Louisiana CNA Course Curriculum
Instructor-led curriculum design
A complete instructor-led nurse aide curriculum: 12 modules, 100 instructional hours, and exam preparation mapped to the Louisiana competency test — classroom, skills lab, and supervised clinical, built for entry-level CNAs.
Project overview
- Audience
- Entry-level nurse aide learners
- Format
- Instructor-led: classroom, skills lab, and supervised clinical
- Hours
- 100 instructional hours plus a 4-hour clinical-site orientation
- Exam alignment
- Louisiana competency test — Prometric or LCTCS pathway
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The need
New nurse aides need more than a textbook. They need structured teaching, observed practice, and exam readiness before they ever touch a resident. Louisiana requires a minimum of 80 hours (40 classroom, 40 clinical). This course delivers 100 instructional hours plus a separate 4-hour clinical-site orientation.
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Who it is for
Entry-level nurse aide learners preparing for Louisiana nurse aide competency testing, through the Prometric or LCTCS pathway.
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How it is designed
Twelve modules, mapped to the Prometric Louisiana exam domains
- Role, rights, communication4 theory hours
- Infection prevention4 theory, 2 lab
- Safety and emergency response4 theory, 2 lab
- Independence and person-centered care4 theory
- Hygiene and skin care4 theory, 4 lab
- Nutrition and hydration3 theory, 2 lab
- Elimination and catheter care3 theory, 2 lab
- Mobility and restorative care3 theory, 4 lab
- Measurements and documentation4 theory, 2 lab
- Changes in health and escalation3 theory
- Dementia and psychosocial care2 theory
- End of life and integrated readiness2 theory, 2 lab
Hours
40 theory, 20 skills laboratory, 40 supervised clinical across five 8-hour days, plus 4 hours of site orientation. Suggested pace: 3 weeks.
Readiness gate
The first 16 foundation hours — communication, infection control, safety, rights — must be complete, with safety demonstrations passed, before any resident contact.
Assessment is a system, not one test
Module teach-backs and scenario responses; observed skill checkoffs; a 22-task skills tracking grid; an original 60-question practice examination with a keyed rationale for every item (90 minutes, 80 percent benchmark); a mock skills circuit; a clinical performance record; and daily clinical evaluations.
Safety and remediation are built in
A seven-dimension performance rubric (preparation, communication, privacy and choice, infection prevention, physical safety, task accuracy, completion), a safety stop rule that ends any unsafe attempt, and a remediation pathway that refers the learner to the RN coordinator after two unsuccessful reassessments.
Exam alignment
The Prometric Louisiana knowledge examination (60 questions, 90 minutes) and clinical test (three assigned tasks plus handwashing and indirect care), with modules mapped to all five exam domains.
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Teaching outcome
Across three classes, 46 CNAs completed the course and passed the test.
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Status — please read
This is a curriculum and teaching companion, not an LDH-approved training program. Before use for initial certification, the program coordinator maps it to the chosen LDH curriculum template, secures program approval, and approves local clinical procedures. Completion of this curriculum alone does not confer CNA certification.
My role: curriculum developer and LPN instructor (subject to verification); RN coordination is required.
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Deliverables
- Twelve module teaching plans with measurable objectives, activities, and checks for understanding
- An exam-domain map and the full published skills pool with links to official performance checklists
- A five-day clinical plan with readiness criteria, remediation steps, and reusable tracking forms
- An original 60-question practice examination with an answer key and a rationale for every item