Certified Nurses Aide

CNA students in the sim lab.

Become a compassionate caregiver.

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant/Nurses Aide

Certified nurses aides, commonly referred to as CNAs, help patients in long-term care facilities with their day-to-day activities. CNAs, who work under the direct supervision of an LPN or RN, perform a wide range of patient care duties, including taking vitals, bathing, dressing, and serving meals.

CNAs, who often care for some of the most vulnerable patients in their communities, work incredibly hard — and find their jobs incredibly rewarding.

Why USF for Your CNA Training?

Renowned for its faith-based health professions education programs, the University of Saint Francis prepares CNAs to provide skilled and compassionate care to a diverse patient population.

As a student in our certified nursing assistant training program at USF Crown Point, you will:

  • Receive expert instruction in small class sizes
  • Explore values of respect and dignity in patient care
  • Learn about the healthcare delivery system
  • Hone your technical skills in our simulation lab
  • Gain work-world experience in a long-term care facility

After graduation, you are eligible to take the Indiana State Department of Health certification exam to be a certified nurses aide.

Take the first step:

Request Information

Career Outlook & Success

$29,660

median annual salary for nursing assistants (BLS, 2019)

8.9%

increase in demand for CNAs expected through 2029 (BLS, 2020)

80

hours of clinical experience in a long-term care facility

What You Will Learn in a CNA Program

As you learn how to become a certified nursing assistant, your coursework and hands-on skills training will prepare you to serve patients at long-term care facilities and other locations. You’ll cover topic areas such as:

  • Aging
  • Communication, verbal and non-verbal
  • Hygiene
  • Mobility
  • Patient care procedures
  • Resident’s rights
  • Restorative services

Your certified nursing assistant training program will culminate with a supervised clinical experience in a long-term care facility, where you will perform CNA duties with the guidance of a mentor LPN or RN. Recent clinical sites include:

  • Cedar Creek Health Campus

CNA Jobs in Crown Point and Indiana

USF’s certified nursing assistant training program will prepare you to take on enter-level patient care roles in a variety of settings:

  • Skilled nursing facilities
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Home health agencies
  • Assisted living facilities
  • Residential care locations
  • Hospitals

Room for Advancement

Working as a certified nurses aide is an excellent introduction to the healthcare field. Many CNAs choose to continue their training, such as pursuing a degree in nursing or a related area, such as radiologic technology, surgical technology or sonography.

Ready to start?

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Your first step to becoming a USF Cougar is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.

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Academic Plan

An academic plan is a general blueprint showing how one might complete the degree, semester by semester. Get an idea on what each semester could look like.