|
ACHP Course Information
Mission |
Enrollment |
The Process |
Points
System | Course Descriptions
| Course Catalog
MISSION AND
PRINCIPLES
The Academy has an obligation to the student and the
elderly who rely on their devotion and service to long term care.
The Academy endeavors to provide educational and personal growth
that enables the students to reach their maximum potential and have
a greater understanding of the long term care profession, the
elderly and the aging process.
ACHP’s Academy of Certified Health Professionals (ACHP) is the
first of its kind, offering continuing educational programs and
opportunities for Certified Nursing Assistants and other workers in
health care. The Academy
presents the chance for students to broaden their personal and
professional knowledge and skills.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The Academy endorses and practices the principles of equal
education and employment opportunities for all persons regardless of
race, color, sex, sexual preference, religion, ancestry, actual
origin, age, or non-job related handicap in the educational program
it operates. ACHP’s educational programs are designed to blend
various educational opportunities so that each participant gains the
maximum knowledge, with points and a certificate being assigned as
each individual course is completed. This system is a self directed
career path incorporating correspondence courses and/or on-line
educational workshops. This mix of education allows for flexibility
and ease of access. It is also easy to manage and document.
Education is central to your success as a professional Nursing
Assistant and to our success as your Association. The staff at ACHP
would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time
to review the educational programs available and for taking the time
to invest in yourself and your future!
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment in the Academy of Certified Health Professionals
may be independent or through the employer. Enrollment in the
Professional Points System is automatic for eligible ACHP
students. To enroll in ACHP simply complete the enrollment form for
your first ACHP course.
If you are a ACHP student, this will automatically enroll you in ACHP’s Professional Points System. This program was designed to
blend various educational opportunities so that each participant
gains the maximum knowledge each year, with points and certificates
being assigned as each individual course are completed.
ACHP has established eligibility requirements that must be met in
order to be considered eligible for the Professional Points System.
Nursing Assistants must:
• Be a Certified Nursing Assistant (or equivalent)
• Be in good standing with appropriate state registry
Each course is assigned a point value. Points are awarded upon
successful completion of that course. Some courses include
workbooks, study guides and a list of optional, yet suggested
reading. Some programs have audiocassette companions. Students will
be awarded a certificate of completion for each program upon meeting
the completion requirements.
RECORD KEEPING
ACHP will maintain records of completed courses for students. All
fees (if applicable) must be paid in full before program points will
be registered and a certificate of completion issued.
ACHP — The Process
The courses in the Academy of Certified Health Professionals
are of two types: Clinical (related to the hands-on caregiving role
and the aging individual) and Professional Development (courses
related to personal/professional growth and development). There is a
variety of course topics with a progressive level of difficulty.
Each course is ranked based on complexity, subject matter, and time
requirements.
To determine course difficulty follow the legend below, one pencil
courses are the least difficult and three pencils indicate the most
complex courses:
 Introductory
Course
Intermediate
Course
Advanced
Course
Active participation and completion of this program will provide
both tangible and non-tangible benefits. The tangible benefits
include ACHP incentives. The nontangible rewards will differ from
one professional Nursing Assistant to another. For example, some
will feel a sense of accomplishment when they complete the program.
Still others will gain a greater sense of control because of their
increased knowledge. Regardless of the rewards, knowledge is power
and leads to maximum individual growth.
The courses, both Clinical and Professional Development, have a
designated course number. The course numbers are grouped according
to subject matter. The classes with strictly numerical course
numbers are subject to requirements of taking the lower level or
lower numbered courses before taking the higher numbered courses.
For example, all the course numbers in the 100s must be taken before
moving on to the 200s. All the 200 level classes must be completed
before enrolling in 300 level classes, etc.
Whether taking the course on-line or through correspondence all
outlined requirements of the class must be met before a certificate
of completion will be granted. Upon successful completion of each class a
certificate will be issued for that specific course. For NAHCA
members, some educational opportunities will appear in each issue of
NAHCA News, the Association newspaper. All other educational
opportunities are available for purchase.
Each course is assigned a point value based on the curriculum
difficulty. The points are awarded upon completion of each required
course. ACHP has developed incentives or rewards for those
individuals completing courses and achieving points reaching
specified
goals.
Upon earning certain numbers of points, ACHP will issue a
certificate with a title of distinction equivalent to that plateau
achieved. An incentive from ACHP will be awarded to individual
students not enrolled in the Virtual Campus but requests to receive
correspondence course. After
enrollment the desired course(s) should be selected and ordered by
mail or fax. When ordering educational courses be sure to have the
course title, course number and
ACHP Membership Number.
The
Professional Points System is as follows:
Title of Distinction Points Required
Skilled Nursing Assistant 100*
Advanced Nursing Assistant 200*
Proficient Nursing Assistant 300*
Scholar Nursing Assistant 400*
*There must be an equal balance of classes. At least one half of
required points must be clinical and one half professional
development. For each level achieved, an incentive will be rewarded
to the student from ACHP.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ACHP’s educational courses encompass both
clinical and professional development topics. Across this broad
range of topics are courses with a variety of formats and degrees of
difficulty; so there is a course for everyone, from the adult
learner who has been “out of school” for many years, to the nursing
assistant who is just out of training or taking
other classes.
CDS (Clinical Development Series)—
These courses are clinical in content, including human anatomy and
physiology, age related changes and disorders and disease process.
The degree of difficulty is one pencil (.) or introductory level,
the least difficult. Naturally, these courses are less time
consuming than those with a greater degree of difficulty.
Each of the courses with a CDS before the course number will include
a ten question multiple choice exam to gauge effectiveness,
retention and comprehension of the course material.
PDC (Professional Development Curriculum)—
ACHP course numbers preceded by the letters PDS indicate a module
with a topic and content to enhance both personal and professional
growth. These courses are accompanied by a brief audiocassette
companion. The degree of difficulty is one pencil (.) or
introductory level, the least difficult. Again, these courses are
less time consuming than those with a greater degree of difficulty.
The course examination will consist of a combination of multiple
choice and true/
false questions.
A—Audiocassette courses (those course numbers beginning with
the letter A) are modules in which the primary content is delivered
through audiocassette tape. These courses are also accompanied by a
short workbook. The subject matter is predominantly motivational in
nature,
however also includes topics and information for personal and
professional growth. These courses are introductory, one pencil (.),
or the least difficult. The course exam will include multiple choice
and true/false questions.
SP—Special courses/programs dealing with a
variety of topics and subject content and presented in an array of
formats begin with SP on the course number. These modules are have
varying degrees of difficulty. The examinations will include short
answer, multiple choice, true/false and essay questions.
CP—Certified Preceptor courses, those course numbers
beginning with CP, instruct CNAs, or equivalent, on how to be the
best trainer, coach and mentor possible to new nursing assistants.
These courses have an intermediate difficulty rating (..). The
course examination is made up of a combination of short answer,
multiple choice, true/false and essay questions.
100 Level Courses—Course numbers in the 100s,
such as 150, 175, etc. are introductory
level courses (.) in terms of difficulty, but are more time
consuming than the other
introductory level courses; thus they are awarded more Professional
Points upon completion based on time requirements. These courses
include both clinical and professional development topics and
content. The final course examination includes short answer,
multiple choice, true/false and essay questions. Courses with 100
course numbers must be completed before
200 level courses may be taken.
200 Level Courses—Classes with course numbers
in the 200s, such as 201, 250, etc. are intermediate level courses
(..) related to difficulty therefore are awarded more Professional
Points upon completion of course requirements than introductory
level courses (.). These courses include both clinical and
professional development topics and content. The final course
examination includes short answer, multiple choice, true/false and
essay questions. Courses with 200 course numbers must be completed
before 300 level courses may be taken.
300 Level Courses—These educational courses
with course numbers in the 300s, such as 315, 380, etc. are
intermediate level courses (..) related to difficulty therefore are
awarded more Professional Points upon completion of course
requirements than introductory level courses (.). These courses
include both clinical and professional development topics and
content. The final course examination includes short answer,
multiple choice, true/false and essay questions. Courses with 300
course numbers must be completed before 400 level courses may be
taken.
400 and 500 Level Courses—These courses are
rated advanced, or three pencils (...). These classes will take more
time to study and complete the requirements outlined for that
course. Modules with a course number in the 400s or 500s, such as
430, 450 or 501, are awarded more Professional Points upon
completion due to the complexity of the material. These courses
include both clinical and professional development topics and
material.
All courses are available both online and in
correspondence format. Occasionally these programs may be presented
in person by a NAHCA associate. Enrollment in the Geriatric Care
Specialist Course (Course Number 501) may be at any time, without
having taken the lower numbered courses. All other courses are
subject to completing the lower level courses first.
|
