Nursing Assistant

Caring, attentive, and versatile, nursing assistants provide basic care and patient monitoring in a variety of health care settings. As a career starter or a stepping stone to additional training, the COCC Nursing Assistant program offers two pathways to potential certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) with the Oregon State Board of Nursing. Students can take NUR 103: Nursing Assistant as a standalone, seven-credit course, or as part of a holistic three-term Certificate of Completion program. NUR 103 teaches fundamentals like managing catheters and checking vital signs, starting in a simulated hospital setting and then progressing to actual care settings. The three-term Certificate of Completion brings in skills like health psychology and interpersonal communication, as well as Oregon Community Health Worker certification. After successful completion of NUR 103, students are eligible to sit for the state CNA exam. Nursing Assistant programs are available at COCC’s Bend and Madras campuses.  

Certified nursing assistants who work in the field for a certain number of hours receive additional points toward their COCC application for the Associated of Applied Science degree in Nursing.

"The COCC instructors are incredibly knowledgeable and do a wonderful job teaching best practices, clinical judgment and the skills needed."

Program-Specific Information

COCC’s Nursing Assistant certificate program aligns with the legal standards of practice necessary for professional licensure in the state of Oregon. Those considering relocation to another U.S. state can explore the program’s licensure resources.

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