Certified Nursing Assistant

A Certified Nursing Assistant provides hands-on healthcare to patients in medical settings, helping with bathing, dressing, and the basic activities of life.  Duties include helping patients take medication, monitor vital signs, transferring patients from wheelchairs to bed, and exercising patients by helping them walk.    

Skills required:

• Excellent interpersonal skills including customer service, patience, empathy, and compassion
• Effective communication skills including active listening, writing, speaking, and reading comprehension
• Good collaboration and teamwork skills
• Problem-solving abilities, attention to detail
• Comfortable working with patients, including elderly patients and those with special needs
• Physical strength and stamina
• Familiarity with symptoms and signs of improvement for a number of medical conditions

Employers

The most common areas of work for a CNA are skilled nursing facilities, sub-acute rehabilitation facilities, aid agencies for home health, assisted living facilities, and local hospitals.    

Education

This program is approved by the NJ Department of Health.  You will be required to attend lecture/lab classes in addition to completing the clinical rotation.  Upon completion of this course, the student will be eligible to take the NJ Certified Nursing Assistant Examinations (skills test in the classroom) and computer-written examination for the license.      

Job Outlook

The state and the nation are in the midst of a shortage of CNAs. Projections show that the nation will need 95,000 additional CNAs by 2025 to help care for our aging population.    

Take the Next Steps

For more information about this program, reach out to one of our Success Coaches:    

Gloucester Campus

Charmian Papendrew

Cumberland Campus

Patricia Campanell

Patient Care Technician

A Patient Care Technician is a healthcare professional who supports nurses, doctors and other medical staff in caring for patients during hospital stays or other visits.  A Patient Care Technician feeds, cleans and bathes patients.  They also check a patient's blood pressure, heartbeat and pulse.  They escort patients to get X-rays and other imaging tests. They often help patients use the bathroom, reposition them and move them between the bed and wheelchair.    

Skills required:

• Be compassionate
• Physical stamina.  They spend a lot of time working on their feet, lifting and moving patients.
• Strong communication skills as they regularly speak with patients, their families, doctors and nurses.

Employers:

The majority of patient care technicians work in state, local and private hospitals.  These professionals can also work for nursing care facilities, retirement communities, government facilities, assisted living facilities and home health care providers.    

Education:

Great entry into the healthcare field or additional credential for someone already working in the industry. The Patient Care Technician  Program provides training in multiple skills utilized in health care. In this program, students can earn a certification in CPR, and certifications as an EKG Technician, Phlebotomy Technician in addition to CNA.      

Job Outlook:

Patient care technicians can expect a growth in demand of 17% from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average for most other professions.    

Take the Next Steps

For more information about this program, reach out to one of our Success Coaches:    

Gloucester Campus

Charmian Papendrew

Cumberland Campus

Patricia Campanell

Pharmacy Technician

A Pharmacy Technician works under a licensed pharmacist to process prescriptions, dispense medication, and provide information to customers.  A Pharm Tech enters prescription data using a computer system.  They may need to contact a doctor's office to clarify prescription information, answer incoming phone calls, and field questions from patients.  They also assist the pharmacist with medication inventory and placing medication orders.     

Prerequisites:

Must complete a math test     

Skills required:

• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Superior customer service skills
• Proficient in math
• Must have the ability to multitask
• Must be detail-oriented – there is little room for error in this position
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment in a demanding job
• Must be flexible with working hours – this is not a 9 to 5 job

Employers:

Pharmacy technicians work primarily in pharmacies, including those found in grocery and drug stores, and in hospitals.     

Education:

The curriculum includes legal and ethical considerations, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, metric system, drug calculation, adult and pediatric common drugs and drug interactions, storage, and disposal.  Students are eligible to sit for the national certification examination offered by PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board).     

Job Outlook:

The employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services.    

Take the Next Steps

For more information about this program, reach out to one of our Success Coaches:    

Gloucester Campus

Charmian Papendrew

Cumberland Campus

Patricia Campanell