Micro-certification modules are provided by CUSP approved entities. These micro-certification modules are available on-line and are easily accessible across all electronic platforms. The CUSP provided education ensures uniform learning standards are achieved by all students. Uniform micro-certification guarantees that each CNA has achieved the minimum skill set for each level and that each level is recognized and transferable among all California employers participating in the program.

CNAs can assist in decreasing staff turnover during the first 90 days of employment by serving as a teacher, mentor and coach for the newest members of your team. This course is designed to equip CNAs with the tools necessary to serve as a bridge to help get the new staff through that critical phase of initial employment. They can also assist students who are conducting clinical rotations in the facility.

• Preceptor course provided by APEX Talent Partners

• Cost $99

• Self-paced 8-12hour online training. The typical amount of time it takes a learner to complete the Preceptor course is 2-3 weeks. During this time the learner is asked to apply the concepts they are learning to their day-to-day routine for some of the modules’ exercises.

• Essay responses are required for each Module and are graded by the APEX Talent Partners staff, who give feedback to the learner based on their responses.

• The Certified Preceptor program will provide the participants with the information, tools, and techniques necessary to improve the orientation, training, and mentoring functions within the long-term care environment. Learners grasp of each of the core concepts will be measured by their responses to various quizzes and written responses. Ultimate success will be measured by correctly responding to the examination at the conclusion of the course. Participants must achieve a minimum score of 70% to be awarded the title of Certified Preceptor.

• Course Objectives:

  • Identify the causes of short-and long term CNAs.

  • Discuss the benefits of increased retention

  • Explore the factors that distinguish a successful orientation compared to one with room for improvement.

  • List the characteristics of a successful Preceptor.

  • Complete the Attitude Adjustment Scale.

  • Evaluate the impact of attitude upon the orientation and retention processes.

  • Examine the effects of communication on training and retention.

  • Discuss the nature of passive and active listening.

  • Define the role of Mentor.

  • Describe techniques for motivating self and others.

• It is part of care to ensure that all residents receive nursing interventions that promote the resident’s ability to adapt and adjust to living as independently and safely as possible. This concept actively focuses on achieving and maintaining optimal physical, mental and psychosocial functioning. The purpose of the Restorative Nurse Assistant (RNA), is to interact with the resident and provide skill practice that will improve and maintain function in physical abilities and activities of daily living and prevent further impairment.
  • RNA course provided by APEX Talent Partners
  • Cost $149
  • Self-paced 8-12 hours online, and 6 hours in person training and satisfactory return demonstration of skill competencies.
  • Course Objectives (sample):
    • Understand the scope of service of the RNP (Restorative Nursing Program).
    • Review OBRA and Title 22 regulations related to the RNP.
    • Verbalize an understanding of admission and discharge criteria for the RNP.
    • Understand major muscle groups.
    • Understand three characteristics of the normal aging process.
    • Understand common medical problems/pathologies addressed by the RNP.
    • Identify cueing systems and useful compensatory strategies associated with dementia
    • Understand the difference between sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
    • Verbalize/write three communication strategies to use post CVA
    • Demonstrate use of adaptive devices to assist with self-feeding
    • Demonstrate/verbalize/write three aids to facilitating a safe swallow.

The CARES® Dementia Basics™ Online Training Program provides caregivers with the core or “basic” information needed for dementia care. It focuses on person-centered care, the changes that happen to thinking skills as dementia progresses, how those changes impact behavior, and how to understand behavior as communication. It also includes an entire module on the CARES® Approach, a person-centered, easy-to-remember approach to care for any person in any situation and at any level of dementia thinking decline. The letters in CARES stand for: Connect with the Person, Assess Behavior, Respond Appropriately, Evaluate What Works, and Share with Others.

• Dementia Basics is provided by HealthCare Interactive CARES®.
• Cost, when taken with specialization IVa or IVb is $159 total, curriculum and CEUs included.
• Self-paced, 4-hour online training and satisfactory return demonstration of skill competencies.
• Course objectives (sample):
  After the course the student will:
  • Describe person-centered care
  • List three examples of how to learn more about a person with dementia
  • List four thinking skills affected by dementia
  • Identify activities that a person can do in each stage of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • List three ways you can change your approach or the environment to help a person with dementia to have a good day.
  • Identify three strategies you can use to respond to dementia-related behavior.
  • List two ways that using the CARES Approach can improve life for a person with dementia.

The Behavioral Health Specialty training provides CNAs with skills to identify and respond to issues involving resident mental health (diagnoses such as: major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder) is critical, both to quality of care and to staff safety. CNAs first learn the CARES® 5-step method to respond to dementia-related behavior and challenging situations. The CARES® Serious Mental Illness™ Online Training Program focuses on care strategies for those with serious mental illness and how it differs from dementia. CNA’s with increased skill make a difference and impact the quality of resident’s lives.

• Behavioral Health Specialty is provided by HealthCare Interactive CARES®.
• Cost, when taken with pre-requisite CARES® Dementia Basics™ is $159 total, curriculum and CEUs included.
• Self-paced, total 8-hour online training and satisfactory return demonstration of skill competencies.
• Training time 8 – 10 hours, includes:
  • Dementia Care Basics™ (4, 1-hour modules) – see above “pre-requisite”
  • Behavioral Health Specialty (4, 1-hour modules)
    • This program describes the 4 major types of serious mental illness (SMI), how SMI differs from Alzheimer’s and dementia, and how you can develop care strategies for those with SMI.

Course Objectives (sample):

• After the course the student will be able to:
  • Define serious mental illness
  • Describe the major SMI categories
  • Identify differences between SMI and Dementia
  • Discuss the challenges of living with a serious mental illness
  • Recognize the perspectives of people

The CARES® Activities of Daily™ Living 4-Hour Online Training Program focuses on understanding each stage of dementia and how to respond to the changes that each stage presents while assisting someone living with dementia with activities of daily living (ADL). This program features dressing, eating, using the bathroom, and mobility, transferring and positioning. CNAs first learn the CARES® 5-step method to respond to dementia-related behavior and challenging situations.
This program does not attempt to teach better skills in performing these activities of daily living. Instead, it focuses directly on how care must change when caring for someone living with dementia. Very small changes in how care ADL care is provided make the total difference in having a pleasant, successful experience vs. possibly getting yelled at, sworn at, bitten, or even punched.

• CARES® Activities of Daily™ Living 4-hour training is provided by HealthCare Interactive CARES®.
• Cost, when taken with pre-requisite CARES® Dementia Basics™ is $159 total, curriculum and CEUs included.
• Self-paced, total 8-hour online training and satisfactory return demonstration of skill competencies.
• Training time 8 – 10 hours, includes:
• Dementia Care Basics™ (4, 1-hour modules) – see above “pre-requisite”
• Activities of Daily™ Living (4, 1-hour modules)
  • This program focuses on the activities of daily living (ADLs) across all levels of thinking decline (early-stage to late-stage) in the challenging care areas of eating, toileting, and bathing. 

Course objectives (sample):
After the course the student will be able to:

• Describe ways to make a person with dementia feel more comfortable getting dressed.
• Understand how eating abilities change at the different stages of dementia.
• Consider the impact of dementia when caring for other chronic illnesses.
• List two reasons why it’s important to help a person with dementia continue to use the toilet as independently as possible.
• Describe how proper transferring and positioning are important to the health and well-being of people.

CUSP facilities will have a licensed nurse overseeing each program level to ensure CNAs’ have provided a satisfactory return skill demonstration and that the intent and integrity of each program level is incorporated into the facility day-to-day workplace culture and care delivery protocol.

• Level II – Preceptor cost $99, curriculum and CEUs included.
• Level III – Restorative Nursing Assistant cost $99, curriculum and CEUs included.
• Level IVa – Dementia Specialty: CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method (pre-requisite course) + CARES® Activities of Daily Living. Supervisor training is discounted to $359 each. Curriculum and materials with CEUs are included. (10-12 hours)
• Level IVa – Behavioral Health: CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method (pre-requisite course) + CARES® Behavioral Health Specialty. Supervisor training is discounted to $359 each. Curriculum and materials with CEUs ar
• Level IVb – Dementia Specialty: CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method (pre-requisite course) + CARES® Activities of Daily Living. Supervisor training is discounted to $359 each. Curriculum and materials with CEUs are included. (10-12 hours)e included. (10-12 hours)