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CNA & HHA Continuing Education

Approved continuing education courses for currently licensed CNAs and HHAs

CDPH Approved

Emerald Career College is approved by the California Department of Public Health to provide twelve (12) hours of continuing education for currently licensed CNAs and HHAs.

The continuing education is approved for delivery in a residential (in-person) format.

Course Overview

Six comprehensive courses totaling 12 hours of continuing education

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12 Hours

Total Continuing Education

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In-Person

Residential Format Only

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$350

Includes All 12 Hours

Course Title	Hours
Body Systems and Related Conditions (Part 1)	2 hours
Body Systems and Related Conditions (Part 2)	2 hours
Nutrition and Hydration	2 hours
Understanding Clients' Needs with Different Conditions	2 hours
Confusion, Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease	2 hours
Personal Care Skills	2 hours
Total	12 Hours

Course Descriptions & Objectives

Detailed information about each continuing education course

Body Systems and Related Conditions (Part 1)

2 Clock Hours

Course Description

This continuing education course will describe the body systems: integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory, and discuss conditions related to those systems. The structure and anatomical terms for each body system will be introduced, along with normal age-related changes. Guidelines for specific care skills will be learned to provide everyday assistance for the aging population.

Learning Objectives

After completion of this course, the CNA will be able to:

•Describe the integumentary system, the skin's structure, and its functions as a sense organ, protective, and thermoregulatory.
•Describe the musculoskeletal system, the bones, muscles, tendons, and cartilage, their normal structure and changes during ageing, such as weakening and loss of tone of muscles, slow body movements, loss of bone density, joint stiffness, and pain management related to these conditions.
•Describe the nervous system as the control and message center for the entire body. Identify two parts of the nervous system: central and peripheral.
•Describe the circulatory system, heart structure and functions, blood vessels, and their role in food, oxygen, and hormone supplies to the cells.
•Describe the respiratory system, two processes of respiration: inspiration and expiration, normal changes in ageing: lung strength decrease, less lung capacity, decrease of oxygen in the blood, and voice weakness.

Teaching and Evaluation Methods: This CEU course is designed for in-class instruction with an instructor, using educational materials, quizzes, and case scenarios. The exam will consist of 20 questions with multiple-choice and true/false answers. Students who score 70% or higher will earn 2 CEU hours.

Body Systems and Related Conditions (Part 2)

2 Clock Hours

Course Description

This continuing education course will continue from part I to describe additional body systems: urinary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, reproductive, immune, and lymphatic systems, and discuss conditions related to those systems. The structure and anatomical terms for each body system will be introduced, along with normal age-related changes. Guidelines for specific care skills will be learned to provide everyday assistance for the aging population.

Learning Objectives

After completion of this course, the CNA will be able to:

•Describe the urinary system: kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and meatus, their structure and functions, normal changes in ageing: decrease of kidney ability to filter the blood, weakness in bladder muscle tone, frequent urination, greater risk of infection.
•Describe the gastrointestinal system: gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs, functions: digestion, absorption, and elimination, normal changes in ageing: decreased saliva production affects the ability of chewing and swallowing, dull sense of taste, poor appetite, decreased absorption of vitamins and minerals, the process of digestion takes a longer time and its less efficient, more frequent constipation.
•Describe the endocrine system, glands and hormones, functions of the endocrine system, normal changes in ageing: decrease of hormone levels, such as estrogen and progesterone, lessening of insulin production, and lessening ability of the body to handle stress.
•Describe the reproductive system, its glands and organs, normal changes of ageing males and females: sperm production decreases, the prostate gland enlarges, the end of menstruation, menopause, a decrease in estrogen, loss of calcium, brittle bones, osteoporosis, drier and thinner vaginal walls.
•Describe immune and lymphatic systems, functions in protection from viruses, bacteria, and microorganisms, function of the lymphatic system in removing excess fluid and waste products from the body, normal changes in ageing: weakening of the immune system, increased risk of infections, decrease in the number and size of lymphatic nodes, decreased response to vaccines.

Nutrition and Hydration

2 Clock Hours

Course Description

This continuing education course will describe the basic nutrients and explain MyPlate, as well as factors that influence food preferences, special diets, eating habits, and behaviors. Functions of main nutrients: water, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals will be introduced. Guidelines for a specific diet and meal assistance will be learned, with a focus on supporting the aging population.

Learning Objectives

After completion of this course, the CNA will be able to:

•Identify the six basic nutrients: define nutrients, explain characteristics and functions of each nutrient: water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
•Present the knowledge and practical skills of nutrients' roles in maintaining body functioning, especially in the aging population.
•Describe My Plate, which was developed by the US Department of Agriculture to help build a healthy plan at mealtimes.
•Describe factors that influence food preferences, such as culture, ethnicity, income, education, religion, and geography.
•Present knowledge of different types of diets: therapeutic, modified, and special diets.
•Describe how to assist clients in maintaining fluid balance, dehydration condition, and fluid overload, observe and report changes in clients' drinking habits, trouble swallowing liquids, abdominal pain, weight loss or gain, fatigue and dizziness, swelling in extremities, shortness of breath, anxiety, and changes in skin appearance.
•Describe dysphagia, signs, and symptoms of swallowing problems. Recognize and report the following: coughing and choking during mealtimes, eating slowly or avoiding eating, making visible efforts to swallow, and difficulty in chewing and swallowing medications.
•Describe how to assist clients with special needs such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or other dementia, head trauma, blindness, confusion, or those who recover from stroke.

Understanding Clients' Needs with Different Conditions

2 Clock Hours

Course Description

This continuing education course will describe the basic needs of clients with different conditions and the specific care required in different settings, with a focus on various population groups. Basic human needs, promotion of self-independence, family roles, and significance in client care will be introduced. The role of CNA will be introduced in defining human growth and development, disabilities, and types of mental health disorders, and goals in hospice care.

Learning Objectives

After completion of this course, the CNA will be able to:

•Identify the basic human needs: physiological (food and water, protection and shelter, activity, sleep and rest, comfort, especially freedom from pain) and psychological needs (love and affection, acceptance by others, safety and security, self-reliance and independence, contact with others, success and self-esteem).
•Define holistic care, caring for the whole person as a part of person-centered care.
•Identify ways to accommodate clients with cultural differences. Describe how cultural background affects the relationships between clients, their families, and staff who take care of them.
•Describe the stages of human growth and development, with individual differences in growing and developing, especially in the aging population.
•Present the knowledge of specific care for infants, toddlers, preschool age, preadolescents, adolescents, young adults, middle-aged, and late adulthood.
•Describe developmental disabilities that are present at birth or emerge during childhood, up to age 22.
•Demonstrate caring skills for clients with intellectual disabilities: treatment with respect, praise for positive behavior, promote independence, encourage social interaction, and be patient.
•Describe types of mental health disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia.
•Define terminal illness and grief, demonstrate knowledge of the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Follow guidelines for caring for the dying person: diminished senses, care of mouth, skin care, pain control and comfort, environment, emotional and spiritual support.

Confusion, Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease

2 Clock Hours

Course Description

This continuing education course will describe the main cognitive and behavioral diseases and conditions in the adult population, with a focus on caring for residents facing various hardships in daily life. Discussion of confusion and delirium, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease will be introduced. Guidelines for specific care and assistance for these cognitive behavioral disorders will be learned, with a focus on support for the aging population.

Learning Objectives

After completion of this course, the CNA will be able to:

•Describe types of confusion, including sudden and gradual, and temporary and permanent.
•Describe delirium as a state of severe confusion that occurs suddenly and is usually temporary.
•Describe possible causes of delirium, such as infections, diseases, fluid imbalances, and poor nutrition.
•Describe factors that affect cognitive impairment, such as concentration and memory.
•Dementia is a general term for severe loss of mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating.
•Explain the main causes of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct or vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease.
•Discuss Alzheimer's, the cause, and the effects on cognitive behavior.
•Describe the list of strategies for better communication with AD clients: approach from the front, communicate in calm areas, speak slowly, use a lower tone of voice, and break complex tasks into smaller, simpler ones.
•Describe a list of interventions for problems with common activities of daily living, including the development of a routine and sticking to it, promoting self-care, and taking good care of themselves, both mentally and physically.
•List common difficult behaviors of clients with AD, such as agitation, sundowning, catastrophic behavior, violent behavior, pacing and wandering, hallucinations and delusions, depression, perseveration and repetitive phrasing, disruptiveness, inappropriate social behavior, inappropriate sexual behavior, hoarding and rimming, sleep disturbances, and suspicion.
•Describe creative therapies for residents with AD with examples of validating therapy, reminiscence therapy, activity therapy, and music therapy.

Personal Care Skills

2 Clock Hours

Course Description

This continuing education course will describe the main skills and practices of self-care for residents, their hygiene, clothing, grooming, and other essential procedures in everyday life. Discussion of skin care will be introduced. Guidelines for skin care and pressure injury prevention will be learned, with a focus on supporting the aging population.

Learning Objectives

After completion of this course, the CNA will be able to:

•Identify residents' hygiene and personal care needs. Describe the conditions that need to be observed and reported.
•Describe stages of pressure injuries, including unstageable pressure injury and deep tissue pressure injury.
•Describe positioning devices such as pillows, bed cradles, draw sheets, foot drop, orthotic devices, trochanter rolls, and abduction pillows/wedges/splints.
•Identify the equipment needed to give a shower or tub bath.
•Demonstrate practical skills for washing hands, prevention of infections, and the use of a shower chair.
•Provide guidance on assisting with grooming and fingernail care, and demonstrate all steps for safe, proper care for residents.
•Demonstrate skills for shaving residents, using their personal preferences: safety razors, disposable razors, and electric razors. Explain the steps for each shaving procedure.
•Describe a list of guidelines for assisting with clothing: dressing and undressing, defining equipment, preventing infections, maintaining residents' dignity, and the right to privacy.
•Explain the main characteristics of dressing residents with IV therapy, applying knee-high antiembolic stockings, and document all procedures provided.
•Describe oral care, or care of the mouth, teeth, and gums.
•Describe guidelines for assisting with elimination, types of bedpans, and other elimination equipment.
•Explain guidelines for safety positioning and moving residents.
•Describe supine, lateral, prone, Fowler's positions, moving residents up in bed, moving residents to the side of the bed, positioning residents on their side, logrolling, using transfer belts, and mechanical lifts.

Tuition & Fees

Total Course Package (12 hours)$350

Includes all six continuing education courses

Eligibility

✓Currently licensed CNA or HHA in California

✓Valid certification in good standing

✓Able to attend in-person classes

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