Classes will be offered in March at Bucks County Community College’s Epstein Campus in Bristol
The Times
Bucks County Community College is accepting applications for its Nurse Aide Training Program, with classes offered in Bristol, Newtown and Perkasie starting in February and March.
Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the program is an intensive 120-hour course consisting of classroom instruction, laboratory experience, and hands-on training at an area clinical site.
The nurse aide functions in a number of healthcare settings, ranging from home care to nursing homes to hospitals, according to program coordinator Karen Souvigney.
“The role of the nurse aide within these settings is crucial as they are the key providers of bedside care,” she said. “Nurse aide training also provides a gateway into the nursing profession, and can be a stepping stone for those who are considering that career path.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for nurse assistant occupations is immediate, with an expected job growth rate of 21 percent over the next decade. This projected growth is faster than the average for all occupations. The average starting wage can range from $12 to as high as $20 an hour.
Upon successful completion of the program at Bucks, students are eligible to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program Examination to enroll in the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide registry.
This spring, three classes will be offered at the Newtown Campus — Tuesday and Thursday days starting Feb. 12 with a registration deadline of Feb. 5; Tuesday evenings and Saturday days starting Feb. 19 with a registration deadline of Feb. 11; and Monday, Wednesday and Friday days starting March 25 with a registration deadline of March 18.
In addition, a Thursday evening and Saturday day class begins March 21 at the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, with a registration deadline of March 14. A fifth class meets Wednesday and Friday during the day at the Upper Bucks Campus in Perkasie starting March 6, with a registration deadline of Feb. 27.
To learn more, visit bucks.edu/nurseaide. To schedule a registration appointment, contact the program coordinator at 215–968–8482 or nurseaide@bucks.edu.
