Nursing

Nurse Aide I

Nurse Aide I, offered as an occupational preparation course beginning at the 11th-grade level, is regulated under the Virginia Board of Nursing. It emphasizes the study of nursing occupations as related to the healthcare system. Students study growth and development across the lifespan, simple body structure and function, and medical terminology. They are introduced to concepts of infection prevention and disease processes. Students receive entry-level skill training in patient-nurse aide relationships; measuring and recording of vital signs; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and general patient care. Work-based learning may be offered as part of this course. The Nurse Aide I course introduces students to careers in nursing, health professions, and STEM-H professions. Students must maintain American Heart Association's Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) & Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) training during this course.

Nurse Aide II

Nurse Aide II is an occupational preparation course emphasizing body systems and diseases as related to advanced clinical care of the acute medical-surgical patient, the chronically ill, and the elderly. Students receive skills training and hands-on clinical experiences in a healthcare setting. Work-based learning in a healthcare facility is part of the course. Students must maintain American Heart Association's Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) & Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) training during this course. This course requires students to meet the Virginia Board of Nursing required clock hours to be eligible to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam. Additionally, this course includes the approved opiate competencies for health and medical sciences education.

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Contextual instruction and student participation in co-curricular career and technical student organization (CTSO) activities will develop leadership, interpersonal, and career skills. High-quality work-based learning (HQWBL) will provide experiential learning opportunities related to students' career goals and/or interests, integrated with instruction, and performed in partnership with local businesses and organizations.

Note: Board-approved programs must maintain regulatory compliance for all enrolled students. For students to be considered graduates of any approved program, the program must be completed in entirety to include both classroom and clinical portions of the program. Further, pursuant to regulation (18VAC90-26-50 (C)(3)), clinical must include a minimum of 40 hours of direct client care. Hours of observation shall not be included in the required 40 hours of clinical training. Simulation/lab does not count as direct client care clinical experiences.

Note: Some healthcare facilities that accept federal funding (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid) may require criminal background checks and drug screens for students participating in a clinical experience. An updated immunization record will be required prior to the student participating in the clinical experience.

Virginia Department of Health Professions, Board of Nursing, Guidance Documents

Virginia Department of Health Professions, Board of Nursing, Nurse Aide Education Program Applications and Forms  

Reference for tasks noted as required by the Virginia Board of Nursing regulation:

Virginia Department of Health Professions, Board of Nursing, Regulations for Nurse Aide Programs

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Shijuan L. McKinney, MSN, RN, is a highly accomplished nurse educator, leader, and military veteran with more than 20 years of experience in nursing practice, higher education, and healthcare training. A proud graduate of Florida A&M University (FAMU), a distinguished HBCU, she earned her Bachelor ofScience in Nursing, cum laude, before completing her Master of Science in Nursing with a specializationin Nursing Education at Walden University. She later advanced her academic journey in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program in Higher Education Leadership, completing all but dissertation toward her doctoral coursework with excellence. She is a certified forensic nurse, certified dementia care practitioner, and certified basic live support instructor.

Shijuan’s career reflects a powerful combination of clinical expertise and frontline service. As a U.S.
Army Nurse, she deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing care on a 20-bed Medical-
Surgical Intermediate Care Ward at Camp Cropper in Iraq. There, she treated coalition forces,
contractors, and detainees under challenging and often dangerous wartime conditions, while also
serving as Charge Nurse leading teams of medics, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses. Her
distinguished service earned her multiple honors, including the Army Commendation Medal, Iraqi
Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Over the course of her civilian and military nursing career, Shijuan has held roles ranging from clinical
staff nurse and faculty coordinator to simulation director, professor, and board of nursing state
inspector for nursing education programs. Her expertise spans nursing education, dementia and
memory care training, simulation learning, regulatory compliance, and faculty development. She has
led large-scale training initiatives, developed curricula across degree levels, and served in key leadership
roles at institutions including Rasmussen College, ECPI University, and Joyce University.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Shijuan is deeply rooted in her role as a military wife and
proud mother of two children. She has balanced the demands of service and career with her
commitment to family, embodying resilience, leadership, and dedication both at home and in her
profession. She is also the published author of Faith, Family, and Autism: A Bible Study for Parents
Seeking God’s Guidance. The book was inspired by her firsthand experience navigating the journey of
diagnosing and finding resources for her own child with autism, and it now serves as a source of
encouragement and guidance for other parents of both diagnosed and undiagnosed
neurodevelopmental children.

Today, Shijuan continues to advance nursing education and healthcare standards through leadership,
innovation, and advocacy. Her journey, rooted in her HBCU education, enriched by two decades of
nursing experience, and shaped by her roles as a veteran, wife, and mother of two school-age children,
is a testament to her lifelong dedication to protecting, educating, and empowering others. She is also
the founder of McKinney Academy for Careers, a specialized educational institution dedicated to
empowering future professionals, one career at a time. The Academy offers pre-college programs for
middle school students, high schoolers, and recent graduates, providing high-quality training that
bridges the gap between secondary education and college readiness. With an initial focus on nursing
and additional pre-college programs in development, McKinney Academy for Careers aims to set the
national standard for pre-college institutions by equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and
confidence needed for academic and professional success.

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