
Nurse Apprenticeship and Residency
CMH partners with student nurses and recent nursing graduates to help them become exceptional nurses. Nurse apprenticeships give nursing students an enriched clinical experience with an "earn as you learn" training model. Nurse residency helps recent graduates become confident bedside nurses.
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Nurse Apprenticeship
Nursing students enrolled in an accredited program are eligible for a nurse apprenticeship during their final two semesters. This earn-as-you-learn program creates an exceptional clinical experience for pre-licensure professional nursing and practical nursing students.
Selected nursing students are employed by CMH on a full-time, part-time or part-time-as-needed basis. They work and are paid as a student nurse while enrolled in the nursing education program. The student nurse also receives academic credit toward meeting clinical requirements.
How the Nurse Apprenticeship Program Works
Students enrolled in their final two semesters in a nursing program at any accredited higher education institution may apply. Accepted students enter into an "intermediate apprenticeship." This phase includes a contract agreement to work for CMH in their licensed role for one year after program completion. Students complete their clinical hours as scheduled by their program and receive a stipend for those hours.
During their final semester, nurse apprentices can shadow a nurse in any clinical setting. This helps students identify the area where they want to work after graduation.
Nurse Apprenticeship Highlights
- Receive a stipend while completing clinical hours.
- Eligible to work shifts in the hospital, long-term care, clinic or home care/hospice as a nurse apprentice.
- Eligible for benefits if working in a full-time equivalent status.
- Receive an hourly base rate for hours worked at CMH.
For More Information
Call 417-328-6193 for more information about the nurse apprenticeship program.
Nurse Apprenticeship FAQs
CMH will pay you for 90 clinical hours per semester at a rate of $15.30. This will be paid out through your CMH paycheck in a stipend over the course of the semester. There is a separate rate for CMH worked hours, which includes up to 12 apprentice hours per month. This rate will be based upon your experience and varies from person to person.
Yes, you can stay within your home department. However, we do encourage you to pick up most of your apprentice shifts outside of your department. The goal of the program is to give you exposure to a variety of areas and help you find your perfect fit within the organization.
If you are not currently a CNA, we will help you prepare for the CNA exam. Having your CNA license allows you to pick up shifts in addition to your 12 apprentice hours per month. This allows you to build extra comfort and support within the CMH organization.
Upon hire into the apprentice program, you will sign an Earn As You Learn agreement. This agreement comes with a 1-year full-time work commitment to CMH upon graduating from your nursing program.
During apprentice shifts, you will work closely with an RN/LPN in the department and gain hands-on experience with all aspects of the role, including duties and documentation. As a nurse apprentice, you will be able to do skills. Once deemed competent in a skill during initial observation by a licensed nurse, you can complete that skill independently. You are not staffing the unit on these shifts and, therefore, can truly take in all of the experience.
Apprentices are encouraged to pick up "normal" shifts and staff units as it works for their schedule. These shifts are paid at the same rate, and apprentices can still perform the additional skills in which they have been deemed competent.
Nurse Residency
CMH’s one-year paid nurse residency program helps new graduate nurses become safe, competent, confident bedside nurses. Our program fosters a lifelong love of professional and personal growth within a supportive and inclusive atmosphere. Nurses with less than one year of experience are eligible to apply.
A community of experienced nurses surrounds the graduate nurses. Each graduate nurse is paired with experienced nurses and nurse educators to mentor residents through their initial clinical experiences. In this community, you can form lasting relationships with peers, educators, and managers. At CMH, our goal is to ensure that you never feel alone.
The residency program provides structured mentorship, hands-on clinical experience and dedicated professional development opportunities. Through targeted education and the guidance of experienced nurse preceptors, new graduates develop critical thinking skills, clinical competence and the confidence needed to excel in complex health care environments.
How to Apply
To apply for the CMH residency program, go to the CMH Careers website. Select a nursing position and apply. All new graduate nurses (with less than one year of experience) selected for employment are placed into the residency cohort.
Residency Phases
The residency has four phases starting in June.
- Phase 1: Learn CMH policies, procedures and organizational culture in the Simulation and Skills Lab.
- Phase 2: Learn the ins and outs of your daily work in your home department.
- Phase 3: Become proficient in nursing skills and achieve nurse autonomy.
- Phase 4: Learn the importance of continuing professional development and build confidence in your new profession.
What You Can Expect to Gain
- Confidence.
- Advanced training in your specialty.
- Potential for BLS, ACLS, PALS, PEARS, TNCC, NIHSS, NRP and STABLE certifications.
- Access to certification preparation through HealthStream.
- Friendships.
- Advancement opportunities in a comprehensive rural health care system.
- Networking opportunities.
- Potential for Intermediate Fetal Monitoring.
- Crisis Prevention Institute Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training.
- Cardia classes, including Basic Rhythm Interpretation, 12-Lead ECG, and ECG and Pharmacology.
- Relationship-building with providers through educational opportunities.
For More Information
For more information about the CMH Nurse Residency Program, contact:
Christie Kirby, MBA-HM, BSN, RN, CCRN-K
Nurse Residency Program Director
christie.kirby@citizensmemorial.com
417-328-6512
Life at CMH
Our Organization
Citizens Memorial Hospital is an award-winning 86-bed acute care hospital serving an eight-county area in southwest Missouri.
- Level III Trauma Center
- Level II STEMI Center
- Level III Stroke Center
- 34 physician offices, including 12 certified Rural Health Clinics
- Senior living facilities: Independent living, residential living and long-term care
- Home care services
- Retail pharmacies
Employee Benefits
A robust benefits package from CMH enhances your health, career, life and future.
- Zero-premium health insurance option for employees
- Employee wellness program
- Retirement plan with employer matching
- Profit-sharing plan
- Life insurance
- Professional development opportunities
- And more
Life in Southwest Missouri
There's always something to do in the Ozarks of southwest Missouri. From lakes to golf and shopping to tennis, we've got it all.
The communities we serve embody small-town charm where you easily can become an active part of your local community.
Larger cities such as Springfield, Branson and Kansas City are conveniently located nearby.
Explore Life in Southwest Missouri