Health Technology
The Anoka Technical College Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide certificate is a five (5)-credit course that introduces concepts of basic human needs, basic nursing and personal care skills, mental health and social needs, restorative services, resident’s rights, and home health. The skills are performed in a supervised laboratory and long term care clinical setting. The course meets the requirements of the federal government and the Minnesota Board of Nursing. Upon completion of the competency evaluation, students can be employed in a long-term care facility, hospital or home health agency.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Interact in complex environment.
- Apply critical thinking skills.
- Communicate in diverse settings.
- Recognize teamwork/collaboration as an integral part of the health care delivery.
- Demonstrate professional behavior.
- Provide safe, patient-centered care.
Career Opportunities
According to the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, people in entry-level health care careers are people who tend to:
- Consider relationships important. They like to work in a friendly, noncompetitive environment. They like to do things for other people. They prefer jobs where they are not pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
- Consider good working conditions important. They like jobs offering steady employment and good pay. They want employment that fits their individual work style. They may prefer doing a variety of tasks, working alone, or being busy all the time.
- Have social interests. They like work activities that assist others and promote learning and personal development. They like to communicate with others: to teach, give advice, help, or otherwise be of service to others.
- Have realistic interests. They like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like to work with plants, animals, and physical materials such as wood, tools, and machinery. They often prefer to work outside.
Employers look for entry-level health care personnel who like to help people and do not mind hard work. Employees must be responsible, compassionate, emotionally stable and cheerful. They also need to be tactful, honest, and discreet about patients’ private lives.
Wage information is available from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Course Prerequisites
Some courses in this program may require a prerequisite. Please see course descriptions for more details.
Credits
MnTC General Education Requirements
|
Seven general education credits of Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) are required. Student are required to take:
|
ENGL 1107
|
Composition I (Goal 1&2) |
4 |
| SPCH 1200 or 1500 |
Interpersonal Communications/Intercultural Communications (Goal 1&7) |
3
|
Technical Education
|
19
|
Select one of the following courses:
|
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Credits |
| HLTH 1101 |
Trained Medication Aide (TMA)
|
3
|
HLTH 1103
|
Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide |
5
|
Select nine credits from the following courses:
|
HLTH 1000
|
Disease Conditions
|
2 |
HLTH 1005
|
Anatomy & Physiology
|
4 |
HLTH 1040
|
Medical Terminology
|
2
|
HLTH 1101
|
Trained Medication Aide (TMA)
|
3
|
HLTH 1103
|
Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide |
5 |
HLTH 1110
|
Introduction to ECGs |
1
|
Select ten credits from the following courses:
|
ADSC 1055
|
Electronic Health Records |
2 |
| *BIOL 1106 |
Principles of Biology |
4
|
*BIOL 1130
|
Human Biology
|
4
|
| *BIOL 2100 |
Anatomy & Physiology I |
4
|
| *BIOL 2200 |
Anatomy & Physiology II |
4
|
| COMP 1002 |
Computers Technologies for Communications |
2
|
| EMED 1076 |
BLS for the Healthcare Provider
|
1
|
| *MATH 1010 |
Dosage Calculations for Health Care Professionals |
1
|
PSYC 1406
|
General Psychology
|
4 |
| PSYC 1506 |
Lifespan Development |
4
|
Graduation Requirements
Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for graduation from this program.
Faculty
The Anoka Technical College Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide certificate is a five-credit course that introduces concepts of basic human needs, basic nursing and personal care skills, mental health and social needs, restorative services, resident’s rights and home health. The skills are performed in a supervised laboratory and long term care clinical setting. The course meets the requirements of the federal government and the Minnesota Board of Nursing. Upon completion of the competency evaluation, students can be employed in a long-term care facility, hospital or home health agency.
Career Opportunities
Books and Supplies
- Nursing assistant book and skills packet (available through the Anoka Technical College bookstore).
- Student photo ID card.
- Black uniforms for the clinical training sites.
- Watch with a second hand.
- A box of non-latex exam gloves.
Reimbursable Expenses
Note from the Minnesota Department of Health regarding reimbursable expenses:
Nursing assistants who pay for the cost of their training and testing prior to employment are eligible for reimbursement. The nursing assistant has one (1) year from completion of the test to turn in receipts requesting reimbursement. The facility has 90 days to reimburse the nursing assistant. If the nursing assistant does not remain employed as a nursing assistant for 90 days, the nursing home is under no obligation to reimburse the nursing assistant. The first nursing home the nursing assistant stays at for at least 90 days would then be responsible to reimburse the nursing assistant if it has been one year or less since completion of the test. Only certified nursing homes or boarding care homes are required to reimburse a nursing assistant.
Background Study
Minnesota Law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and residents at a health care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health have a background study conducted by the state.
Credits
HLTH 1103
|
Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide
|
5
|
Graduation Requirements
Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for graduation from this program.
Faculty
The TMA - Trained Medication Aide is a three-credit, state-approved course (HLTH 1101) that can be taken alone or as part of a broader Health Technology program, such as the Health Technology certificate. The legal requirements concerning medication administration, general information, and administration skills of oral, rectal, and topical routes will be discussed. The ten major body systems and how they are involved in the pharmacology of drug use will be studied. The students will not administer medications on clinical, but will be ready to demonstrate their skills to the employing agency. (Prerequisites: Nursing Assistant)
Course Prerequisites
Students must provide an unofficial transcript or an original certificate from the Nursing Assistant course on or before the first day of class.
Faculty
Award
Certificate
Start
Fall: August
Spring: January
Summer: May/June