Bucks County Community College is now accepting applications for its Nurse Aide Training Program, with classes offered at all three campuses this fall.
Students can choose from day or evening courses in 8-week or 12-week formats. Day classes are held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Evening sessions take place from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Clinical sessions are from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., including weekends for evening students.
The application process, which includes obtaining background checks, may take up to a month, so interested students are urged to apply early. Training starts Sept. 3 at the Upper Bucks Campus (evenings and weekends); Sept. 5 at the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks (evenings and weekends); and Sept. 11 (daytime), Sept. 18 (evenings and weekends) and Nov. 4 (daytime) at the Newtown Campus.
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 Karen Souvigney, program coordinator.
“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. It can be considered a stepping stone for those who are considering nursing as a 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.
To learn more about the program, including registration requirements and deadlines, visit bucks.edu/nurseaide. To schedule a registration appointment, contact nurseaide@bucks.edu or 215-968-8482.
