new background check). If withdrawn one business day in advance of the class, the refund will be 50% of the tuition. No refunds given for less than one business day withdrawal or for “no shows”.
Cell Phones and Texting
ALL cell phones must be turned off in class and clinical. No texting is allowed during class. Students may not carry cell phones with them while in clinical but they may check their calls and return calls during break.
Attendance
Students must be present for at least 37.5 hours of the classroom/lab and all 30 hours of the clinical to successfully complete the course and be awarded a certificate. If a student is absent from any part of the clinical, IWCC will not issue a certificate and the student will need to repeat the entire class. Students will need to pay the tuition to retake the class.
Tests
Quiz and Final Exam – Please see your class syllabus for this information. All quizzes and final test must be completed during the 45 hours prior to clinical. There are no make up exams allowed. Being absent on the day of a quiz will result in a loss of points for that quiz or exam. Any deviation from this must be approved by the Iowa Western Community College Nurse Assistant Program Coordinator. There are three unit exams and a final exam. Student must have an 80% in classroom to attend clinical.
Disability Services – Requesting a Reader or Other Special Accommodations
Any student with a documented disability is entitled to reasonable accommodations in the classroom in order to have the opportunity to obtain a college education. Students who request an accommodation, must have disability documentation on file at the time of registration. This is for Nurse Aide classes, Medication Managers and Medication Aides must be able to read and comprehend in order to safely pass medications. Students may request accommodations by following the steps below. This needs to be completed before registration for the Nurse Aide Class
Requesting Accommodations
Students who request an accommodation based on a documented disability are advised to make the request known at the time of registration at least one week prior to the start of class.
- CONTACT THE STUDENT ASSISTANCE OFFICE - You must contact the Student Assistance Director to complete an Accommodations Request Form.
- SUBMIT DISABILITY DOCUMENTATION - In order to determine if a student is eligible, documentation, including medical and psychological reports and other records, are examined to determine whether or not a student is disabled. Review the Disability Documentation Guidelines for College Students to determine what documentation is needed.
- DETERMINE ACCOMMODATIONS - With the Director, you will determine which accommodations will be appropriate for your individual needs. You will then receive an Accommodation Letter for each instructor indicating which accommodations are available to you. It is important for you to give this letter to your instructor(s) and discuss your learning needs with them. It is YOUR responsibility to keep instructors informed of your needs.
Classroom and Clinical Attire
The student may wear street clothes for the classroom portion of the course. Students are encouraged to dress in layers and bring a sweater as temperature varies in the classrooms. In clinical, the dress code is as follows: White or colored uniform (scrubs); uniform must be clean and pressed, no colored t-shirts, clean white shoes. Students may not wear skate shoes. Students with long hair will tie their hair back and secure it with a band or clip. No perfumes. No jewelry is to be worn by the student. No visible body piercing or tattoos. Fingernails should be trimmed and clean, no nail polish, acrylic nails are not allowed in clinical. The student is to have a watch that has a second hand. The student must display good personal hygiene, be well-groomed and hair must be neat at all times, beards must be well-trimmed. Students are expected to behave in a professional manner in class and clinical, work cooperatively with the instructor and nursing staff at the hospital or nursing home.
Clinical Assignments
Students are assigned to clinical groups based on the order they registered for the class.
Clinical Performance
The student will be evaluated on their clinical performance by the instructor and given a pass or fail grade. Students must demonstrate the clinical skills to successfully complete the class.
Student Records
Student records will only be released with the student’s written permission.
Course Evaluation by Student
Each student is invited to fill out an evaluation form on the Nurse Assistant program and Nurse Assistant Instructor at the end of the course clinical.
Student Injury
Nurse Assistant students sustaining personal injury or illness while in the classroom or clinical setting for the Nurse Assistant class are responsible for the cost of any medical expenses.
Substance Abuse
Any student attending class who is suspected o being under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be asked to leave at the discretion of the instructor. Students will be required to submit to a drug test at the student’s expense whenever actions, statements or appearance cause reasonable suspicion that the student is under the influence of illegal drugs, controlled substances or alcohol. Reasonable suspicion would occur when one of the following factors are noted: odor of alcohol, psychotic, irrational behavior, over-aggressive behavior. Other factors may cause the instructor to suspect alcohol or drug abuse and the instructor will call the Program Coordinator in these cases. When reasonable suspicion occurs, the student will be asked to leave the class or clinical and obtain a drug screen immediately in the Emergency Department of a local hospital. The instructor will report observations to the Program Coordinator immediately by phone and follow up with written documentation later the same day. Theism documentation will be placed in the student’s file. The student is suspended form class and clinical until the results of the drug screen are obtained and reported to the Program Coordinator. The student has the right to refuse testing. If this occurs, the student will be asked to leave the class or clinical immediately. The Program Coordinator will be notified of the refusal and the instructor will document interactions with the student leading up to the conclusion.
Professional Behavior
Students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior and attitudes during all aspects of the course. People trained to perform CNA functions are expected to display a high moral standard in the community. Any student who is found to have engaged in any improper, immoral or illegal activity at any time, or displays unprofessional behavior/attitude during the time they are enrolled in the Iowa Western Community College CNA Education Program may receive disciplinary action including probation and/or expulsion from the program.
Certificate of Completion
Each student will receive a Certificate of Completion upon successful completion of the course. Certificates will not be awarded if the student did not meet the attendance policy as listed above or there is an outstanding bill for Iowa Western Community College against the student’s account. Duplicate certificates are available at a cost of $15.
Nurse Aide State Written and Skills Exams
Nurse Aide State Written and Skills Exams are offered at Iowa Western Community College. Test registrations forms for the Written and Skills Exam are available on our website and must be completed and returned with testing fee of $120. Written instructions are given to the student at the time. Successful completion of these exams is required by Federal Legislation to work in a long term care facility.
Continuing Education Requirement
Once Nurse Assistants have been registered, they must complete 12 hours of in-service training yearly. If a Nurse Assistant does not work for 24 consecutive months, he/she must retake and successfully pass the written and skills competency tests.