Nursing Department - NAC (Nursing Assistant Certified) Training

One section of HSCI 111- Nursing Assistant Training is offered every quarter at Pierce College. This 6.5 credit course typically meets Wednesdays from 12 p.m.-3:30 p.m.for the lecture/nursing lab portion. The clinical/patient care portion is normally taught on Fridays 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at a local nursing care facility. The course costs about $700.00 (which includes student malpractice insurance) plus $110.00 (estimate) for additional required costs. The student must score into Reading 75 or above on the COMPASS assessment test (administered by the college) and pass a Dept. of Social and Health Services Criminal Background Check. During the training, each student will be registered with the state as a NAR (Nursing Assistant - Registered).

After satisfactory completion of the course, the student will be eligible to take the Washington State Board NAC Examination, and receive their license as an NAC - Nursing Assistance-Certified.

Because theNAC class is limited to 10 students, the class fills rapidly. This class usually closes by the end of the first or second day of current student registration. Therefore, a wait list has been established and enrollment is by permission only. Please contact Stania Kasjan (253) 840-8355 for more specific information and to be placed on the wait list. Course specific information may be obtained from Angela Lawson, NAC instructor, at alawson@pierce.ctc.edu.

ABE, GED, and ESL adult learners may qualify for our 2-quarter I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education & Skills Training) program. This class usually meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays. For more information call Liz Tudhope (253) 964-6675. Opportunity Grant funding is also available. Contacts for the Opportunity Grants are Carol Hill (253) 964-6577 at Fort Steilacoom and Fran Matz (253) 840-8323 at Puyallup.

The occupation of the NAC requires physical strength and stamina.  The student will be expected to lift up to 60 lbs.

At times our wait list is very long, so we also recommend that you explore other local schools offering NAC classes. They include Bates Technical College, Clover Park Technical College, Olympic College, Renton Tech, South Puget Sound CC, Green River Community College and Tacoma CC.

Nursing Assistant Training is also offered at Medical Training Consultants, Inc. located in Lakewood. Check their website for dates, times, and costs (www.mtci-wa.com). Additional independent private training schools include: Priority Instructional Center (Lakewood), Care Plus Home Health, Inc (Port Orchard), Kamanga NAC Training (DesMoines), Health Professional Institute (Renton), College of Medical Training (Lakewood), and Nursing Assistant Training School (Tukwila).

Local long-term care facilities and convalescent centers offer free training as a nursing assistant as part of their employee recruitment, but this benefit occurs only when the facility needs new staff. Training begins as soon as you pass the background check to be a "Registered" Nursing Assistant (RNA or NAR). An RN on their staff does the formal classroom training; the required number of clinical training hours is met by working with a preceptor (experienced NAC). Check local newspapers for current opportunities. Be aware that these employers will expect each trainee to work for them for a specified time - especially since they provide the training at no cost and pay the state board testing fee. Examples include University Place Care Center, Cottesmore of Life Care, Evergreen Tacoma Health & Rehab Center, Rainier Vista Care Center, Orchard Park Care Center, Life Care Center of Puyallup, Park Rose Care Center, and Tacoma Rehab and Specialty Care.

Becky Piper, RN, MN
Interim Nursing Director
(253) 864-3111

Eustania Kasjan, M.A.
Allied Health Program Manager
(253) 840-8355

Cindy Porn
Nursing Office Assistant
(253) 864-3272

Glenine Collins, RN, MSN
Full-Time Nursing Faculty
(253) 840-3182

Ronda Durano, R.N.,M.N.
Nursing Faculty
(253) 840-8379

Elizabeth Webber RN, MSN
Nursing Faculty
(253) 846-8375

 

National Accreditation

This nursing program is accredited by:

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.
(NLNAC)
3343 Peachtree Rd. NE
Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
www.nlnac.org