Top CNA Programs in Oklahoma
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are men and women who provide fundamental, direct care nursing to patients under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN). Together, CNAs and RNs are said to provide around 85% of all direct care within the healthcare field. CNAs are absolutely integral to the current healthcare system, as they spend a greater amount of time with patients than any other staff person working in the healthcare field.
CNAs can be found working in many different healthcare settings which include extended-care facilities, patient homes, transitional care units, community health agencies and hospitals. In addition to providing much needed social and emotional support to patients and their families, CNAs also carry out duties like cleaning, bed to wheelchair transfers, taking vital signs, limited physical therapy, and more.
How to Choose a Top CNA Program in Oklahoma
Those thinking about pursuing a career as a Certified Nurse Assistant should attempt to seek out the best programs which are available to them. Prospective CNA students would be smart to take the following into consideration when looking for top programs:
- Student success rate of the program
- Total cost of attendance
- Accreditation of the institution and program
- Student pass rate of the state certification exam
- Financial aid, grants and scholarship availability
- Student to faculty ratio
- Credentials of instructors
- Job placement assistance and rate
- Partnerships with healthcare facilities in the area
Testing and Certification
The first step in becoming certified as a nursing assistant in Oklahoma is to enroll in a CNA program which has been approved by the Department of Health. Approved programs must be comprised of at least 75 total training hours, with 16 hours of clinical training in mandated areas like safety measures and patient rights. After a state approved program has been completed, students can then sit for the state certification assessment. Students who are studying to become registered nurses are also permitted to sit for the certification assessment. Students who are in this category should contact the State Department of Health for more details.
The State Department of Health has approved three vendors to administer the exam. These vendors are Headmaster, Prometric and the Health Certification Project. Regardless of the vendor, the competency evaluation is basically uniform. Each exam consists of two sections: a knowledge section and a skills evaluation. The knowledge section can be administered in two formats: orally or written. CNA candidates can fail either the skills or knowledge section of the exam three times before having to retrain.
List of Top CNA Classes and Programs in Oklahoma
CNA Training Academy Oklahoma City
Located in Oklahoma City, CNA Training Academy is a private educational institution that’s certified by the Oklahoma Department of Health. As the name suggests, the institution specializes in training future CNAs.
CNA Training Academy’s Certified Nursing Assistant program comprises 96 total contact hours. Of that 96 hours, 72 are dedicated to classroom lecture and discussion, and 24 are dedicated to a clinical skills externship. This program is offered during daytime and evening hours, and only takes three weeks to complete. By the end of the program, students should be familiar with ethical and legal practices in the healthcare field, various communication techniques, infection control, how to properly assist patients with mobility, and other concepts that are important to CNA work. Financial is available to those who qualify.
Healthcare facilities located near Oklahoma City that are currently hiring CNAs
- Life Line Screening
- Community Health Systems
- Mercy Health
Tuition
Current tuition and fees for the CAN program can be found by contacting (405) 946-4000.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a technology and career educational institution. FTTC is affiliated with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and serves both the educational needs of adults in continuing education as well as high school students. FTTC maintains three primary campuses that are located in Portland, Reno and Rockwell. It also operates two additional satellite campuses in Edmond and northwest Oklahoma City.
FTTC’s Nursing Assistant program is offered to students in two formats. Students can enroll in a full-time CNA program that takes 4 months of instruction to complete, or a part-time program that takes 4 months to complete. Each program is composed of 480 total hours, and consists of a mixture of didactic lecture and in-class discussion, as well as lab skills practice and a clinical externship. The program’s entirety is broken down as follows: College and Career Readiness in Healthcare—100 hours, Nurse Aide—140 hours and Advanced Unlicensed Assistant—240 hours.
Healthcare facilities located near Rockwell, Reno and Oklahoma City that are currently hiring CNAs
- SSM Health
- Oklahoma Heart Hospital, North Campus
- McBride Orthopedic Hospital
Tuition
Students who maintain a residence within the state can count on paying a total estimated cost of $1,366 to attend FTTC’s CNA program. Conversely, out-of-state students can expect to pay a total estimated cost of $2,422.
Wes Watkins Technology Center
Wes Watkins Technology Center is a technology and career education institution that’s located in the small town of Wetumka, in Hughes County. WWTC is a member of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system.
WWTC offers students a state approved CNA (Long Term Care Nurse Aide) program that’s comprised of 96 total hours of instruction. During the duration of the program students will learn core medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, CPR and additional concepts that are integral to work as a CNA.
Healthcare facilities located near Hughes County that are currently hiring CNAs
- MSI Healthcare
- The Springs
- Presbyterian Health Services
Tuition
For more information on tuition for WWTC’s nurse aide program, contact them at 405-452-5500.
