So.... What skills did you have on your exam???

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Hey all! I finished my CNA course about 2 weeks ago. I'm taking the state exam on Sept. 8th. I decided to wait until after Sept. 1 because if I don't work as a CNA before starting nursing school in 2 yrs, my cert will expire.

Anyway... just curious if you would like to share what skills you had. TIA!!!

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Specializes in LTC.

Denture cares, transferring a patient from wheelchair to bed, feeding, Heimlech maneuver, feeding, and of course handwashing.

Denture cares -- got me because I didn't line the sink with paper towels.

Transferring -- in Iowa, where I live, if you can fit two fingers in the gait belt it's an automatic fail. Our instructor always joked, "If you can hear ribs cracking, it isn't tight enough." Luckily for me, the faux-resident I had my skills test on had just had surgery so I was allowed to let it loose!

With a choking resident OR a falling resident, make sure you either say "HELP!" in a loud voice or just tell your evaluator that you would be yelling "help." You will get no points for the entire skill if this isn't done -- luckily for me, I just said "She's choking!" in a loud voice, and the evaluator was nice enough to excuse it as the real thing, but probably shouldn't have, technically.

And before you do test out, make sure you know what the rules are like as you're testing. When we did our skills, if we forgot to do a step, all we had to do was mention that we forgot it while we were still in the testing area. It was pretty nice! I was nervous so I would forget little things (especially like calling the resident "honey" or "sweetie" which you're not supposed to do) and then remind the evaluator of the correction. And always pull that privacy curtain!

That's probably more info than you wanted, but I've been telling every future aide these things since I passed my test!

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Hey all! I finished my CNA course about 2 weeks ago. I'm taking the state exam on Sept. 8th. I decided to wait until after Sept. 1 because if I don't work as a CNA before starting nursing school in 2 yrs, my cert will expire.

Anyway... just curious if you would like to share what skills you had. TIA!!!

Well, in Oklahoma we have five known skills that will be on the test.

1. ROM

2. Transfer w/ gait belt.

3. BP, T,P,R

4. Partial bed bath

5. Handwashing

As for the rest, the examiner decides!! I got dental care, transport to a w/c, and position pt. on side. It wasn't as bad as I thought once I got started on the skills. It's the time before that is bad- all that worrying I did for nothing. Remenber, if you forget a step in the process, just say I forgot to do this and correct it. You will do fine.

Kim

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In Indiana we had four skills to perform. We picked cards to determine what we did.

I did:

handwashing (requirement)

ROM

backrub

denture care

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hand washing, ROM on lower extremities, passing ice water, ambulation, and I think bed change

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OK.. so I have another question :confused:... Once you complete the handwashing skill (I know that is a definite one of ours)... and you are doing another skill, say... brushing teeth.. do you actually wash your hands again?? or just tell them that you would "check the careplan, wash hands and gather supplies" before knocking on the door?

ugg... I know I'll do fine on the written, but I am just a fumbling idiot on the skills stuff.

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Specializes in LTC.

I did hand washing, pulse/respirations, partial bed bath, oral care, ambulation.

For hand washing you just verbally go through it each time. I'm going to wash my hands, gather my supplies, knock on the door...etc."

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ugg... I know I'll do fine on the written, but I am just a fumbling idiot on the skills stuff.

You're not alone! I feel the exact same way. :uhoh3:

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Hi,

In NYC:

I had ROM to lower extremity, dressing the resident and pulse and resp. Of course, handwashing and yes I actually washed my hands before I started each skill. Also, make sure you give the resident the call bell and lower the resident's bed to it's lowest position after each skill.

Now, I start my part time job at the end of the month before I start LPN school in Sept.

Good luck to those who are preparing for their state exam.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I just wanted to say good luck with your exam! I take my skills exam I think on Aug 24th or 27th, and I'm extremely nervous. :(

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what is passing ice water? I am in the middle of my LNA clinical now and I have never heard that one.... I'm learning so much from these posts, but getting very nervous for next months state exam!

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MN doesn't have passing ice water as a skill, but I think it is just properly handing out ice water to patients while maintaining proper hygiene. Your class should tell you what skills your state will test you on.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!!

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