certification exam next week, help!

Dorali, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 22, 2011

Is there anyway you could video yourself? Then you could watch and see what is taking most of your time. Or go to the skills lab after class with one or two classmates &/or instructor and have them give you some feedback. They may have some tips that they use that might help you.

ArmyWife11B · Feb 23, 2011

Just practice, practice, practice...kind of crappy advise on my end, but idk just try not to go too fast, but don't go too slow..and if all else fails hope that you wont get that particular skill on your test..thats all I can say. Oh and Just make sure you put the "side rails" up when you have your "pt." turn side to side, or you will get docked points. And just do your best. There is always a second try if you fail the first. The test isn't as hard as it seems.

mar12011 · Feb 23, 2011

THANKS for the well said advice Dondie & ArmyWife11B -- I like the idea of someone taking my cell phone and recording a video of it, I do know for a fact two areas I purposely have to slow me down on in this skill (I know this will sound nutty): first when putting the clean fitted sheet on, then the clean top sheet. I have put the fitted on width-wise instead of length-wise more than once, AND getting the top sheet centered is also not my forte. SO slowing me down a bit on those two steps helps me at least no look like a complete idiot, just a slow one.

For years I have had a Tempur-pedic mattress that is over 2 feet in depth, plus the bed is against the wall (no room to walk around it when making it) and I never use a top sheet, just a comforter and fitted sheet. Thus, I am out of touch with making it to spec like in class.

As for practicing, I live less than 1/4 mile from the school, so I have been there 4 hours a day for the past 2-1/2 weeks practicing. My only problem is often I am the only one there practicing in the afternoon hours, so I can make an unoccupied bed in fairly decent time. The owner actually told me she thinks I am over-practicing, ALTHOUGH she has never watched me do a skill -- if she saw me in action she would fully understand my being there that often. She said that she has seen girls that practice too much fail due to practicing too much. That seems completely counter-intuitive to me.

One week from this minute I will know if I made it, but like you said ArmyWife11B, if I fail it the first time, there's is always a second try!! :0)