CNA Instructor

[exnavygirl-RN]

Hello all!

I just recently started teaching a CNA course. In fact, last night was our first class meeting. I was hired for this position last minute so I am scrambling to plan.  This program is through the local community college and it is a hybrid course.  Two nights a week is in-person skills lab for 5 hours each night.

I am going on the NNAAP skills listing and thinking I am going to go down the list and teach 3 new skills each night.  I am just trying to plan out my time those nights and make sure my students are getting enough practice. 

Anyway, are there any other CNA instructors here?  How do you plan your skills labs?  What is a typical agenda?

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

You may want to check your state nurse's aide website to see if they have a curriculum and to ensure that your students are learning the skills to the criteria they will be assessed on when they take their CNA exams.

I included some out of the box activities when I was doing skills labs that I got positive feedback on. One of the activities I did was to have the students sample nutritional supplements and thickened beverages; we discussed the role of supplements, individual patient preference and importance of positive presentation/set-up to patients. 

I did another activity where I had the students wear gardening gloves, ear plugs and cheap googles that I scratched up the lens on. I then had them do a few activities and discussed how age related changes would impact the patient's ability to do these tasks.

One of my favorite activities was the have the students instruct me to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I did literally what they said. It highlights why communication is so important. Here's a link that explains a little more about this...

http://static.zerorobotics.mit.edu/docs/team-activities/ProgrammingPeanutButterAndJelly.pdf

Also, if you have the opportunity, have students be the patient for skills such as using a Hoyer. Riding in a Hoyer gives the students insight into that experience that can make a difference when they are performing the skill on a "real" patient.

There is a such a shortage of competent, caring CNAs. Thank you for helping to prepare these students for this important job!

[scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

I teach CNA classes. We use Hartman's Nursing Assistant Care the Basics, 5 th edition. 

Hartman's has a website and slides already done, and videos as well. (I would share with you, but I cannot as it is password protected and you need to probably pay a fee).

Also, go by your states test guidelines, there should be a "skills check off sheet" of things they need to know to sit for the test. 

3 skills a night is a lot, but depending on how many you have in class and the age of the students it may be doable.

Any other questions, I can help you with as I realize you wrote this awhile ago.

Good luck!