The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Bureau of Career and Technical Education, is responsible for approving nurse aide training programs in Pennsylvania (PA) including the curriculum, instructional staff, and program delivery. Should an approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program (NATCEP) or applicant for a new program wish to deliver the theory/classroom component in a web-based/online/blended (virtual) format, the program must meet all the requirements as established for a NATCEP. The calendar and lesson plans must include the PA model curriculum objectives, instructional methodology, and assessment of learning. Completion of all required documentation is necessary whether instruction is delivered in person or virtually.
Nursing procedures/skills are a critical component of a NATCEP and if presented virtually, the student is required to competently demonstrate all skills in person in the presence of a PDE-approved instructor in an approved laboratory setting prior to resident contact, i.e., clinical.
The Commonwealth/PDE does not endorse any specific vendor nurse aide training program. However, vendor curriculum content and hours must be reviewed and approved by PDE prior to use by an approved NATCEP. Locally developed and/or vendor virtual training must include PA Curriculum Content[1] as required by federal OBRA of 1987[2] and PA Act 14 of 1997[3].
To obtain PDE-approval for virtual delivery of the theory/classroom component of a PDE-approved nurse aide training program, the NATCEP must:
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Step 1
Submit a New Program Application or Report of Change for virtual theory curriculum delivery to PDE for review and approval.
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Step 2
Submit for approval a NATCEP program calendar and lesson plans that incorporate virtual learning. If using an online vendor nurse aide training, the program’s calendar and lesson plans must clearly indicate the PA curriculum objectives that are not covered by the online vendor and indicate how instruction of those PA objectives will be incorporated into the delivery.
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Step 3
Ensure a means for student questions to be addressed in an efficient and timely manner during virtual delivery.
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Step 4
Maintain attendance records that provide evidence of each student’s completion of the approved virtual theory/classroom, and in-person lab and clinical hours.
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Step 5
Complete an individualized Performance Checklist for each student.
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Step 6
Maintain evidence of periodic knowledge assessment and test integrity.
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Step 7
Maintain evidence of each student’s demonstrated competency of each skill in the presence of a PDE-approved instructor and ensure that no student will perform any skill/task in clinical for which they have not first been deemed competent by the PDE-approved instructor, as required by federal OBRA.
[1] Nurse Aide Training Program | Department of Education | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
[2] eCFR :: 42 CFR 483.152 -- Requirements for approval of a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program.
[3] Act of Jun. 9, 1997,P.L. 169, No. 14 Cl. 24 - NURSE AIDE RESIDENT ABUSE PREVENTION TRAINING ACT