Build specialized care skills through compelling story-driven scenarios featuring real healthcare challenges. This course uses cinematic storytelling to immerse you in the advanced responsibilities of CNA work, helping you understand what it takes to care for people with complex medical conditions.



Job Demand, Essential Technical Skills, & Dementia Care
This course is part of Exploring the Role of the Certified Nursing Assistant Specialization

Instructor: Melissa Mills
Included with
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Explore specialized care techniques for people with respiratory, cardiovascular, diabetes, and dementia conditions through patient stories.
Understand end-of-life care, including hospice support, the five stages of grief, and how to provide compassionate care for patients and families.
Learn communication techniques for people with cognitive impairment, including redirection, validation, and managing behavioral changes.
Skills you'll gain
- Patient-centered Care
- Hand Hygiene
- Basic Nursing Skills
- Psychiatric And Mental Health Nursing
- Dignity in Care
- Vital Signs
- Nursing Homes
- Family Support
- Communication Strategies
- Geriatrics
- Hospice
- Health Care
- Chronic Diseases
- Long Term Care
- Nutrition and Diet
- Behavior Management
- Basic Patient Care
- Nursing Care
- Caregiving
- Patient Education and Support
Details to know

Add to your LinkedIn profile
3 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Build your subject-matter expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course
This module explores the growing demand for CNAs and introduces you to specialized care for people with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. You'll meet Frank, an older adult living with COPD and heart failure, and follow his journey as his health changes. Through Frank's story, you'll learn to recognize signs of heart and lung conditions, understand vital caregiving skills, and discover how CNAs provide person-centered care and family support during challenging times.
What's included
7 videos3 readings
This module explores the physical and emotional changes that come with aging, and how CNAs provide supportive care as health status shifts. You'll learn about normal age-related changes, how to observe and report concerning symptoms, and the importance of honoring individual preferences and choices. The module also covers hospice and palliative care—approaches focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life when cure is no longer the goal. Through Frank's continuing journey, you'll discover how CNAs support people and their families during life's final chapter.
What's included
18 videos8 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts
This module covers the unique care needs of people living with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. You'll learn about the progressive nature of the condition and care strategies you can use when providing care to individuals. You'll also meet Stuart and his family and watch how they navigate through his care needs and challenges.
What's included
22 videos6 readings1 assignment3 discussion prompts
This module covers the unique care needs of people with diabetes. You'll learn about the function of the endocrine system, the signs and symptoms of diabetes, and how obesity can impact the condition.
What's included
18 videos4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
In this module, you'll complete the second course project in this specialization. This project will help you reflect on on your caregiving aspirations and define your ideal CNA job.
What's included
1 ungraded lab
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructor

Offered by
Explore more from Personal Development
Status: Free TrialCinematic Health
Status: PreviewUniversity of Toronto
Status: Free TrialCinematic Health
Status: Free TrialCinematic Health
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Frequently asked questions
No. This is a career exploration course, not a state-approved CNA certification program. While you'll learn about nursing assistant responsibilities, patient care skills, and healthcare settings, this course does not replace the hands-on clinical training and classroom hours required for CNA certification. To become a certified nursing assistant, you must complete a state-approved CNA training program that includes supervised clinical practice and pass your state's certification exam. This course helps you understand the CNA role and guides you in researching local training programs as part of your personalized career plan.
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
More questions
Financial aid available,

