Alaska Administrative Code
Title 12 - Professional Regulations
Part 1 - Boards and Commissions Subject to Centralized Licensing
Chapter 44 - Board of Nursing
Article 8 - Certified Nurse Aide
12 AAC 44.835 - Training program standards

Universal Citation: 12 AK Admin Code 44.835

Current through February 24, 2025

(a) A certified nurse aide training program must be conducted in a manner to assure that clients receive safe and competent care, and must train a certified nurse aide to

(1) form a relationship, communicate, and interact competently with the client;

(2) demonstrate sensitivity to the emotional, social, and mental health needs of a client through skillful and directed interactions;

(3) assist a client in attaining and maintaining independence;

(4) exhibit behavior that supports and promotes the rights of a client; and

(5) demonstrate the skills of observing, caregiving, and reporting needed to document the health, physical condition, and well-being of a client.

(b) To be approved by the board, a certified nurse aide training program must provide the following:

(1) curriculum that meets the requirements of 12 AAC 44.845 and 12 AAC 44.847;

(2) instructors who meet the requirements of 12 AAC 44.840;

(3) classroom and clinical facilities that meet the requirements of (f) of this section;

(4) maintenance of records showing the disposition of complaints received against the program.

(c) In addition to the requirements of (b) of this section, a certified nurse aide training program must consist of at least 140 hours of training that

(1) includes a minimum of 60 hours of didactic instruction that meets the requirements of 12 AAC 44.845;

(2) includes a minimum of 80 hours of supervised skills and clinical training that meets the requirements of 12 AAC 44.847, and provides an opportunity for students to gain the competencies required in 12 AAC 44.847, as follows:
(A) 48 hours must be in
(i) a long-term care facility;

(ii) an assisted living home licensed in this state that has a registered nurse or practical nurse on staff 24 hours a day; or

(iii) an acute care facility;

(B) at least 32 hours must be in learning and practicing the skills under the direct supervision of an approved instructor under 12 AAC 44.840; and

(3) documents each student's demonstration of skills by completion of the nurse aide skills checklist required under 12 AAC 44.852.

(d) During supervised skill and clinical training, a ratio of 10 students to one instructor may not be exceeded when the student is providing skills demonstration on an individual or clinical care to a client. Before having any direct contact with a client, a student must complete a minimum of 16 hours of classroom training and 16 hours of specific skill training that includes

(1) communication and interpersonal skills;

(2) infection control, including standard precautions;

(3) safety and emergency procedures;

(4) respecting and promoting the rights of the client;

(5) observation, reporting, and documentation of patient status and the care or service furnished;

(6) reading and recording temperature, pulse, and respiration;

(7) basic elements of body functioning and changes in body function that must be reported to a nurse aide's supervisor; and

(8) appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene and grooming that includes
(A) bed bath;

(B) sponge, tub, or shower bath;

(C) skin care;

(D) oral hygiene;

(E) toileting and elimination;

(F) safe transfer techniques and ambulation; and

(G) positioning.

(e) The training required under this section is in addition to a nursing facility's initial employee orientation requirements.

(f) Classroom and clinical facilities must provide space, comfort, safety, and equipment sufficient for conducting a professional certified nurse aide training program. When evaluating the sufficiency of classroom and clinical facilities, the board will consider whether

(1) the facilities appear to be clean and in good repair;

(2) a comfortable temperature is maintained;

(3) the lighting is bright enough to allow performance of classroom work, including reading and writing, and whether increased lighting is available as needed for specific clinical instruction;

(4) students have ready access to toilets and lavatories;

(5) space is sufficient to allow each student to be seated and take written notes during lectures, and to provide students with an unobstructed view during demonstrations of clinical skill tasks;

(6) the acoustics allow students to hear the instructor;

(7) an aspect of the facilities likely could interfere with the effective presentation of a certified nurse aide training program; and

(8) the clinical facility provides access to a sufficient number of clients to allow the student to provide care for more than one client at a time, and for the student to gain the competencies required in 12 AAC 44.847.

(g) Except as provided in (h) of this section, the board will not approve a certified nurse aide training program offered in or by a nursing facility that the state survey and certification agency or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, United States Department of Health and Human Services, has determined to be ineligible under federal Medicare or Medicaid regulations to offer a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program within the 24 months preceding the board's review of the nursing facility's program.

(h) The board will approve a certified nurse aide training program to be conducted in a nursing facility described under (g) of this section if a program provider other than that nursing facility offers the training program, and if the state survey and certification agency has

(1) determined that a similar program is not offered within a reasonable distance of the facility;

(2) determined that an environment exists that is adequate for the operation of the program in the facility; and

(3) provided notice of its determinations to the office of long term care ombudsman established under AS 44.21.231.

(i) The board will maintain a current list of approved training programs. Those training programs approved by the board as of October 9, 1998 are determined to be in compliance with the requirements of 42 C.F.R. 483.152 and 42 C.F.R. 483.154. The board will review these programs as provided in 12 AAC 44.857.

(j) During classroom instruction, the ratio of students to the instructor may not exceed 20 students for each instructor.

A list of the certified nurse aide training programs that the board has approved as of October 9, 1998 may be obtained from the Board of Nursing, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, 3601 C St., Suite 722, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5986.

As of Register 171 (October 2004), the regulations attorney made technical revisions under AS 44.62.125(b)(6) to reflect the name change of the Department of Community and Economic Development to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development made by ch. 47, SLA 2004 and the corresponding title change of the commissioner of community and economic development.

Authority:AS 08.68.100

AS 08.68.331

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alaska may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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