Health Occupations

The Certified Nursing Assistant class (CNA) will be offered to high school Juniors, Seniors and Post-secondary adults. This program will be offered as a one-year program. This class will give males and females an opportunity to explore and understand medical careers and will better enable them to develop entry level skills in their chosen health field.

Students should have a sincere desire to care for the sick and the injured, and to practice and teach preventive medicine.

What Will You Study?

The Health Occupations program is designed to provide you with a general understanding of the health field.

Students will be given the opportunity to learn basic health care skills needed in health occupations.  The students will be given the opportunity to work in a long-term care facility. He/She will be at the clinical site two to three days a week with several days being designated for the classroom, so that the discussion of clinical experiences and further study of knowledge and skills related to the selected specialty may occur.

Areas of Study Will Include:

1.  Introduction to Health Care

2.  Medical Terminology

3.  Ethics and Legal Responsibilities

4.  Communication Skills

5.  Basic Human Needs

6.  Basic Nutrition

7.  Body Structure and Function

8.  Vital Signs and Measurement

9.  Medical/Surgical Asepsis Infection Control

10. Maintaining a Safe and Therapeutic Environment

11. First Aid/CPR and Heimlich Maneuver

12. Computer Applications

What About Your Teacher?

The instructor is a registered nurse with the state of West Virginia. She received a Masters of Science Degree from West Virginia University and has over 25 years of nursing experience.

Where Are Your Employment Opportunities?

Students completing this program of study could look to one of the following areas:

1. Work in a nursing home;

2. Work in a hospital;

3. Work as an aide with Home Health or Mental Health;

4. Work in a doctor's office;

5. Work in a private home;

6. Continue their education;

7. Enter a branch of the armed services in a related field of         study.

What Are the General Requirements?

Reading skills of at least the 10th grade as well as courses in chemistry and biology would be helpful.

Other Employment Information:

Upon completion of the student's classroom and clinical work, they may qualify to take the State Certification Examination to become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant).

What Will It Cost you?

As a high school student, you do not pay tuition or fees. As an adult student, you may be required to pay tuition and program fees based on the rates in place at your time of enrollment.

There are additional expenses as follows: Students will be required to have a blue uniform, white shoes, and a watch with a second hand. They will also need a physical examination, a PPD skin test for TB, the Hepatitis B vaccination series, and an update of their childhood immunizations are also highly recommended.

Will You Earn High School Credits while Attending South Branch Career and Technical Center?

As a high school student, you will earn four credits during each year at SBCTC. If a student completes the one year technical program with a "C" average in the course and has kept his/her absences to 10 days or less, a special diploma is issued in addition to the high school diploma.