The focus of this course is to prepare the students to be nursing assistants. The student will be introduced to the eight themes of care that are woven through each task performed by the nursing assistant: autonomy, respect, communication, maximizing capability, observation, infection control, safety, and time management. The lab is a vital part for the CNA student’s education in which skills are demonstrated, practiced, and tested (performed). The course concludes with a clinical component in which the student will be providing direct patient care at a long term care facility in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area.