WESTERN NEVADA
COLLEGE
NURSING ASSISTANT
CAROLE WISEMAN
SPRING 2010
SYLLABUS SPRING 2010
Western Nevada Community College
Carson City Campus
Nursing Assistant Program
Course description: this 6 credit course is a career and technical preparatory program designed to assist
the student to achieve certification as a Nursing Assistant in the State of Nevada. This program is
approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing and follows OBRA (Omnibus Reconciliation Act)
and OSHA regulations. General nursing concepts are combined with concepts from the physical,
social, and behavioral sciences to provide a foundation for the Nursing Assistant in assisting the
professional nurse in providing basic patient/resident/client care. Each student will participate in the
task-orientated practice lab as well as in the supervised clinical setting.
Instructor: Carole Wiseman RN CWS
Cell phone: 775-720-4814
Test Book and Workbook for Nursing Assistants, Sheila A. Sorrentino, 7th edition, CV Mosby, St.
Louis, Missouri
Course content: Lecture, discussion, videos lab practice and demonstration/ clinical practice at Carson
Tahoe Regional Medical Center/ 1600 Medical Parkway
Attendance: this class is comprehensive and accelerated. Students are required to attend all classes and
clinical experiences which take place at the end of the semester. You are allowed to miss two days
from class, after that a percentage of your grade may be deducted from your final grade.

If you are absent from class you need to follow up with a fellow student on what you missed
or look in the syllabus for what you need to make up

All clinical experiences are mandatory (32 hours)
Lab behavior: no food or drinks are allowed in the lab
Clinical dress: students are required to wear professional clothing (scrubs), white shoes, watch with
second hand, small notebook and pen (for hospital clinical)
Class room dress: casual wear, no hats, caps. Cell phones on vibrate or turned off

No texting in class. You are given breaks and may return calls and texts at that time.
This is a competency based educational program. All clinical skills must be passed at 100%. All
theory course material must be passed at 75%. You will be able to retake any quiz or final exam up to
two times if the grade is less that 75%. Your instructor with the recommendations of the clinical staff
will evaluate your clinical competency.
Course objectives:
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
 Assist the licensed nurse in delivering patient care as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a variety
of health care settings
 Demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal principles that guide the scope of practice of the
nursing assistant
 Demonstrate knowledge and appreciation for the physical, social, emotional and
psychological aspects of the healthcare consumer
 Demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication skills during interactions with healthcare
consumers and members of the healthcare team
 Make applications to the Nevada State Board of Nursing and Truckee Meadows Community
College to take the written and manual exams at TMCC to achieve certification as a Nursing
Assistant
Course content: this is a 150 hour competency based educational program consisting of:
 Theory, lecture, discussion, videos and handouts: 62 hours
 Lab experience, including; demos, and return demos: 56 hours
 Clinical experience, hands on supervised practice in a variant of skilled settings at CTRMC: 32
hours
There will be five tests worth 100 points each:





Test 1: on chapters 1 to 20 : Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Midterm test on chapters 21 to 33, Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Test 3: on chapters 33 to 50, March 31, 2010
Medical terminology test:: Wednesday, May 10, 2010
Final exam, comprehensive, chapters 1 to 50, Monday May 17, 2010
You will have only one week from the time you missed an exam to do a make-up test (except final)
Final grade:
95-100 A
80-84
B-
94-90
A-
75-79
c+
85-89
B
below 75 fail
 There is a possibility of extra credit points... You may turn in three separate papers,
typewritten, one page to two pages on a medical subject that will be worth 10 points each if
you need to bring grade up. No Wikipedia please!
Papers due:
 Common Diagnosis Paper: You will be given a subject on a common medical diagnosis. This
paper is to be at least pages long, typewritten and put in a folder or stapled. You will be given
a handout sometime in semester to help with the format. This paper is due no later than,
Monday, May 17, 2010. Pass or fail paper. . No late papers accepted.
 Well Elder Paper: you are to interview an elder or senior. This also is to be put in a certain
form. You will be given a form to assist you. There are also examples of Common Diagnosis
and Well Elder Papers to help you. This is also due on Monday, May, 17, 2010. No late papers
 Workbooks are to be done each week. You will be assigned the chapters at the end of each
class for the next class and it will be in your syllabus. There are some parts in WB that are
optional. You do not have to do these. We will go over these chapters in class. You may also
work together on WB’s in class if time is given. If you do not finish those chapters you may
use my answer book if you come in early or time allows.
 Missed days: the first two weeks are crucial to the course. It is mandatory that you be here
and be on time. You are allowed to safely miss two days, however, if you begin to go over
the two days, arrangements must be made with me or these absences could affect your final
grade.
 I start class at exactly 800 am or for evenings, 545 pm. If you have an issue that causes you to
be late, please talk with me prior to class.
 If you miss time from class, either refer to your syllabus or a fellow student for what you
missed.
Cost involved:
Nevada State Board of Nursing:
 fingerprints: $51.25
 Fee for application: $50
Truckee Meadows Community College (clinical and written exam site)
 Written and Manual skills test: $120
 Manual skills test only: $90
 Written test only: $30
 Uniforms: about $20 (you may find at Burlington coat Factory, Wal-Mart, sometimes
Salvation Army
 Watch: anywhere from $ 15 to $20
purchase if you desire
Note: a stethoscope and B.P cuff not required. May
Western Nevada College
Carson City Campus
Nursing Assistant Program Course Syllabus
Monday/Wednesday Morning class: 8:00am to 11:45am
Monday/Wednesday Evening class: 545-930pm

Monday, January, 25, 2010
Orientation to Nursing Assistant Program
Class expectations and requirements/Lab and clinical requirements
Reading assignment and workbook assignment
Chapter 1: introduction to health care facilities
Chapter 2; the nursing assistant
Video: Basic Principles
Lab; wash hands

Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Correct chapters 1 and 2 in workbook
Power Point presentation
Reading assignment and workbook assignment
Chapter 3; ethics and laws
Chapter 4: work ethics
Chapter 5 communicating with healthcare team

Monday, February 1, 2010
Correct chapters 3, 4 and 5 in workbook
Power point presentation
Reading assignment and workbook assignment

Chapter 6: assisting with the nursing process

Chapter 7; understanding the person
Video on hair care, shaving, nail care and foot care
Lab practice

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Correct chapters 6 and 7 in workbook
Reading assignment and workbook assignment

Chapter 8: body structure and function

Chapter 9: growth and development

Chapter 10: Care of the older person
Video on the Human machine
Finish lab work

Monday, February 8, 2010
Correct chapters 8, 9, and 10
Power point presentation
Reading assignment and workbook assignment

Chapter 11: safety

Chapter 12; preventing falls

chapter : 13: restraints
video: restraints
Lab: finish previous labs and fall preventing

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Correct workbook chapters 11 and 12 and 13
Power point
Reading assignment and workbook assignment

Chapter 14 preventing infection

Chapter 15: body mechanics

Chapter 16; safely handling, moving and transferring patients
Video on MRSA
Lab on PPE, body mechanics and handling, moving and transferring patients

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Correct workbook chapters 14, 15, and 16
Power point
Reading assignment and workbook assignment

Chapter 17: The person’s unit

Chapter 18: Bed making
Lab: review previous labs

Monday, February, 22, 2010
Correct chapters 17 and 18 in workbook
Reading assignment and workbook assignment

Chapter 19: personal grooming

Chapter 20: grooming
Video: bed making
Lab; bed making (open, closed, surgical, and state board approved)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Test 1 on chapters 1-20
Correct in class
Workbook and reading assignment
Chapter 21: urinary elimination
Chapter 22: bowel elimination
Videos: colostomy care
Lab: colostomy education/how to empty colostomy bag and bedpan

Monday, March 1, 2010
Correct workbook chapters 21 and 22
Power point and videos
Reading assignments

Chapter 23: nutrition and fluids

Chapter 24: nutritional support and IV therapy
Video on urinary and bowel
Lab: empty, measure and drain urinary catheters

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Correct workbook chapters 23 and 24 in workbook
Video on feeding and blood pressure
Workbook and reading assignment

Chapter 25 : vital signs (B.P, pulses, temps and respirations)
Lab: start blood pressures, and feeding patients

Correct workbooks on chapter 25
Workbook and reading assignment
Monday, March, 8, 2010

Chapter 26; exercise and activity

Chapter 27; comfort, rest and sleep
Lab practice

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Correct workbook chapters 26 and 27
Power point
Videos
Workbook and reading assignments

Chapter 28: admits, transfers, and discharges

Chapter 29; assisting with the physical exam

Chapter 30: collecting and testing specimens
Lab; practice

Monday, March, 15,2010
Correct workbook chapters 28,29and 30
Workbook and reading assignments

Chapter 31; the person having surgery

Chapter 32; wound care

Chapter 33;heat and cold applications
Video: wound care
Lab practice

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Correct workbooks chapters 31, 32, and 33
Power point
Workbook and reading assignment

Oxygen needs

Respiratory support and therapies
Handouts: well elder and common diagnosis forms/ review for March 31st midterm

March 22 to March 26


Spring Break
Monday March 29, 2010
Correct workbook chapters 34 and 35
Workbook and reading assignment

Chapter 36: rehabilitation and restorative nursing care

Chapter 37: hearing, speech, and vision

Chapter 38; cancer and the immune system
Lab practice

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Midterm on chapters 21 to 33
Correct in class
Correct workbook chapters 36, 37 and 38
Workbook and reading assignment for Monday, April the 5th

Chapter 39: nervous system and musculoskeletal disorders

Chapter 40: cardiovascular and respiratory system disorders

Chapter 41: digestive and endocrine system disorders

Chapter 42: urinary and reproductive disorders

Study time in class to work on workbooks
Correct chapters 39-42 in workbook
Reading assignment:

Chapter 43: mental illness

Chapter 44: confusion
Monday, April 5, 2010

Chapter 45: developmental disabilities
Power point

Wednesday, April, 7, 2010
Correct workbook chapters: 43 to 45
Class time to work on workbook if needed
Workbook assignment:

Chapter 46: sexuality

Chapter 47: mothers, and newborn care

Monday, April 12, 2010
Correct chapters 46 and 47 in workbooks
Power point
Workbook assignment:

Chapter 48: assisted living

Chapter 49: emergency care

Chapter 50: death and dying

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Correct chapters 48 to 50
Review for clinical experience

Monday, April 19
We will go on a field trip to CTRMC for a clinical orientation to the hospital (the hours will count as
clinical hours)

Morning class meet at hospital at 800am in front lobby

Evening class meet at hospital at 545pm in front lobby
Assignment: clinical will start on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at the hospital

Wednesday ,April 21, 2010 @ CTRMC
Clinical for am class 800 to 1200pm
Clinical for pm class 545 to 945pm

Monday , April 26,, 2010 @ CTRMC
Clinical for am class 800 to 1200pm /Clinical for pm class 545 to 945

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 @ CTRMC
Clinical for am class 800am to 12pm
Clinical for pm class 545 to 945 pm

Monday, May 3, 2010 @ CTRMC
Clinical for am class 800am to 12 pm
Clinical for pm class 545 to 945 pm

Wednesday, May 5,2010 @ CTRMC
Clinical for am class 800am to 1200pm
Clinical for pm class 545 to 945 pm

Monday, May 10, 2010 @ CTRMC
Clinical for am class 800am to 1200pm
Clinical for pm class 545 to 945pm

Wednesday, May, 12, 2010 @ CTRMC
Clinical for am class 800am to 1200pm
Clinical for pm class 545 to 945pm
Review study guide for final on May 17, 2010

Final exam
Graduation
Good luck!
Monday, May, 17, 2010