Last chance to pass :(

ExpBrittany · May 24, 2014

Hi, is there someone you can speak with clinical/lab instructor who can go over the areas where you are having issues? Do you have a copy of the validation/skills list that shows the areas you had issues? Can someone demonstrate the skills exam correctly and you watch? Have you tried youtube videos?

Ramcharger310, ASN, CNA, RN, EMT-B · May 24, 2014

What the last person said plus...

Watch YouTube videos like 4your cna. Try to reach out to classmates to practice with and be sure to use the time when the evaluators give you time at the end of the skill to run through the skill again and correct any errors. I messed up on my skills but had the opportunity to correct myself and passed.

Tinkk · May 24, 2014

Hi, is there someone you can speak with clinical/lab instructor who can go over the areas where you are having issues? Do you have a copy of the validation/skills list that shows the areas you had issues? Can someone demonstrate the skills exam correctly and you watch? Have you tried youtube videos?

There's not really a particular skill I'm having problems with, it's just some little thing I happen to forget. When I get super anxious like I'm getting for this test my mind goes blank and I can't calm down to think. And I remember when I was taking my classes the instructor said not to look up Youtube videos because she said that there are plenty of errors in those videos and she had many students fail just because they went by the videos.

MizMaverick · May 24, 2014

What I did to remember the skills is that I wrote out the procedure step by step and then I used a voice recorder and recorded myself reading the steps...I then played it in the car, cleaning the house, etc. I would listen and imagine myself performing the procedure while listening. Good Luck!

ExpBrittany · May 24, 2014

There's not really a particular skill I'm having problems with, it's just some little thing I happen to forget. When I get super anxious like I'm getting for this test my mind goes blank and I can't calm down to think. And I remember when I was taking my classes the instructor said not to look up Youtube videos because she said that there are plenty of errors in those videos and she had many students fail just because they went by the videos.

I understand. Do what MizMaverick suggested. I did that for my health and assessment class when it came time for validations. It helps to make the material stick. It really does. Also, so you won't forget, practice it until you become sick of doing it, lol. Keep going for hours if you have to. Remember, you can do this!

Meaganfn · May 24, 2014

While doing the skills exam on test day I said all the steps out loud as I did them. That helped me to remember all the steps

SeattleJess · May 24, 2014

I feel you! I had such huge test anxiety that I failed my first state CNA test. The testing cite was kind of ratty and I was interrupted mid-procedure during catheter care when another student had to come into my area to get her supplies. I had to step out of the “room” for her to do that. In the crazy flurry of my thoughts, I was distracted and thought that I'd done the rinse step before I was interrupted, resumed with drying and flunked only that skill. I was so convinced I’d rinsed that it took me about 20 minutes to figure out what happened. I’m just telling you this story to show that I know how anxiety can screw a competent person up.

So I’m guessing that the danger for you is that you will focus your attention on your anxiety and failure thoughts. Your attention is like MiracleGrow - what you give it to will grow! So first and most important, direct your attention to the positive and practice stress-reduction techniques staring right now.

Some thoughts on changing your attitude: Your mistakes are the ingredients to your success. Review each failure thoroughly, decide why you failed, and implement a plan to prevent that from happening again. (I panicked. Practice and remember to pause and breath, make and use memory aids, go for a jog before the test to relax and get some endorphins.) When you think about mistakes, focus your attention on the fact that you’ve taken steps so that they won’t happen again and you’ve created yet another brick in the wall of your success. Stay stay focused on the success you are building.

Second, start now (if you haven't already) to strengthen your stress-reduction techniques. Eat regular, balanced meals. Cut way back or eliminate caffeine. Keep a regular exercise program. Make and keep to a study program. If the way you prepared before isn’t working for you, change how you study.

One suggestion that works really well for me, a feeble memorizer and a deer-in-the-headlights test taker, is to set your procedures to songs. It is so much easier to remember songs than mere lists, For example, use the “ABC” song to remember the introductory procedure to every skill.

Wash your hands and get supplies.

Knock on door so no surprise.

Say, “Hello, Patient!” (is this you?)

Say exactly what you’ll do.

Curtain, bed locks, bed height – prep's just brill!

Now it’s time to ace that skill.

The point is to make your own songs and rhymes, which will undoubtedly be way better than mine because they come from you. Also, you can probably tell I’m a big fan of cheering each little victory along the way. Why not be your own best fan instead of worst enemy?

Memorizing steps is good but it’s also really, really, really important to understand the big picture principles. Memorizing “soap, rinse, dry” is good but keeping in mind how soap works will help you remember not to use it near eyes and to rinse after you use it. Identify the big picture principles in the skill. Where are the safety issues? Always be taking a second to pause and think, “safety, safety, safety!” That will help you to remember to lock the wheelchair breaks, make sure shoes are on the floor, know when to change gloves and remember to rinse. Remembering how pressure sores form will help you remember pillow placement.

Last but not least, practice. Practice, practice, practice. Practice under conditions as close to the test as you can. I set up my bedroom as a testing site. Since I didn’t have rails on my bed, I used shelves from my bookcase; I stuck them between the mattress and the frame when they were up and laid them on the floor when they were down. I wrote all the skills on slips of paper, put them in jars (measurement skills and other skills). Then I would draw them out, read them, start a timer and do them, concentrating first on being thorough and correct and then on increasing speed. I got fast enough that the second time I finished just over five minutes before time ran out and didn’t feel rushed at all. I also passed doing blood pressure. I had to overcome huge feelings of incompetence there because my cranky instructor harangued me about being incompetent. (Don’t listen to anything anyone tells you unless they are giving a useful suggestions. Don’t label yourself; don’t let anyone else label you. You can't stop a Blue Meanie from landing on your head but you don't need to help it build a nest.

I know you can pass your test. You know it, too. Like a talented athlete, you have all the raw materials you need. Now just train and direct your skill in ways that will help you!

Rodrinka · May 25, 2014

Go over the skills checklist and read the frequently missed checkpoints from the prometric website. Look at yourself and the mirror and encourage yourself, you have to speak and think positive about this. This is your third time you know what you need to do. Keep resident safety in mind the entire time. Good luck I'm gonna pray for you.

mineSgold · May 25, 2014

The most important point of this state exam is: you know exactly what you are doing; safety of you and the resident, prevention of contamination. try to relax and be calm. :yes: I reviewed for the CNA Skills Exam by using youtube videos like forUCNA; but I'm aware that not all of those techniques apply in my State, Pennsylvania, since every State is different. And yes it helped me big for my second attempt of skills exam. Good luck girl, you can do it.

ktwlpn, LPN · May 25, 2014

That test is HARD.I've been a nurse for close to 25 years and I bet I would not pass it. We had a large number of CNA's in our last class fail their skills several times .All of them were good on the floors and really seemed to be on the ball. A few of them just made themselves sick over it.You can't loose your nerve and you have to commit to doing whatever it takes to succeed, even if you have to repeat the class. You will gain confidence.

One of the ladies who failed was working with the dummy and OOB transfers. Prior to starting she told the dummy "I am going to sit you up on the side of the bed now" and proceded to do so. She was failed because she did not say "Your feet will touch the floor now" as she was sitting the dummy up on the side of the bed. ...Really?? What? Where else would they go? Interestingly, after repeated failures many of our cna's had to go to a different testing center. Everyone passed on the first try.

djstormin · May 27, 2014

I take my test on Thursday for the first time. I am anxious and nervous as well. We can do this and we can pass this test. I think you have been given a lot of great advice and I know I am going to use a lot of it to get thru Thursday. Just remember to breath, think about what you are doing and take your time. Remember the instructor puts their pants on the same way you do everyday. They are just like us. We can do this!!! Wishing you lots of luck. I am practicing non stop until I take my exam.