How to Create a Syllabus for Your CNA Program

If you are preparing to teach a CNA course, one of the most important elements to share with your students is the syllabus. The syllabus provides students with a bird’s-eye view of what to expect in your course. In this article, we will share with you the elements of syllabus creation to ensure you create a well-rounded and informative syllabus.

How can students contact the school or the instructor?

At the very top of the syllabus, ensure you have the name of your school, the address, the website, and the name of the course. This helps students ensure they are reading the correct document, especially if they are taking another course. Also, under the header ensure you have your instructor contact information. Items such as the instructor’s name, phone number, email, and office hours should be present. This helps students plan if they need to contact you for any questions or concerns. You may also want to provide the contact for the program director, as students may have issues they want to speak with another person about.

When do students show up for class or clinical?

A very important element of the syllabus is the course hours. Often, a nurse aide training program may have very different hours for the class and the clinical rotation. Providing the hours for each portion of the course, along with information on mid-point or make-up days, is very helpful for students so they can plan their lives.

What will students learn?

Every syllabus should contain a program description. Often the instructor can take for granted the knowledge they have. One must remember that students may be new to the idea of healthcare and understanding what they are going to learn throughout the course can be helpful to them. The program description usually includes information like what the student will learn, what type of certificate they will achieve, certification eligibility they have after completion of the course, and of course what type of jobs they can expect to obtain in the field. There should also be an area labeled “Program Outcomes.” This helps students understand what goals they are to achieve in the course.

What does the student need for the course?

 There should be an area on the syllabus that advises students what they need to be successful in the course. An example of this would be information on the textbook, workbook, and any other items such as closed-toe leather shoes or a pen and pad. This will help your students efficiently prepare for the course.

What grade will students need to pass the class?

 A part of being successful in a course is to understand what is required to pass. There should be an area on the syllabus that provides the grade scale along with tests and/or assignments students will have. It is also often required that you present to students the different types of instructional methods you will use in the course. All people learn differently and learning early on what teaching methods you will use will be helpful to students.

If you are a visual person and would like to view a video that provides you the step-by-step process of creating a syllabus, please see our video HERE. Our YouTube channel is filled with wonderful how-to videos to help you be successful in your teaching endeavors.

Ready to adopt our book for your CNA training program? Contact us HERE for more info. We are glad to help you take the lead on online learning today.

This blog was written by Victoria Randle MSN, NP-C, a CNA instructor and healthcare school startup consultant, owner of The Secret Cocktail®