CNA Classes in Missouri

CNA Classes In Missouri

There are a lot of people who are unable to secure a stable job nowadays. However, the healthcare field opens many opportunities to those who want to have a well compensated and stable career. Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is one of the best ways to jumpstart a career in the healthcare field.  On this website, you can find many different options for your CNA classes in Missouri.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) provide support for medical professionals like, doctors and nurses, helping them make most efficient use of their time, and maintain a high level of healthcare. They perform basic nursing duties and work directly under the supervision of a licensed nurse.

To become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Missouri, you need to attend an approved CNA training program. Candidates that register in such a program are able to obtain the skills and knowledge they need to achieve important job opportunities in the health field.

Community colleges, vocational schools, online schools and medical facilities are some institutions that offer CNA approved training programs in Missouri. Also, there are facilities that provide free training to those who will work for them after completing training and certification.

General duties and responsibilities of a CNA include taking and recording vital signs, such as record blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration, weight and height, assisting the patients in dressing, exercising, bathing, feeding, the transportation with wheelchair, keeping medical records, and proper operating and maintaining of medical equipment.

Skills Required:

  • Good physique
  • Desire to help others
  • Emotional stability
  • Empathy
  • Good interaction skills
  • Caring attitude
  • Compassion
  • Ability to work with patients of all religions, nationalities, gender and ages
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Ability to perform repetitive duties daily
  • Coordination skills

The Red Cross Missouri Chapter offers CNA classes at day and night time with several extended options available. Even if you are still attending high school, you can freely take a CNA course at a very flexible time. The state of Missouri requires 75 hours classroom sessions and 100 hours clinical training. During the classroom sessions, nursing topics are taught like feeding, dressing, bathing, household duties, foot care, massage, personal care and many others. Meanwhile, the clinical training is usually done in a nursing home with the supervision of a Registered Nurse or a Licensed Practical Nurse. As soon as you completed both parts, you will then be eligible to take the certification exam for Certified Nursing Assistants.

CNA Certification Requirements

An aspirant must be at least 18 years of age, have successfully passed the high school diploma or general educational development (GED) certificate and a proof of Immunizations and tuberculosis test report of last 6 months before entering a training program. Also, there should be no criminal convictions against the aspirant.

Each CNA program is inspected and approved by the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services and must be comprised of at least 75 hours of classroom instruction and 100 hours of on the job training or clinical work experience.

During the program, the candidate will study subjects related to roles and responsibilities of a certified nursing assistant, nutrition, control and prevention of infection, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, while the practical part of the program includes, how to take vital signs, keeping the patient’s bed clean and dry, observing the response of the patients towards the treatment, interpersonal skills and communicating with patients, how to respond to health emergencies, etc.

The fee of courses may range from $600 to $2000.  This will vary per institution but there are financial assistance available in case you cannot afford the payment. Remember that as soon as you get the financial assistance, you will be signing a contract stating to work for their facility right after the passing the certification exam. So make sure that these things are clear to you beforehand. If you are listed already as an employee in the Department of Health and Senior Services of Missouri, you will be disqualified in taking the CNA program.

CNA Certification Exam

The final step in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is to pass a competency exam, which organized by the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services.

The exam will be given in two parts. The first part is a multiple choice test wherein several nursing questions are tackled and the second part is a skills test wherein you will be asked to perform 5 out of 25 skills in a panel. The test costs about $60.

Prospective certified nursing assistants need to pass both sections and allowed three attempts for this, otherwise, they need to repeat the training program. If you successfully passed both exams, your name will be listed in the Nurse Aide Registry of Missouri and you will be allowed to work as a CNA in any nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

The certification must be renewed every 2 years, and CNAs should prove they have been employed for at least 8 hours during the same period, and must have completed 12 hours of continuous education every year for recertification.

CNA Salary and Job Outlook in Missouri

CNA Salary in Missouri 1

The average annual salary for CNAs in Missouri is $23,880 but it can be considerably higher if you have lots of experience and extra skills. Currently there are more than 40,000 CNAs working in the state of Missouri which makes it a considerable workforce.

There is a positive trend for CNA career in state of Missouri, and a promising future in the healthcare field, as employment opportunities are great for those who are willing to develop and advance their careers. Experience is usually the most important aspect in determining the CNA salary in Missouri. Experienced CNAs will enjoy many benefits and are able to build on their knowledge, experience and abilities.

The Barnes Jewish Hospital, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Johns Mercy Medical Center and St. Anthony’s Medical Center are some health care facilities in the state that may be able to offer employment to Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).

CNA Work Experience in Missouri