Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
A 2-year PNMC-recognised diploma that trains women to provide safe, compassionate bedside and personal care to patients under the supervision of Registered Nurses.
Programme Overview
What the CNA diploma prepares you for
The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) programme is a 2-year diploma recognised by the Pakistan Nursing & Midwifery Council (PNMC), preparing students to assist Registered Nurses with day-to-day patient care — personal hygiene, mobility support, vital signs monitoring, feeding assistance, and basic infection control.
The course combines classroom instruction with supervised clinical practice in hospital wards, building the practical skills and professional conduct expected of frontline nursing support staff.
Eligibility Criteria
As per PNMC criteria for the CNA diploma (females only)
- FSc (Pre-Medical) with minimum 45% marks, or
- Matric (Science) with minimum 45% marks, or Matric (Arts) with minimum 50% marks
- Age between 14–35 years, as per PNMC policy
- Open to female applicants only, per PNMC policy for this programme
- Valid CNIC / B-Form and domicile certificate
- Medical fitness certificate from a registered medical practitioner
Course Modules
Representative course groupings across the 2-year programme
Year 1 — Foundations
- Anatomy & Physiology Basics
- Fundamentals of Nursing Care
- Personal Care & Hygiene
- Nutrition & Feeding Assistance
- Vital Signs Monitoring
- Communication & Patient Rights
Year 2 — Applied Practice
- Infection Control & Patient Safety
- First Aid & Basic Life Support
- Community Health Basics
- Care of Elderly & Chronically Ill Patients
- Professional Ethics & Documentation
- Supervised Clinical Practicum
Clinical / Practical Training
Students complete supervised clinical placements in hospital wards, working alongside Registered Nurses to practice bedside care, hygiene assistance, and patient monitoring under close supervision — building the hands-on confidence needed for ward-based nursing support roles.
Career Prospects
Where a CNA diploma can take you
- Nursing assistant in public and private hospitals
- Support staff in long-term and elderly care facilities
- Home health aide / private patient care
- Community and maternal-child health support roles
- Stepping stone toward LHV or Post-RN nursing pathways
- Clinic and outpatient department support staff