Nurse Assisting

Nurse Assisting Program at SCC

Nurse Assistants (NAs) are essential members of the healthcare team providing patient-centered tasks that help patients with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, feeding, repositioning, and ambulating. NAs work under the supervision of licensed nurses and assist with taking vital signs, answering call lights, and measuring food and fluid consumption. Potential employers include hospitals, residential care facilities, nursing homes, and patient's homes.

NAs make a difference by assisting nursing staff with patient care to help improve the lives of those they serve. If you are compassionate, caring, and have a passion for helping people, you may be the perfect candidate for Scottsdale Community College’s Nurse Assisting program.

The Nurse Assisting program (NUR158) is a 7-week, 4.5 credit course that includes theory, skill practice in the nursing lab, and clinical experiences in healthcare facilities that prepares students for the Arizona State Board of Nursing exam to become a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) or Licensed Nurse Assistant (LNA). In addition, NUR158, assists students to begin their careers in healthcare. The course focuses on critical thinking, communication, and team collaboration while integrating patient care skills.

A note about clinical rotations: NUR158 clinical rotations consist of four 12-hour shifts. They are typically one day a week in addition to your lecture and lab. Your clinical rotation will be assigned to you, and no switching of clinical shifts is permitted.

Virtual Information Session

Virtual Information Sessions

START HERE: Watch this on-demand virtual information session for more information on becoming a nurse assistant, applying for the program, enrolling, and completing your health and safety requirements.

Email nurse.assisting@scottsdalecc.edu for any questions.

nurse holding clipboard with blurred background of patient in hospital bed

Upcoming Sessions

Next Session Starts March 2025
Accepting Applications Yes
Health & Safety Compliance Deadline February 24, 2025

Please watch the on-demand information session video. Then, scroll down for Steps 1-6 on how to apply and meet the health and safety compliance deadline. Please review ALL of the steps.

Get Started Today

Follow these steps to enroll in the Nurse Assisting program at Scottsdale Community College.

You will need to be a Maricopa Student to apply for NUR 158. Apply for admission to Scottsdale Community College (SCC).

To apply to NUR 158, please visit Application Process - Nursing Assistant (NA). Under “Nursing Assistant (NA)” section → click the +Application Process → APPLY NOW button

Criteria for applying for NUR 158 include CPR card, Fingerprint card, and Reading & Math scores.

  1. CPR card: needs to be an American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life support card (BLS) that will not expire within the time frame of the class. SCC offers HCC 109 to meet these criteria, and you can enroll for $64.
  2. Fingerprint card: Go to AZDPS.gov and select Fingerprint Card → Apply for Card → Continue → Create an account → Apply for new card → Non IVP for the Health Sciences Student (ARS 15-1881) and Residential or Nursing Care (ARS 36-411) → schedule a time to have fingerprints completed.
  3. Reading & Math: Please refer to the information below for this criteria.

     

Demonstration of readiness to enter the Nurse Assisting Program
Test Requirements
HESI A2

English Comprehensive: minimum score 70%

Math: minimum score 70%

Accuplacer

Reading (Classic): 58 or higher

Reading (Next Gen): 230 or higher

Arithmetic (Classic): 20 or higher

Arithmetic (Next Gen): 200 or higher

ACT

English and Readings Scores: 18 or higher

Math: 510 or higher (must be 2016 – current0

GED

Reasoning Through Language Arts: 165 or higher

Math: 165 or higher

EdReady

Reading: 60 or higher

Math: 55 or greater

  • High School Graduates within the last 5 years, with an overall, unweighted HS GPA of 2.6 or higher would meet the English/reading and math scores for placement in the NA program
  • AGEC: Students who have completed the AZ General Education Curriculum (AGEC) would meet the required English/reading and math scores for placement in the NA program.
  • Students who have a previous degree (to include) AAS, BS, MS, EdD, PhD, will meet the required English/reading and math scores for placement in the NA program.

You will receive an email that your application has been accepted and that you have permission to enroll.

If enrolling after the tuition deadline, tuition is due the day you enroll. If you do not make payment by the deadline, the system will automatically drop you from the class and you may lose your choice of lab section.

If you need help: (480) 423-6100 or admissions@scottsdalecc.edu.

Once you receive acceptance into NUR 158 at SCC, you will need to complete the Health and Safety Requirements by the deadline. 

Create an account with American DataBank (ADB) using your Maricopa email.

  • Purchase the Background Check AND the 12-month Tracker for Immunizations/Compliance. Make sure you select Nurse Assisting.
  • Do NOT purchase the Drug Screening at this time.
  • Upload all the Health and Safety Requirements to ADB.
  • The ADB team will approve/reject documents that do not meet the requirement and will leave comments on how to become compliant in your account. Please note the review process can take at least 3-5 business days.
  • Please follow these directions to transfer an ADB to SCC from another college

Items you will need to provide in ADB (please watch the orientation video to help with this): 

  • Immunizations (MMR, Varicella, Hep B, Tdap, Influenza, COVID)
  • Tuberculosis testing
  • CPR Card
  • Fingerprint card
  • Background Check (cannot be older than 6 months before the start of class)
    • When your background check is complete, you must sign and upload the PASS background check certificate to be compliant.
  • Statement of Health Clearance (cannot be older than 6 months prior to the start of class)
  • Healthcare Student Manual acknowledgment.
  • Photo ID
  • Photograph

If you have any issues or questions, please contact ADB at complio@americandatabank.com or 1-800-200-0853.

Once green in all areas except the Drug Screen, email nurse.assisting@scottsdalecc.edu to inform them you are completed so we can keep track of your progress. Students who are not compliant in ADB by the deadline will be dropped from the course.

screenshot showing all green checkmarks

 

After the ADB deadline, you will receive an email instructing you to create and pay for an account with myClinicalExchange (mCE). You must use your Maricopa email account

How to Create an Account in mCE  

Make sure you select the Nurse Assisting checklist.

After creating your mCE account, you will need to link your MCE and ADB accounts so that the approved documents in ADB transfer to mCE.

Please Note: If your documents do not all sync over, you will have to manually upload the ones that do not.

Once the application process closes and mCE deadline has been met, students will be placed into clinical rotations. If your mCE account is not compliant by the first day of class, you will be dropped from the course because we will be unable to place you in a clinical rotation.

You will receive an email with details on how to purchase and complete the random Drug Screen that will need to be completed within 48 hours. No exceptions!

It can be sent out at any point between the time you submit your application and when the class starts.

Beautiful Scottsdale Community College campus

Program Location: On the beautiful Scottsdale Community College campus at 9000 E. Chaparral Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85256.

Program Costs: Total costs for the Nurse Assisting Certificate of Completion program are $1,291.50 (estimated) for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Please note: This estimate includes textbooks, supplies, immunization fees, and nursing scrubs. The estimate may change based on tuition increases and course fees. Estimates are on tuition rates for in-county students. Additional fees may apply.

Degrees / Certificates: Nurse Assisting Certificate of Completion

Pre-Registration Requirements: Academic, health, and safety requirements must be met before registering for the Nurse Assisting Program (NUR158). Please watch our on-demand virtual information session to learn more.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please email SCC Nursing Program at nurse.assisting@scottsdalecc.edu for further information.