Certified Nursing Assistants work under the direction of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals to provide basic nursing services in long-term care settings. They function as a valuable part of the nursing team but their responsibilities are limited to the state’s scope of practice and the job responsibilities outlined by the employing agency. Generally, a nurse aide will not administer medications or take direct orders from a doctor. Core responsibilities include patient hygiene, assembling and serving meals, checking and recording vital signs, making beds and tidying rooms, turning and positioning bed-ridden patients and attending to their general comfort, and reporting any significant changes to nurses or physicians.
CNA classes provide essential theory and hands-on training that will help you to succeed as part of the health care team. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) requires prospective nurse aides to complete at least 175 hours of educational preparation, including 75 hours in the classroom and 100 hours of on-the-job training in an approved long-term care facility. There are other qualities, apart from technical training, that will help you to succeed on the job. Honesty and integrity include taking responsibility for your actions and acknowledging your limitations in the provision of care. CNAs must be compassionate and have a sincere regard for the safety and comfort of residents. Empathy, thoughtfulness, respect, dependability, flexibility, and commitment are some other essential traits that you must demonstrate in the profession.
As one of the most important members of the health care team, you become the eyes and ears of the licensed nurse. You’ll spend more time with residents than any other member of the health care team, so you might be the first to identify any life-threatening symptoms demonstrated by the resident. As an advocate, you’ll be able to communicate resident needs when they’re unable to do so for themselves.
St Charles Community College
The Certified Nurse Assistant program at St Charles Community College is approved by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and includes on-the-job training to prepare students to become a CNA in the state of Missouri. Experienced instructors will cover basic nursing skills, communication techniques, infection control, resident rights, and safety among other optics. The program is divided into three separate components – classroom instruction, clinical internship, and a final exam. The classroom instruction covers 75 contact hours of instruction as directed by the DHSS. Daytime sessions meet one day per week for 12 weeks. The class time is from 8:00 to 3:00 pm. The evening class meets Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm for 8 weeks. Students must earn a minimum of 80 percent on all exams to pass the classroom component. The clinical internship provides an additional 100 hours of instruction in a healthcare facility. Students may enroll in this portion of the program after completing 50 percent of the classroom instruction. The shifts vary from 8 to 12 hours. Students employed at an approved facility may complete the internship through an employer. The final exam is available for students who have completed the classroom and clinical portions through SCC. The exam includes a 75-question written exam and a nine-procedure practicum. Students must register for this component within three months of completing the classroom instruction. Certification requires a minimum of 80 percent on the written exam and 100 percent on the practicum. The program is available year-round and admits students in an open-entry format. New students may be admitted every week. The average completion time for all three components is five months.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Pass a background screen from the Missouri Family Care Safety Registry
- Obtain TB clearance
- Pass a urine screen
- Attend a clinical orientation before the start of the clinical internship
- Provide documentation of a urine drug screen
- Tuition is due at registration
Tuition for the program is $800 – ($375 for the classroom, $310 for the clinical internship, $115 for the final exam). Tuition and fees must be paid at registration and are non-refundable.
- Website: https://www.stchas.edu/default
- Address: 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Cottleville, MO 63376
- Phone: 636-922-8000
St Louis Community College
Adults can enroll in the non-credit accelerated Patient Care Technician program at St Louis Community College to prepare for CNA certification. The program combines 7 weeks of instruction in the classroom with 3 weeks of clinical internship at a skilled nursing facility. The program meets or exceeds the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) for nurse aide training. In addition to the required curriculum, students will also receive Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support training through the American Heart Association. The program has a strict attendance policy. Students who are late or absent may be dismissed from the program. Interested persons should attend a scheduled information session to learn more about the program and start the registration process. Students are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Classes meet Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The clinical shifts are 12 hours long in a local hospital.
Admission criteria:
- Submit a completed application online
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Attend an enrollment session
- Complete a criminal background check
- Submit to a drug screen
- Take and score a grade of 4.0 on the Health Career Readiness Assessment
- Complete WorkKeys Assessment and meet benchmarks – Workplace Documents 4, Applied Math 4, Graphic Literacy
- Attend an interview with a career pathway coach
Funding may be available for selected students.
- Website: https://stlcc.edu/programs-academics/accelerated-job-training/patient-care-technician-program.aspx
- Address: 5600 Oakland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
- Phone: 314-644-9100
CNA Training Academy
CNA Training Academy’s Nursing Assistant program prepares students to fulfill the duties of a nurse aide in various health care settings. The course content meets the training requirements established by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Classroom and clinical instruction will cover body structure and functions in line with the nurse aide scope of practice, the role and responsibility of the nurse assistant including communication, ethics, legal principles, abuse and state laws, human anatomy and physiology, medical terminology and abbreviations, safety and emergency, infection control principles, understanding the elderly, observation, reporting, and charting, and behavior of residents in long-term care settings. It will also include fluid intake and output, nutrition, serving and feeding, long term care food service, fluid intake and output, personal care, elimination and restorative nursing, and special clinical procedures such as admission, transfers, discharge, and end of life care. Graduates should be able to provide basic care to long-term care residents, protect, support, and promote resident rights, function effectively as a member of the health care team, use safety and preventative measures in the care of residents, and assist residents with the attaining and maintenance of functional independence. The curriculum will cover 75 hours of classroom instruction and at least 100 hours of clinical instruction. The daytime classes covers 8 weeks from start to finish. The evening program is 12 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Submit a completed application/enrollment form and application fee of $50
- Provide proof of age – must be at least 18 years by the first day of class
- Provide a copy of high school diploma or HiSET certificate
- Must be able to communicate verbally and in writing in English
- Provide documentation of seasonal flu shot
- Obtain a favorable screening result from the Missouri Family Care Safety Registry – the cost of the screening is included in the application fee
- Obtain a favorable TB test result
- Must be in good physical health and be able to lift at least 25 pounds unassisted
- Attend an interview with the school’s Administrator
- Provide a copy of health insurance coverage card to confirm coverage under a health insurance plan
Tuition for the program is $950. It includes tuition for classroom and clinical instruction only. The application fee covers the cost of the drug screen, background check, and administration. Additional costs include supplies and materials, including uniform, wrist watch, gait belt, ID badge, textbook, white shoes, and stethoscope.
- Website: https://www.cnatrainingacademystl.com
- Address: 1300 Strassner Dr., St. Louis, MO 63144
- Phone: (314) 737-5812
St. Louis College of Health Careers
The Patient Care Technician (PCT) program at St Louis College of Health Careers prepares students for CNA certification. The curriculum meets the training requirements established by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. It combines classroom theory with clinical practicum in an approved health care facility. It includes general education and occupational courses designed to perfect patient care skills. Students will acquire technical skills that will enable them to assess patients, check vital signs, draw blood, take electrocardiograms, develop and implement patient care plans, and support the health care teams. Areas of study include Human Biology Theory, Human Biology Lab, Medical Terminology, Psychology, Professional Development, Technical Math, Fundamental Skills Theory I, Fundamental Skills Lab I, Fundamental Skills Theory II, Fundamental Skills Lab II, Practicum, and Externship. The program covers 655 contact hours (31 credit hours) in 36 weeks. Graduates will be eligible to apply to take the CNA exam.
Admission criteria:
- Submit a completed application/enrollment form and application fee
- Provide proof of age – must be at least 18 years by the first day of class
- Provide a copy of high school diploma or HiSET certificate
- Must be able to communicate verbally and in writing in English
- Provide documentation of seasonal flu shot
- Pass a background check and drug screen
- Provide documentation of TB clearance
- Must be in good physical health
- Provide a copy of health insurance coverage card
Tuition for the program is $15,035. Additional costs will be applied for books and supplies.
- Website: https://slchc.edu/academics/programs/diplomas/patient-care-technician-diploma/
- Address: 909 South Taylor Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Phone: (314) 652-0300
- Fax: (314) 884-2838
Aspire Health Care Solutions
The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at Aspire Health Care Solutions is designed for adults who want to begin a career in health care. Combined classroom and clinical instruction prepare students to provide basic nursing services under the guidance of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. Areas of study include medical terminology and abbreviations, perineal care, observation and reporting, communication, personal care, nutrition and feeding, vital signs, responding to emergencies, the role and responsibility of the nursing assistant, legal and ethical issues, patients’ rights and independence, infection control, positioning and turning, special care needs of the long-term resident, and end-of-life care. Graduates will be eligible to take the Missouri State Nurse Aide Exam to become a certified nursing assistant. Day and evening classes are available. The day program meets Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:15 pm. The clinical sessions are from 6:30 am to 3:15 pm. There is also a Monday and Wednesday option available for the day class. The evening class meets Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 pm to 10:15 pm. The duration of the program varies from 12 to 16 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma or equivalency
- Obtain a negative drug screen
- Pass a criminal background check
- Family safety care registry with no disqualifying factors
Tuition for the program is $925. It does not include supplies, school fees, and exam fees. A flexible payment plan permits three bi-weekly payments of $308.
- Website: https://www.aspirehealth1.com/courses-offered-schedule.html
- Address: 3391 North Highway 67, Florissant, Mo 63033
- Toll-Free: 314-736-1146
Crystal G
Crystal is a certified Registered Nurse (RN) with a passion for writing about nursing education. Through her articles, Crystal shares insights and tips to help fellow nurses enhance their skills and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. With a focus on practical advice and relevant topics, Crystal's writing is a valuable resource for nursing professionals seeking to advance their careers.