Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program - Nursing

Nurse assistants provide daily care to patients in the areas of performing vital signs, bathing, providing personal care, assisting patients in and out of bed, helping bedridden patients maintain their ability to move, and caring for the patient’s overall environment. Successful nurse assistants have a blend of physical stamina and compassionate communication skills. The Basic Nurse Assistant (BNA) Training Program prepares students to take the State Competency Written Evaluation for certification, which is necessary for employment as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) in various health care agencies.

Program Approval

The ECC Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program is approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Admission Procedures and Entrance Requirements

To be eligible for NUR 105, students must be at least 16 years of age.  F-1 International students are not eligible for enrollment in the basic nurse assistant program.  To apply for the program complete a Health Professions Application.  You will be contacted by email when a seat becomes available.  Prior to the start of class, students must submit the following: results of a fingerprint background check and drug test, completed personal medical history form signed by a licensed medical provider including lab results indicating immunity to specific infectious diseases and a negative tuberculosis test, proof of health insurance, and current American Heart Association BLS CPR for healthcare providers certification. 

Program Requirements

Students must complete the required course with a minimum grade of C. Students must provide their own uniforms, gait belts, and transportation to and from all clinical sites. Students must attend the first class day of the semester and the last class day of the semester for the BNA course. Failure to do so will result in automatic withdrawal and/or failure from the program.

Policies and Procedures

Students registering for the Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program must be screened for placement on the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Registry. Students must be listed on this registry in order to be eligible to complete required clinical training. Any student demonstrating a positive background check may be denied admission to any health professions program.

Prior to the first day of class, students must have the following documentation on file with the CastleBranch requirement tracking system: negative drug test results, completed medical form, proof of immunizations and antibody titer results, proof of health insurance coverage, and proof of American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers CPR certification. Any student demonstrating a positive drug test will be dismissed from the Health Professions Division.

The standards, policies, and procedures of the Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program are published in the BNA Program Handbook.