Area of Study
Nurse Aide
The Nurse Aide career introduces students to the medical field. The need for this profession is expected to increase over the next 10 years with an average entry-level wage of $19 per hour statewide. The program will focus on long-term care for the hands-on experience, but graduates are not bound to this practice setting. Nurse aides can work in hospital settings, Medical Surgery, Obstetrics, rehabilitation, hospice care, home health, or provide care for their loved ones at a high level. Many of our graduates, after falling in love with the medical field because of their nurse aide experience, have gone on to further their education including Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiology Technology, nursing, physician’s assistant school, and even medical school taking their skills from the bedside to the clinic!
This part-time program consists of an academic course and clinical experience that takes as little as 8 weeks to one semester to complete. Students will begin training in the classroom and laboratory working with each other and the class manikins before going to a long-term care setting in northeast Colorado where they use their skills with persons with a variety of care needs.
After successful completion of the program requirements, students will earn a Nurse Aide Certificate through MCC and are eligible to take the State of Colorado certification examination*. The Nurse Aide program at MCC prepares students for these exams and currently has the highest pass rate in Morgan County for first-time test takers.
What you’ll learn
- Caring for people of all ages, from newborns to elders in a variety of settings, including home health, hospitals, long term care centers, assisted living, and more.
- Helping people with daily activities, such as getting dressed, eating, taking care of hygiene, and staying safe in their environment.
- Obtaining important measurements like blood pressure, temperature, respirations, heart rate, height, weight, and others.
- Learning how to protect yourself and by properly using gowns, gloves, and masks, and practicing good personal hygiene.
How you’ll learn
- Working hands-on in the classroom and in facilities with actual patients
- Working hands-on in a skills lab using simulated bodily fluids, patient scenarios, and real medical equipment.
- Through collaborative teamwork.
- Through good communication with your fellow students, patients, and other healthcare professionals.
* To learn more about (or take) the Nurse Aide Credential test please visit https://credentia.com/test-takers/co
What’s Next?
Want More Information?
Questions?
Contact the dedicated advisor for all of MCC’s Health Occupation programs if you have questions, concerns, or need assistance.
Shelli Crandall
Student Success Advisor for Health Occupations
Careers & Salaries
| Position | Median |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistants | $29,430 |
View the catalog for courses and program requirements.
Nurse Aide
Meet the Faculty
Faculty
Lynne Collins
Lynne is a Fort Morgan native who began her higher education journey at MCC. She received her Associate of Science degree from MCC in 1998, then transferred to the University of Northern Colorado, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.
Lynne began her nursing career at Colorado Plains Medical Center in Fort Morgan, now known as St. Elizabeth Centura, in the Obstetrics Unit. Over the course of her career, she has worked in Acute Rehab, Medical Surgery, the Intensive Care Unit, Long Term Care, Assisted Living and the Behavior Health Unit. Lynne is the full-time Nurse Aide Faculty for MCC and teaches Nurse Aide, Clinical Medical, First Aid, and CPR.