When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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
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.
You'll explore care techniques for people with respiratory and cardiovascular problems, diabetes and obesity, and various stages of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Through the stories of Frank, Stuart, and Martha, you'll learn essential skills, including oxygen therapy assistance, specimen collection, diabetic foot care, and communication strategies for people experiencing cognitive changes. You'll also examine critical topics like infection control, end-of-life care, grief support, and legal and ethical responsibilities.
What makes this course unique is our immersive approach to sensitive topics. Rather than abstract concepts, you'll witness realistic scenarios showing how CNAs navigate challenging situations—from managing behavioral changes and wandering to supporting families through hospice care. You'll develop the professional skills needed for therapeutic communication, cultural competency, and essential self-care techniques when working with diverse patient populations.
By the end of this course, you'll understand the emotional and technical demands of specialized CNA work and continue building your personalized nursing assistant career plan.
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
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 22 minutes
Nurse Spotlight: Welcome to Advanced CNA Care•2 minutes
Nurse Spotlight: Job Demand and Outlook •7 minutes
Nurse Spotlight: Intro to Caring for Individuals with Respiratory and Cardiovascular Problems•3 minutes
Episode: Meet Frank•2 minutes
In Focus: Take a Deep Breath•2 minutes
Close Up: Cardiovascular Disease Inside the Body•3 minutes
Old Man River•3 minutes
3 readings•Total 8 minutes
Key Terms to Know•2 minutes
CNA Workforce: A Career with a Growing Demand•3 minutes
Key Caregiving Skills•3 minutes
Caring for Older Adults Through Life Transitions
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
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.
Global Perspectives on Legal and Ethical Responsibilities•3 minutes
Respecting Residents Rights and Choices Around the Globe•3 minutes
Holistic Care•3 minutes
Spiritual Care: Honoring Beliefs in a Diverse World•3 minutes
CNA's Bill of Rights: Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Frank•10 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 6 minutes
The Older Adult•3 minutes
Grief and End of Life Care•3 minutes
Caring for People with Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
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.
Nurse Spotlight: Intro to Caring for Someone with Dementia•3 minutes
Close Up: Introduction to Dementia and Alzheimer's •2 minutes
Episode - Stuart and His Family•5 minutes
Close Up: Introduction to Mild Dementia or Alzheimer's •3 minutes
In Focus: The Mind Cannot Remember Though the Heart Never Forgets•13 minutes
Episode: Personality Changes Part 1•2 minutes
In Focus: It's a Wanderful Life•12 minutes
Episode: Personality Changes Part II•2 minutes
In Focus: It's Not What You Say, But How You Say It•9 minutes
Close Up: Managing Sexual Aggression•2 minutes
Episode: Sexual Aggression Part I•1 minute
Close Up: Working with Patients Who Have Moderate Dementia or Alzheimer's•4 minutes
Sexual Aggression Part II•2 minutes
In Focus: Sundowning - The Wanderers of the Night•6 minutes
Chemical Restraint•2 minutes
Close Up - Severe Alzheimer's•1 minute
Close Up: The Impact of Dementia and Alzheimer's on the Family Members•2 minutes
Close Up: Working with Residents with Severe Alzheimer's •3 minutes
Episode: Comatose •2 minutes
Episode: Last Breath•2 minutes
In Focus: Final Days - Recognizing the Signs of Death•7 minutes
Episode: The Conversation•2 minutes
6 readings•Total 24 minutes
Key Terms to Know•2 minutes
Dementia Care•10 minutes
Techniques for Working with Cognitively-Impaired Residents•3 minutes
Warning: Sensitive Content•3 minutes
The Impact of Environmental Factors on Individuals with Dementia•3 minutes
Introduction to Severe Dementia•3 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Stuart•10 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 9 minutes
De-Escalation•3 minutes
Handling Sexual Aggression•3 minutes
How to Support a Grieving Family•3 minutes
Caring for People with Diabetes and Related Conditions
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
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.
Nurse Spotlight: Caring for Individuals with Diabetes and Obesity•3 minutes
In Focus: The Endocrine System•3 minutes
Close Up: Overview of Diabetes and Obesity•5 minutes
Episode: Martha and Ceily•2 minutes
In Focus: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity•6 minutes
In-Focus: Digestive System Disorders•15 minutes
Episode: Blood Bugs•3 minutes
In Focus: Introduction to Handwashing•6 minutes
Episode: Mealtime•4 minutes
In Focus - Food Guidelines for Diabetics•6 minutes
In Focus: Foot Care•4 minutes
Episode: Giddy Up•3 minutes
Episode: Black Spots•3 minutes
In Focus: Falls•5 minutes
Episode: Falling Apart •3 minutes
In Focus: Working with Visually Impaired Clients•4 minutes
Episode: ADL with Martha•3 minutes
Episode: Anniversary•2 minutes
4 readings•Total 18 minutes
Vocabulary and Abbreviations•2 minutes
Warning: Sensitive Content•10 minutes
Complications of Diabetes•3 minutes
Activities of Daily Living•3 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Caring for Individuals with Diabetes and Obesity•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 3 minutes
Caring for Complex Patients•3 minutes
Course Project: Exploring Local Training Programs
Module 5•1 hour to complete
Module details
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
Show info about module content
1 ungraded lab•Total 30 minutes
CNA Task Inventory and Comfort Level Ranking•30 minutes
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
At Cinematic Health, we believe healthcare training should be as engaging as it is educational. Through cinematic storytelling and real-world scenarios, we help future caregivers build clinical skills alongside the communication, empathy, and professionalism that enable exceptional patient care.
Will this course certify me as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?
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.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
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.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
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.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.