Title : Under construction: Reimagining CNA fundamentals education through gamification and themed learning
Abstract:
Background: Traditional nursing assistant and fundamentals education often relies heavily on lecture and content delivery, which can make it difficult to keep learners engaged. Many learners struggle to retain foundational concepts or feel anxious when practicing new skills. Nurse educators continue to look for creative teaching strategies that make learning more interactive, collaborative, and supportive
Purpose: The purpose of this educational redesign was to increase learner engagement and participation in a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) fundamentals course with gamification, themed learning and collaborative learning activities.
Methods: A traditional CNA fundamentals course was redesigned using a construction theme in which learners “built” foundational nursing knowledge throughout the course. Learners participated in interactive activities, scenario discussions, and skills checkpoints designed to reinforce key concepts in a more engaging way. Gamification strategies, visual themes, and role-based learning activities were incorporated to encourage participation, build confidence, and create a more enjoyable learning environment.
Results: Learners demonstrated increased engagement, participation, and enthusiasm throughout course activities. Feedback from learners suggested a greater enjoyment of the learning experience compared to traditional lecture-based courses. Educators also observed increased peer support, collaboration, and learner involvement during classroom and skills activities.
Conclusions: Adding a creative theme and gamification elements to CNA education helped transform required content into a more interactive and engaging learning experience. Learners appeared more willing to participate, collaborate with peers, and actively engage in course activities when the environment felt supportive and enjoyable. This project showed that small changes in course design can make foundational nursing education feel more approachable, memorable, and meaningful for learners.
