CNA - Certified Nurse Assistant

Also called: Nursing Assistant, Certified Medication Aide (CMA), Certified Nurses Aide (CNA), Personal Care Aide

A certified nursing assistant, or CNA, helps patients with activities of daily living and other healthcare needs under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

Salary in St. Louis

Entry level salary: $20,830

Average salary: $25,360

Employment Projection in St. Louis

2,136 annual openings with an growth of 25%

Certified Nurse Assistant Facts

Roles & Responsibilities

What they do: Provide basic patient care under direction of nursing staff. Perform duties such as feed, bathe, dress, groom, or move patients, or change linens. May transfer or transport patients. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

On the job you would:

Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients’ needs.
Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.

Skills Needed on the Job

Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.

Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Education Requirements

High school diploma required plus

75 hours of classroom training
100 hours of on-the-job training
Final examination

The state approved course requires the individual to complete 75 hours of classroom training, 100 hours of on-the-job training and successfully complete a two part final examination. The two part final examination includes a written (or oral) and practicum examination. Some of the topics covered include: basic nursing skills; fire safety; disaster training; resident safety and rights; and social and psychological problems of residents and the methods of caring for the mentally confused residents, such as those with Alzheimer's disease.

Some individuals may be allowed to challenge and take just the final exam (written and practical) without completing the entire course only when the individual meets special circumstances and has approval of the state agency.

CNA Challenge: Receiving approval to challenge means that individuals who meet special criteria (listed below) are not required to take the entire certified nurse assistant course but rather will be allowed to take just the final examination (written and practical) to become a CNA in Missouri.

Students who have completed a nursing program outside of the United States and who are awaiting licensure must submit the following documentation: