Course is part of Healthcare Technician Program

Jackson State Community College is offering a Certified Nurse Aide class and lab as an elective in its new Healthcare Technician Program.

Students who finish the class will receive six hours of college credit. The first class will begin Sept. 25.

“A certified nurse aide’s main role is to provide basic care to patients,” said Leah Gray, Jackson State’s director of program innovation. “They also assist patients in daily activities they might have trouble with on their own, such as bathing, eating or walking. A great nurse aide will show compassion, enjoy helping others and be confident in his or her job skills.”

Classes will be Monday and Wednesday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. The 10-week course will run until the end of the fall semester. Two weeks later, students will return to take a licensure exam administered by a third-party that is selected by the state of Tennessee.

The Healthcare Technician Program, offered for the first time in spring 2017, is designed for students pursuing a medical career who want to enter the job market equipped with multiple skills. Students will focus on the objectives required to become certified as clinical medical assistants, EKG technicians and phlebotomy technicians.

“It offers more opportunities for students who may or may not want to pursue some of our more selective programs,” said Dr. Tom Pigg, dean of Health Sciences and Computer Information Technology. “This is a good way to get your foot in the door as far as a career in health care goes. They can use this as a stepping stone to work into one of our more specialized programs.”

Patient care technicians work in hospitals, clinics and home health care environments.

“The idea is for someone to be able to perform many different tasks in medical clinics and hospitals,” Pigg said. “It gives them a bigger skill set to make them more employable.”

Students will receive a technical certificate of credit upon completion. The certificate recognizes skill proficiency in a specific specialty, and it is offered as part of Jackson State's service role to business and industry.

The program is authorized for financial aid.

Other certificate programs at Jackson State include advanced and basic emergency medical technician (EMT), as well as an EMT-Paramedic certification.

Jackson State Community College provides accessible learning opportunities that enhance the lives of individuals, strengthen the workforce and empower the diverse communities of West Tennessee. The institution offers traditional and contemporary associate degrees, certificates, continuing education and enrichment, and college-readiness programs.