One semester, a lifetime of skills! Our CNA course provides 60 hours of classroom
instruction and 80 hours of supervised skills with clinical training.
Thank you for your interest in the HCA A105 Certified Nurse Aide course being offered
at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The course is a six-credit course that prepares
students to become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) in the state of Alaska.
Certified nurse aides assist in nearly every aspect of nursing care in hospitals,
nursing homes, clinics, assisted living, and home health. CNAs are responsible for
recording vital signs such as pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and temperature,
recording fluid intake and outputs, weights, and recording other observations. They
also provide daily care to patients, such as helping with meals, baths, exercises,
and treatments.
In outpatient clinics, CNAs are primarily responsible for preparing patients for the
examination by a physician or nurse. They are also responsible for making sure the
patients, nurses, and physicians receive the help they need during examinations or
treatments. Other duties involve monitoring and stocking medical supplies, and scheduling.
In rural Alaska, Native speaking CNAs are often called upon to provide crucial translation
skills.
Certified nurse aides work wherever nurses are employed. Rural Alaska employers include
regional hospitals, specialty clinics operated by regional health corporations or
state and federal agencies, community-based health care programs and home health employers.
As a neonatal nurse practitioner at Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital and adjunct faculty member for the UAA School of Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice alumna and graduate student hooding ceremony speaker for the fall Class of 2025 Stacy Brunquist weaves education into everything she does — training new caregivers, guiding parents learning to care for their newborns, and sharing knowledge with professionals from Utqiaġvik to Sitka.
Master of Nursing Education and Leadership student Wendy DeGraffenried reflects on her educational and professional journey. As a school nurse and adjunct instructor, Wendy found her passion in mentoring other nursing professionals – something that she hopes to carry forward with her as she starts a new chapter.
School of Nursing alumna Kristen Alcorn turned clinical expertise into entrepreneurial success. In this spotlight, Kristen shares a few of the experiences that shaped her journey in nursing, the things she loves about her job, and how her education at UAA helped her achieve her goals.
SON student Angelene Ketah is dedicated to serving Alaska Native communities while proudly representing her culture on the world stage through roller derby.
Darrel Foister Jr., School of Nursing alum and military veteran, now serves Alaska communities as a family nurse practitioner.
Message from the Director
Thank you for your interest in the UAA Certified Nurse Aide Program. This state of
Alaska Board of Nursing approved training program prepares you for the state CNA examination
in just one semester. This 6-credit course includes 60 hours of classroom instruction
that will get you ready to take the written portion of the examination. It also includes
32 hours of skills instruction in the classroom lab. Additionally, students in the
CNA class will get 48 hours of valuable hands-on training in a healthcare facility
working with actual residents. This 80 hours of clinical and skills training prepares
students for the skills portion of the state exam. Students who have taken UAA’s CNA
class have an excellent pass rate and are well prepared to join the healthcare workforce.
