About to take CNA exam in NC, a few concerns and questions

[bustthewave]

Hey everyone, I hope I'm posting this in the right area :).

So I'm incredibly nervous, and want to make sure I pass on the first go around (primarily for financial reasons).

It's really psyching me out and making me doubt myself. So I figure I can help myself alleviate my anxiety by clarifying some of my concerns.

For the skill "Assists with use of bedpan,"

There's a step that bothers me. For clarity here are the steps I'm having difficulty with-

5. Places bedpan correctly under client's buttocks.

6. Removes and disposes of gloves into waste container, and washes hands.

7. After positioning client on bedpan and removing gloves, raises head of bed.

What bothers me about these steps, is I don't like the idea of having to leave my patient to wash my hands in a potentially painful and/or uncomfortable position before raising the head of the bed. While i know this is technically acceptable, would the test administrator fail me for removing and disposing my gloves, raising the head of the bed, THEN washing my hands?

Second concern: It's often listed that you take dirty linen to the dirty linen receptacle near the end of the skill (this goes for "making an occupied bed," "Dresses client with affected right arm," "modified bed bath," and a few others I believe). So then whenever I have dirty linen, but still have more steps before I need to dispose of it, is it fine to place it on the edge of the bed? It just seems like a possible contamination issue.

I think I'm over thinking things... I tend to do that... and ultimately the over thinking is what causes me to fail, not my ability to perform (so I'll definitely need to keep that in mind).

For anyone who's tested in NC, I did have a question about how some things are set up. With the occupied bed making, how many total sheets do they use? I've been practicing with 3, plus a pad and bath sheet to cover the patient (forgive me i can't remember all the names, but a fitted sheet, a top sheet, spread).

Thanks in advance for any information, help, hints, tricks, tips you guys can give me :).

[SlaveHeart]

Hey everyone, I hope I'm posting this in the right area :).

So I'm incredibly nervous, and want to make sure I pass on the first go around (primarily for financial reasons).

It's really psyching me out and making me doubt myself. So I figure I can help myself alleviate my anxiety by clarifying some of my concerns.

For the skill "Assists with use of bedpan,"

There's a step that bothers me. For clarity here are the steps I'm having difficulty with-

5. Places bedpan correctly under client's buttocks.

6. Removes and disposes of gloves into waste container, and washes hands.

7. After positioning client on bedpan and removing gloves, raises head of bed.

What bothers me about these steps, is I don't like the idea of having to leave my patient to wash my hands in a potentially painful and/or uncomfortable position before raising the head of the bed. While i know this is technically acceptable, would the test administrator fail me for removing and disposing my gloves, raising the head of the bed, THEN washing my hands?

Second concern: It's often listed that you take dirty linen to the dirty linen receptacle near the end of the skill (this goes for "making an occupied bed," "Dresses client with affected right arm," "modified bed bath," and a few others I believe). So then whenever I have dirty linen, but still have more steps before I need to dispose of it, is it fine to place it on the edge of the bed? It just seems like a possible contamination issue.

I think I'm over thinking things... I tend to do that... and ultimately the over thinking is what causes me to fail, not my ability to perform (so I'll definitely need to keep that in mind).

For anyone who's tested in NC, I did have a question about how some things are set up. With the occupied bed making, how many total sheets do they use? I've been practicing with 3, plus a pad and bath sheet to cover the patient (forgive me i can't remember all the names, but a fitted sheet, a top sheet, spread).

Thanks in advance for any information, help, hints, tricks, tips you guys can give me :).

Where I tested we were instructed to just say 'washes hands and use hand sanitizer in leu of actually washing our hands. However properly washing hands was the first skill tested on. Follow the booklet exactly as that is what they will judge you on!

For the skills that needed a dirty linen receptical I gathered the bin with my other items for the skill. In real life I would use a empty trash bag to act as a barrier and place the soiled linnens in the trash bag then carry the bag to the bin.

I hope that helps or at least gives you something to think about; or maybe just encourages others to responde:)