Minimum Federal Curriculum Requirements for Nursing Assistant Curriculum
(Rev. 1, 05-21-04) The objective of NATCEPs is to enable nurse aides to provide quality services to residents. Therefore, a
NATCEP must contain at least these minimum curriculum requirements for it to be approved. The State may also specify additional
areas to be included.
Minnesota requires


16 hours of supervised training before resident contact in a lab setting under the guidance of a qualified RN instructor.
At least 16 clock hours of clinical in a licensed nursing home under the guidance of a qualified RN instructor.
Within the minimum 75 hours of training … A program must also include at least 16 hours of classroom instruction prior to a
trainee’s direct involvement with a resident. This instruction must include the following:
NATCEP Requirements
Requirements found in HCCC
 Communication and interpersonal skills;
Communication in Healthcare Module
• Infection control;
Healthcare Safety and Standard Precautions Module
• Safety/emergency procedures, including the Heimlich
maneuver;
• Promoting residents’ independence; and
Healthcare Safety and Standard Precautions Module
Legal Issues in Healthcare Module
• Respecting residents’ rights.
Legal Issues in Healthcare Module
The curriculum must also include training in the following areas:
1. Basic nursing skills:
a. Taking and recording vital signs;
In Nursing Assistant Skills Set
b. Measuring and recording height and weight;
c. Caring for the residents’ environment;
d. Recognizing abnormal changes in body functioning and the
Communications in Healthcare Module
importance of reporting such changes to a supervisor. Some
examples of abnormal changes are:
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•
Shortness of breath;
•
Rapid respiration;
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Fever;
•
Coughs;
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Chills;
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Pains in chest;
•
Blue color to lips;
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Pain in abdomen;
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Nausea;
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Vomiting;
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Drowsiness;
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Excessive thirst;
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Sweating;
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Pus;
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Blood or sediment in urine;
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Difficulty urinating;
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Frequent urination in small amounts;
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Pain or burning on urination; and
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Urine has` dark color or strong odor.
e. Caring for residents when death is imminent.
Awareness and Sensitivity to Client Needs Module
2. Personal care skills:
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a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Bathing;
Grooming, including mouth care;
Dressing;
Toileting;
Assisting with eating and hydration;
Proper feeding techniques;
Skin-care; and
Transfers, positioning, and turning.
Nursing Skills Set
3. Mental health and social service needs:
a. Modifying aide’s behavior in response to resident’s
Awareness and Sensitivity to Client Needs Module
behavior;
b. Awareness of developmental tasks associated with the aging
process;
c. How to respond to resident behavior;
d. Allowing residents to make personal choices, providing and
reinforcing other behavior consistent with the resident’s
dignity; and
e. Utilizing resident’s family as a source of emotional support.
4. Care of cognitively impaired residents:
a. Techniques for addressing the unique needs and behaviors of
individuals with dementia (Alzheimer’s and others);
b. Communicating with cognitively impaired residents;
c. Understanding the behavior of cognitively impaired
residents;
d. Appropriate responses to the behavior of cognitively
impaired residents; and
e. Methods of reducing the effects of cognitive impairments.
5. Basic Restorative Services - The nurse aide should be able to demonstrate skills which incorporate principles of
restorative nursing, including:
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a. Training the resident in self-care according to the resident’s
Nursing Skills Set
abilities;
b. The use of assistive devices in transferring, ambulation,
eating, and dressing;
c. Maintenance of range of motion;
d. Proper turning and positioning both in bed and chair;
e. Bowel and bladder training; and
f. Care and use of prosthetic and orthotic devices.
6. Residents’ Rights - The nurse aide should be able to demonstrate behavior that maintains residents’ rights, including but
not limited to:
a. Providing privacy and maintenance of confidentiality;
Legal Issues in Healthcare Module
b. Promoting the resident’s right to make personal choices to
accommodate their needs;
c. Giving assistance in resolving grievances and disputes;
d. Providing needed assistance in getting to and participating in
resident and family groups and other activities;
e. Maintaining care and security of resident’s personal
possessions;
f. Providing care which maintains the resident free from abuse,
mistreatment, and neglect, and reporting any instances of such
treatment to appropriate facility staff; and
g. Avoiding the need for restraints in accordance with current
professional standards.
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Awareness and Sensitivity to Client Needs Module
Legal Issues in Healthcare Module