Online Course | High-STEP CNA

Online CNA Knowledge Course

Designed for use by instructors and program coordinators to replace or enhance classroom learning, seamlessly integrating into busy schedules.

Updated Curriculum

MN Nurse Aide Curriculum Revision

July 1, 2024

The HIGH-STEP CNA Online Knowledge Course has been updated to align with the revised 2024 Minnesota Nurse Aide Curriculum. It includes enhanced interactive elements and web-based Virtual Reality (VR) CNA Skills designed to help students master the skills necessary for success in the healthcare field.

About the Course

Nursing assistants are crucial in patient care and are often the first step toward a nursing career or other healthcare paths. But what does this role involve, and how do they manage patient care?

In this online course, you will:

Master practical skills like effective communication with healthcare teams.
Learn to create a safe and secure environment.
Develop expertise in infection prevention and control.
Advocate for patients’ rights with compassion and understanding.
Understand the ethical and legal responsibilities of the nursing assistant role.

The course is available on the South Central Service Cooperative’s Moodle platform. It offers easy enrollment and customizable options to fit your training program.

Learn More

Immersive VR CNA Skills – Now Web-Based!

Our VR CNA skills training, formerly available in VR and mobile apps, is now adapted for the web. Students can practice essential CNA skills in an interactive, web-based environment, with lifelike simulations replicating real-world healthcare scenarios.

Enhanced Interactivity

Incorporating interactive elements, such as role-playing, scenario-based exercises, and self-assessment tools, better prepare students for their roles as Nurse Aides.

Engaging Multimedia Content

It includes engaging multimedia content, such as videos, and simulating real-world examples to deepen understanding of critical concepts.

Seamless Learning Experience

Digital badges validate and showcase students' skills and competencies, providing tangible recognition and verifiable credentials. Earning badges allows students to highlight their progress and expertise.

Join our engaging and comprehensive nursing assistant knowledge course today!

Course Content

The knowledge course is structured into ten units, each split into smaller lessons that deeply explore complex topics. By breaking material into manageable chunks and repeating key concepts, s

Unit 1: Introduction to Healthcare:

Describe Federal and State Regulations Related to the Nurse Aide and Employment Requirements and Expectations
List Personal Qualifications for Being a Nurse Aide
Describe the Qualities of a Professional and Discuss How a Nurse Aide Can Display Professionalism on the Job
Incorporate Personal Values with Ethics and Etiquette
Describe the Nursing Home Resident’s Bill of Rights
Describe Abuse and Neglect
Discuss Legal Implications for the Nurse Aide
Describe the Patient Self-Determination Act
Compare Task-Oriented Care with Person-Centered Care

Introduction to Healthcare Skills:

No skills in Unit 1

Unit 2: Basic Needs:

Describe the basic physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the resident
Describe the common characteristics of growth and development
Identify developmental tasks associated with aging
Introduction to Body Systems and the Aging Process
The Integumentary System
The Musculoskeletal System
The Digestive / Gastrointestinal System
The Circulatory / Cardiovascular System
The Respiratory System
The Urinary System
The Nervous System
The Reproductive System
The Sensory System
The Endocrine System

Basic Needs Skills:

No skills in Unit 2

Unit 3: Communication:

Describe Communication and Components of Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
Describe Effective Communication
Discuss Cultural Diversity Considerations of Communication
Discuss Communication with Families
Identify Components of the Care Plan and How the Nurse Aide Contributes to and Uses the Care Plan
Describe Incidents and the Nurse Aide’s Responsibilities When Incidents Occur
Discuss Documentation in the Medical Record / Chart

Communication Skills:

No skills in Unit 3

Unit 4: Safe and Clean Environment:

Describe the Safety of the Resident
Identify Actions Related to Resident Safety
Discuss Regulations and Safety Related to Restraints
Identify Facility Emergencies That Require Action
Identify Resident-Related Emergencies That Require Action
Describe principles of body mechanics
Discuss General Infection Control Practices
Define the Chain of Infection
Describe Standard Precautions
Describe Transmission Based Precaution
Identify Common Pathogens

Unit 4 Skills

Standard Pre-Steps
Standard Post-Steps
- Hand Washing
- Resident Unit Order
- Unoccupied Bed Making
- Transfer Belt (Gait Belt) Placement
- Clear Obstructed Airway on Conscious Resident
- Donning and Removing PPE

Unit 5: Vital Signs and Measures:

Identify Vital Signs and Nurse Aide Responsibilities
Identify Methods and Discuss Nurse Aide Responsibilities when Obtaining Height and Weight
Discuss Considerations Regarding Pain
Identify Effective Methods of Providing Oxygen to Residents

Unit 5 Skills

Temperature / Electronic Thermometer
Pulse
Respiration
Blood Pressure Manual
Blood Pressure Electronic
Pulse Oximetry
Oxygen Tubing Safety

Unit 6: Personal Cares:

Describe Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
Discuss the Importance of Skincare and Providing Personal Care for the Resident.
Describe the Prevention and Care of Pressure Injuries
Discuss the importance of Support/Anti-Embolism/Elastic Stockings.

Personal Care Skills

Complete Bed Bath
Partial Bath
Modified Bed Bath
Perineal Care Female
Perineal Care Male
Mouth Care
Denture Care
Foot Care
Dressing the Resident
Support / Anti-embolic/Elastic Stocking Application

Unit 7: Activities and Exercise:

Discuss the Benefits of Exercise
Compare Rehabilitation with Restorative Nursing Care
Discuss the Effects of Immobility
Discuss Body Alignment
Discuss Guidelines and Considerations When Moving, Transferring, and Lifting Residents
Discuss the Importance of Range of Motion Exercises

Activities and Exercise Skills:

Ambulate
Walk with a Cane
Walk with a Walker
Wheelchair Transfer
Wheelchair Transfer (two-person)
Side-lying Position Placement / Position on Side
Move Up In Bed Using a Lift Sheet
Passive Range of Motion (PROM) of the Shoulder and Elbow
Passive Range of Motion (PROM) of the Hip, Knee, and Ankle

Unit 10: Caring for Residents with Special Needs:

Discuss Behavioral Health/Mental Health
Compare Coping Strategies with Defense Mechanisms
Discuss Individuals Who are Developmentally Disabled
Discuss Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease
Describe Strategies when Caring for residents with Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease
Discuss Emotional and Behavioral Changes Related to Dementia and Positive Approaches
Discuss Death and Dying
Describe the Grieving Process

Caring for Residents with Special Needs Skills:

No skills in Unit 10

"I recently completed the online nursing assistant course and am very pleased with the outcome. The comprehensive course provided me with the necessary resources to pass the certification exam. The lessons, skill videos, and practice tests gave me the confidence to succeed. I highly recommend this course to anyone seeking nursing assistant certification. It was an invaluable experience, and I am so glad I chose the online course."