What to Expect on Your First Day of CNA Class
Updated: Oct 17
A walk-through of the first session of our Nursing Assistant program — what to bring, how the hybrid schedule works, and what you will actually do in the lab.
The first day of any healthcare class is nerve-wracking, especially if it has been a while since you were last in a classroom. Here is exactly what the first session of our Nursing Assistant program looks like, so you can walk in knowing what is coming.
Before you arrive
Bring a government-issued photo ID and a notebook. Wear closed-toe shoes — you will be in the skills lab before lunch, and open shoes are not allowed in the clinical area. Scrubs are welcome but not required on day one; you will get the dress code details in orientation.
If you have not already uploaded your completed enrollment agreement and photo ID through the online application, bring printed copies. We cannot let you into the lab without them on file.
How the hybrid schedule works
The 120-hour Nursing Assistant program is split between online theory and on-campus skills. Most of the lecture content — anatomy, infection control, patient rights, communication — you complete online at your own pace, with weekly deadlines that keep the cohort together. The on-campus hours are where you learn the hands-on skills: taking vitals, safe transfer, feeding, bathing, and bed-making.
On day one we show you the online platform, confirm you can log in, and walk through the weekly rhythm so you know exactly when each module is due.
The first lab session
After the orientation block, you go straight to the skills lab. We start with the two things every CNA does on every shift: hand hygiene and putting on personal protective equipment correctly. You will practice both until they are automatic, because the state exam and every employer will expect them to be.
You will also meet the manikins and the training equipment you will use throughout the program. Nothing on day one is graded — it is about getting comfortable in the space and with the instructors before the real skills work begins.
What the instructors expect from you
Show up on time for every on-campus session — clinical hours are state-required and cannot be made up informally.
Keep up with the online modules; falling behind is the single biggest reason students struggle.
Ask questions the moment something is unclear. In healthcare, guessing is dangerous, and we would rather hear the same question five times than have a student stay silent.
After day one
By the end of the first session you will have your online login, your schedule for the full program, and your first week of assignments. Most students leave relieved — the program is serious, but it is built to be doable for someone who has never worked in healthcare before.
If you are still deciding whether Nursing Assistant is the right starting point, read our comparison of the four main healthcare paths, or call us at 904-375-2940 to sit in on an information session.
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