Nurse Aide I graduates fall semester class of 2025
Bottom row, from left: Harmoni Parrott, Greace Pina, Kenssie Higgins, Ryan Jackson, Janautica Cribbs
Top row, from left: Makayla Quattlebaum, Amanda Spears, Kimberly Coleman, Tyra Livingston, Tabria Frazier, Khisa Marshall
Learning the basic skills to take care of people in a healthcare setting, the Nurse Aide I course at Southeastern Community College sends students through 160 hours of instruction with 48 hours in clinicals, 48 hours in lecture and 64 hours of in-class lab.
Nurse Aide Instructor Kimberly Tibbetts said that nurse aids are the “eyes and ears for the nurses” in nursing home and home health settings. Her favorite part of teaching nurse aide classes is seeing students have fun while learning.
“I’ve heard other instructors say that when they see the lightbulb go on for a student, it is very true,” Tibbetts said. “When you see students in a clinical setting understand and put into practice what they learned in the classroom, they are learning to work smarter and not harder.”
The eight-week Nurse Aide I course provides the student with the essential knowledge and skills necessary to provide basic nursing care under the direction of a licensed nurse. Throughout the course, the Nurse Aide I students are taught basic nursing principles, like infection control, safety, nutrition, and anatomy and physiology. The students also develop proficiency in performing skills, like vital signs, personal care, mobility, and elimination. In addition to these skills, the Nurse Aide I course teaches the students about work ethics and professionalism in the workplace.
Upon satisfactory completion of the course and skill/competency evaluation, the graduate of the course is eligible to apply for listing as a Nurse Aide I by the NC Division of Health Service Regulation. Once the graduate earns the Nurse Aide I certification, the NAI may work in different areas of employment, including long-term care facilities, hospitals, and home health care.
Earning the NAI certification and having a current listing on the NC Nurse Aide I Registry is a prerequisite for the SCC Practical Nursing Program and Associate Degree Nursing Program. This course provides the PN and ADN students with the knowledge of basic nursing skills in order to better prepare them for their future nursing careers.
Click here to learn more about short-term healthcare training options at SCC!
