The goal of this project is to bridge classroom learning with real-life skill practice for Adult Workforce Education students enrolled in the Integrated Education and Training (IET) Nursing Assistant program. We plan to do this by creating a classroom-based clinical skills simulation lab that enables these students to develop, practice, and master the hands-on clinical competencies required for success on the Florida Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification exam and entry into the healthcare workforce.
This project addresses a critical need within our newly launched morning IET Nursing Assistant program. While students receive foundational instruction in healthcare concepts, medical terminology, infection control, safety procedures, and patient care techniques, many CNA skills require repeated hands-on practice using specialized equipment and patient-care models. Without access to these learning aids, students have limited opportunities to develop confidence, accuracy, and procedural fluency before taking the Florida CNA Prometric examination.
Our adult learners face an additional challenge as many are simultaneously developing English language proficiency while learning complex healthcare terminology and procedures. Visual supports, simulation experiences, and collaborative practice opportunities are essential instructional tools that help bridge language barriers while reinforcing critical clinical skills.
The project supports the learning outcomes and competencies outlined for Florida Nursing Assistant programs, including infection control, patient safety, personal care skills, restorative care, communication, and resident-centered care. Students will develop both the academic knowledge and psychomotor skills necessary to successfully complete the written and clinical components of the Florida CNA examination.
This project directly aligns with school and district priorities by:
• Expanding workforce education opportunities in high-demand career fields.
• Supporting career and technical education pathways that lead to industry-recognized credentials.
• Increasing student completion, certification attainment, and employment outcomes.
• Providing equitable access to high-quality learning experiences for adult learners, including English language learners.
• Strengthening the local healthcare workforce by preparing qualified entry-level nursing assistants.
By transforming a traditional classroom into a hands-on clinical learning environment, this project will help students move beyond memorization and develop the competence, confidence, and professionalism needed for successful workforce entry.
This project directly supports district priorities related to expanding Integrated Education and Training (IET) programs, increasing workforce credential attainment, and preparing students for employment in high-demand career fields. By creating an in-classroom clinical simulation lab, the program removes barriers to skill development, increases access to industry-aligned training, and strengthens the pipeline of qualified healthcare workers entering the local workforce. The project also supports adult learners and English language learners by integrating career preparation, academic instruction, language development, and industry-specific skills into a single workforce pathway. Although this will presently impact 14 students, as the IET CNA program grows, these resources will allow Adult Workforce Education to serve additional cohorts of students while maintaining high-quality instruction and certification preparation.
Students will actively participate in a structured cycle of instruction, demonstration, guided practice, peer collaboration, simulation, reflection, and assessment throughout the 15-week IET Nursing Assistant program.
Each clinical skill will begin with classroom instruction where students learn foundational concepts, healthcare terminology, safety procedures, and step-by-step care processes through readings, discussions, videos, demonstrations, and instructor modeling. Students will then immediately apply their learning in the classroom-based simulation lab.
Many Prometric-tested skills can be practiced on classmates; however, numerous essential CNA procedures require a full-body training mannequin. The mannequin and practice kits will allow students to repeatedly practice skills such as:
• Partial and complete bed baths
• Male and female perineal care
• Catheter care
• Positioning and transferring residents
• Measuring intake and output
• Range-of-motion exercises
• Bedpan placement and removal
• Infection control procedures
Visual instructional supports, including Principles Banners and Care Plan Practice Cards, will remain displayed throughout the simulation lab to provide constant reinforcement of proper procedures and testing expectations. Students will use these resources as reference tools while practicing independently and collaboratively.
Instructional strategies will include:
• Clinical simulation
• Demonstration and modeling
• Peer coaching and feedback
• Collaborative learning
• Skills checklists and self-assessment
• Reflective discussions
• Repeated deliberate practice
• Immediate corrective feedback
As students perform clinical skills, classmates will observe using standardized checklists and visual guides to identify strengths, provide constructive feedback, and support peer learning. This process promotes active engagement, critical thinking, communication, and self-correction.
A particularly innovative component of the project involves using Glo Germ gel and a UV light to demonstrate infection-control concepts. Students will visually observe contamination that remains after ineffective handwashing, transforming an abstract concept into a memorable learning experience.
Because the materials are durable and reusable, this simulation lab will serve future IET Nursing Assistant cohorts, creating a sustainable instructional resource that can be replicated and expanded as the program grows.
Expected Outcomes
This project will improve student learning by increasing clinical competence, confidence, certification readiness, and workforce preparedness.
Students will benefit from:
• Increased hands-on practice opportunities.
• Improved retention of healthcare concepts and procedures.
• Greater confidence when performing clinical skills.
• Enhanced understanding of infection control and patient safety.
• Increased success on written and clinical CNA examinations.
• Improved readiness for employment in healthcare settings.
The simulation lab will provide students with repeated opportunities to apply classroom learning in realistic patient-care scenarios. Through practice, reflection, and feedback, students will develop muscle memory and procedural accuracy that are essential for successful clinical performance.
The project will be considered successful if the following measurable outcomes are achieved:
• 100% of enrolled IET CNA students participate in simulation lab activities.
• 100% of students demonstrate proficiency in all Prometric-tested clinical skills using program assessment rubrics.
• 100% of students apply for the Florida CNA state certification examination before completing the 15-week program.
• Students score 80% or higher on CNA written practice assessments.
• The program achieves a 90% first-attempt pass rate on the clinical skills portion of the Florida CNA examination.
• The program maintains a 100% course completion rate for enrolled students.
Evidence of impact will include:
• Skills competency checklists
• Clinical skills performance assessments
• Written practice test results
• Student reflections and self-assessments
• Instructor observations
• Certification application data
• CNA examination pass-rate data
• Employment and workforce-entry outcomes when available
These measures will provide both quantitative and qualitative evidence that students are developing the knowledge, technical skills, and confidence necessary to succeed in healthcare careers.
Purpose of Funding
The requested funding of $950.11 will establish a cost-effective clinical skills simulation lab that directly supports student learning, certification attainment, and workforce readiness. The sources for this items include 4yourCNA.com ($605.21 of the total) and Amazon.com (the remaining $344.90). Although the initial cohort includes 14 adult learners, all requested materials are durable, reusable resources that will continue to benefit future IET Nursing Assistant classes for years to come, significantly increasing the long-term impact of the investment.
Each requested item serves a specific instructional purpose:
Principles Banners ($225.00)
• Provide permanent visual reinforcement of CNA procedures and testing requirements.
• Support visual learners and English language learners.
• Promote independent learning and self-correction during practice sessions.
Care Plan Practice Cards ($45.99)
• Reinforce patient-care procedures and critical thinking.
• Support collaborative learning, review activities, and skills practice.
Four Practice Kits ($299.96)
• Provide authentic patient-care supplies necessary for repeated practice of Prometric-tested skills.
• Allow students to develop proficiency using the same types of materials they will encounter during certification testing and employment.
UV Flashlight ($8.99) and Glo Germ Gel ($35.92)
• Create engaging, hands-on infection-control demonstrations.
• Increase student understanding of proper handwashing techniques and disease prevention.
Full-Body Medical Training Mannequin ($299.99)
• Serves as the cornerstone of the simulation lab.
• Allows students to safely practice sensitive and complex procedures that cannot be performed on classmates.
• Builds confidence and competency in real-world patient-care situations.
The total investment represents an approximate cost of $68 per current student, while also creating a REUSABLE instructional resource that will benefit future cohorts and significantly expand the impact of the grant over time. By providing authentic clinical learning experiences within the classroom, these materials will directly support student achievement, CNA certification success, and entry into high-demand healthcare careers.
