Failed skills portion :(

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Well, I failed the skills portion. Passed the written with flying colors and it went downhill from there. I did the ROM on the wrong side, of all things! I was sooo nervous. The guy in the room with us had to do foot care on me beforehand and that just made me more nervous!

She also marked me off for handwashing and just about everything on indirect care, which I was sure that I did correctly. I made sure to keep the patient covered and ask about comfort, provide the call light, made conversation, introduced myself, explained the procedure, etc. etc..she marked that I did none of those things.

Draining a catheter bag..she marked that I didn't practice infection control when I did it, but I'm not sure what I did wrong. Catheter care..she said that I did not change spots on the washcloth when cleaning, which I'm POSITIVE I did because I exaggerated it so that she would see.

What's funny is that the guy who was in there with me and had to do his skills with me acting as resident also failed, and I have no idea why. She marked him down for things that I know for sure that he did, because I was there. He had to ambulate me, and she marked that he did not ask me about dizziness, which I remember clearly that he did. She also marked him off on indirect care and handwashing and I didn't see a problem with either. She said that he didn't protect my foot from the floor when he indeed placed a towel on the floor under my foot. ??

A girl who came out before us said that she was sure she had failed because she forgot to put on gloves before mouth care and the proctor had to tell her to do it (I didn't think they could do that) and she forgot to put water in the basin for the dentures. She passed.

Also I'm not sure I washed and sanitized the bedpan correctly..any tips?

I'm kind of depressed and not sure if I am going to try again, it's really discouraging because I practiced my butt off. I passed the Phlebotomy/EKG test last week but I can't get a job because I have no experience and I really thought getting the CNA would help.

Any advice or comments appreciated.

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Specializes in hope L&D/OB. 2nd-Geriatrics. 3rd Peds..

There is an appeal process for Prometric (not sure if that's the company your state uses), but I'm sure if you contact the company that proctors your exam, the should have an appeal process.

I'm sorry you had such a picky nurse. Much luck next time if you have to take it over!

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just take it again or appeal it, proctors aren't perfect.

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Dont be too hard on ya self,I failed the first time also! some of those proctors are real B's:icon_roll try again,I passed the 2nd time.....you will too! think positive and try try again...I heard that lots of people failed the first time.GOODLUCK!

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Specializes in Alzheimers, Geriatrics, phys. challenege.

So sorry to hear. I would appeal, or at least re-test in 30 days. Don't give up now.

What state/city did you test in? Did you remember to knock first, wait for response, pull privacy curtain?

When draining the urinary bag, they said you didn't use proper infection control - Did you remember to put a barrier down on the floor for the graduate, use a barrier for the equipment, make sure the tubing didn't touch the graduate? When you did the cath care, did you use a "mitt fold" or the four corners (aka, taco fold)?

When your partner did foot care on you, did he make sure your clean bare foot never touched the unprotected floor? How did you sanitize the bedpan?

Something doesn't seem right. How could they pass the girl who forgot to use gloves for mouth care, remind her to use gloves, and then fail you? Were you dressed appropriately, hair and nails groomed properly? Sorry for the abrupt questions, just trying to think of reasons she may have failed you. You passed your pelbomotmy/EKG, that is a good thing. Don't be so hard on yourself. Try again, and next time you will get a different NAE and you will pass. Just go over every step and think back to where you could have gone wrong. If you can, contact the person who was your partner and ask him what he thinks. Maybe he remembers something that you don't. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Alzheimers, Geriatrics, phys. challenege.

Bossbadger - Did you remember to dump your fluids in the BSC and NOT the sink?

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Thanks for your responses.

I tested in Gainesville, FL at the Express training institute. Prometric did the testing.

I knocked every time, waited for response, and pulled the curtain. When I drained the bag, I put an incontinence pad on the floor under the graduate, wiped the drainage tube with an alcohol pad, etc. I dumped everything in the BSC and I added soap and water to the container (without getting any in the sink) and dumped that in the BSC (using a paper towel to hold the items), dried with paper towels, then sprayed them with Lysol, used another paper towel to carry them to the bedside cabinet. The cleaning of the items is the only thing I think I may have done wrong, because I had a hard time finding information on specific procedures. I remembered that I had to either change my gloves or use a barrier and I did.

I used the mitt fold for the cath care and changed spots, and I used a different cloth for washing and rinsing.

My foot never touched the floor when my partner did the foot care.

I wore scrubs and was showered and had my hair up and my nails were clean. I did talk to my partner afterwards, but he was only present for my ROM skill and was told to leave before I did the other two. I was there for all of his, and I couldn't see anything wrong.

I can't help but wonder if the fact we were both challengers made a difference, or if the proctors are required to fail a certain number of people so that they can get more money when you have to pay to retest.

Back to studying, I suppose. In the meantime I guess I am going to have to start jobhunting for something else. Thanks everyone :)..

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Specializes in Alzheimers, Geriatrics, phys. challenege.

Sounds like you did everything right. I didn't know you were suppose to put soap on the container. I was told to just rinse, dry, disinfect, but I could have been told wrong. Well, my exam is tomorrow morning and I am a challenger, so we'll see how they treat me. Now I'm scared.

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sounds like you did everything right. i didn't know you were suppose to put soap on the container. i was told to just rinse, dry, disinfect, but i could have been told wrong. well, my exam is tomorrow morning and i am a challenger, so we'll see how they treat me. now i'm scared.

we were not told to put soap in anything to clean it. just rinse twice, dry, disinfect. relax .... you will do just fine :icon_hug:

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Specializes in Alzheimers, Geriatrics, phys. challenege.

Thank you darling.:wink2: Email.

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Specializes in Alzheimers, Geriatrics, phys. challenege.

I passed my exam today. Whew. So gad that is over with.

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ugh.. lol I failed my first time testing too!! I was very upset and my story is just like yours!! I did ROM on the wrong side.. yea, the nerves get to you and my proctor was terrible.. although I failed the 1st times.. I know that I didn't study hard enough.. however I did take the test a 2nd time.. and was so much more prepared and I did everything perfectly!! I passed :) What state did you test in? It's definitely worth it to get your CNA you already have those other skills and this will increase your chances of finding work soo much! I've been looking for jobs..and it's just hard for everyone right now.. but in looking for jobs I would LOVE to get in at a hospital.. although so many of those jobs require you to know EKG..etc.. and I don't know any of that.. :/ so you never know! The best of luck to you.. and keep your chin up :)

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