Nursing Assistant

Program Description

Do you want to train in the healthcare field or start your journey to becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse?

Hennepin Technical College's Nursing Assistant hybrid course combines online learning, in-person skills practice, and clinical practice hours. Earning the Certified Nursing Assistant credential is one of the requirements to qualify for the Practical Nursing program.

Nursing aides play a critical role in the healthcare team. They support healthcare systems, working with licensed nurses and other team members to provide patient care.

In this course, you will learn about human needs, health, and illness. You will also learn basic care skills. You can use these skills in hospitals, home health care, and long-term care settings.

Minnesota's Health Department approves this course, and it meets the 75-hour clinical and contact hour requirement.

After passing the course and certification exam, students are added to the registry of nursing assistants in Minnesota. They can then use the title of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). This course also meets the nursing assistant prerequisite for the Practical Nursing program at Hennepin Tech.

Learn more about the Nursing Assistant course.

See where your NAHA skills training can take you!

Completing the 5 credit NAHA course is an important first step in training for an exciting career in the healthcare field - meet some of our Hennepin Tech healthcare students!

Grace Bichange Larson: Graduate, Licensed Practical Nursing and 2021 HTC Commencement Speaker

I took the six-week NAHA course this summer. This course had a positive impact on me because it allowed me to get the feel for what becoming a nurse would be like. Throughout the course, I learned many skills on how to be a successful Nursing Assistant. Not only with hands-on experience, but I learned course objectives such as important communication tactics to use with residents and how to successfully take care of patients.

In the end, I was able to complete the course and pass both the written exam and skills test on my first attempt to become a CNA. I am thankful for Hennepin Tech for the resources given to enhance my education and for Murriel Kruggel, my instructor, who was very knowledgeable in the field and was helpful throughout the course. All of these factors played into having a great experience within the NAHA course.

-Alana Johnson, HTC NAHA student, Summer 2021

Program Information

• Overview
• Accreditation & Affiliations
• Awards & Certifications

Overview

Workforce services for eligible adults are available through this program authorized by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Click for more info!

Class Time: Day
Semester: Fall, Spring, or Summer
Campus: Brooklyn Park or Eden Prairie

Course Search

Skills Required

Reference the Medical Assistant program Academic Planning Guide for more details.

Wages/Outlook/Advancement

Wage and Job Outlook information for this program are available at Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED).

The role of the nursing assistant in a long-term care (LTC) facility as well as working with various populations is discussed. In addition, the course provides an overview of the nursing assistant's role in home care. It identifies issues related to working in homes, including adjustments to delivering personal care, food and nutrition, and homemaking responsibilities.

USDE Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Hennepin Technical College Nursing Assistant curriculum is designed to help prepare students to sit for the professional certification exam for Minnesota. At this time, Hennepin Technical College is unable to make a determination if the Nursing Assistant program meets the certification requirement for any state or US protectorate besides Minnesota. You will want to contact the licensing board in which state you intend to pursue licensure for their requirements, below we provide a link to a list of each states licensing board.

For more information on state licensing boards and their contact information for Nursing Assistants visit the Registered Nursing website.

Last reviewed 03/01/2024

Award Name	Award Type	Location	Planning Guide	WIOA
Nursing Assistant	Certificate	Brooklyn Park Eden Prairie		Yes

Some of the General Education requirements have changed and are not reflected in the current catalog. Please schedule an appointment with your program advisor to see how this might affect you.