CNA board cert test tips???

It can be a number of things from tying slip knots on restraints to transferring a patient or making a bed correctly. You normally pick three skills randomly from a hat (or other object) so its the luck of the draw. Its not too hard really. I didn't take any classes either I worked in an assisted living home for 2 months and then challenged the exam. Its not bad.

It shouldn't be that hard, though I failed my CNA test because the tester likes to pick pick pick, and I still failed even though I did exactly what I was trained to do.

I was required to comb a dummy's hair, make a peanut butter sandwhich and cut it in half, and transfer a dummy from a w/c to a BSC.

I did the same thing as you...challenged it in nursing school.

My skills they selected were blood pressure, hair care, and denture care. I think that someone gave me a list of all the different skills before the test. It seems like it had listed the different things they wanted for each skill.

Be absolutlely sure to knock on the door before you come in. Also, be sure to introduce yourself and explain what you are going to do even if it is a dummy. They tend to be really particluar about that.

For the blood pressure exam your reading has to match their reading within like 10mm/hg.

I remember that on hair care it was a "RULE" to place a clean towel on the patients shoulders. That was the only catch I recall. Just start combing at the bottom and not rip their scalp off. :chuckle

The "rule" for denture care that I recall was that you place a clean towel over the sink. The rationale for that is that if you drop the dentures into the sink they will not be as likely to break.

I found the test to be quite easy. The only thing I reviewed were for the skills segment with that list of skills they gave me before the test. The main thing was knocking and introductions.

I think that it is 3 skills here. That may vary state to state.

I worked as a CNA part-time in nursing school. My salary was pitiful....I think I made $5.50/hr. BUT that was in 1999 and it was in a small nursing home in a very rural area.

Starting pay at the nursing home I work at now is $8.60/hr. The CNAs are also paid extra for shift/weekend differential and skilled hall differential if it applies to them. The differential is pretty good, particularly on weekends. I believe it can get up to $3 on weekends. Skilled floor pay is 50cents/hr. They get paid for experience as well, but there is a $2/hr cap on that. For reference this is in Tennessee. This also isn't the best paying job around for CNAs, but I would say it is pretty average.

I've never worked assisted living so I can't provide any information on that.

When I was a CNA I was officially PRN staff. I was able to choose my own hours. Some weeks I'd work nearly full time, others not at all. It worked out with school better than anything else I could think of. I never had to worry about getting hours because there are always vacancies. Most nursing homes will let you come in for as few or as many hours as you want.There is always a need.

wow, cna's dont make much in your area. right now i work at a county-run nursing home, and the base rate is 9.71 per hour, but i make 15.39 per hour as a weekend premium. i work 6:30 to 2:30 every saturday and sunday, so even though its only 15 hours a week i get paid for, its really good money for the amount of hours. i would hate to do this job for less than 10 bucks an hour, it is really hard work.

remember about privacy rules, it was really important when i was taken my cna exam. doors, curtains, windows if any need to be close.

handwashing after and before any procedure or task,

identify yourself to resident and tell what you going to do,

keep environment, resident, yourself as safe as you can,

gloves using if needed, mask,

proper body mechanics,

when you clean person - uncovered only the part which you clean, that was important when i passed my exam,

i always prepare extra stuffs in case emergency, like towel, gloves, blankets, spreadsheet, bluesheet, diaper,

try to not cut person, not to pull hair,

if person is able you can ask if she or he wants to do something on own,

that what i remember.

good luck,