CNA exam

Gr4ceffa, CNA · Feb 7, 2017

ashlehh,

The CNA course was(is) very simple. The most clinical things you will be doing is counting respirations, all the CNAS I've talked to use the same trick to make it easier and less time consuming(counting the respirations for 15 seconds, then multiplying by 4) but they may make you do it the "hard way" and count for the full minute. You will also be getting hands on with learning how to change actual patient that aren't like the dummies you practice on in school. There was a patient who was extremely tense in the legs, you literally had to pry her

legs open to put on and take off her pants/put on diaper etc. As far as the tests, they are extremely simple and common sense â€” Ex: "You have a resident who is hearing impaired in one ear." Do you A - Scream at the top of you lungs? B - Turn the TV volume up higher, or C - Talk to your patient in a louder tone, not screaming or yelling, but so they can hear you. The answer is obviously C. The questions are common sense for the most part and doesn't take much. If you're still struggling, try looking up test quiz answers for CNA's on the Internet, it doesn't hurt. I had a free CNA practice test app on my phone, practiced everyday if I needed to, which I probably didn't need to, but once again, it never hurts. And it's never hurts to become a CNA before nursing, don't feel bad. All or most of the nurses I've known or talked to were CNA's, it not only gives you experience which may be required, but a look into the field of what it's like, to see if you're really going to enjoy nursing. With all that said, good luck! Don't hesitate to ask a specific question, I'll try my personal best to answer!

Paws2people · Feb 7, 2017

It depends on the state. Where are you located? Look on your state's certification site. Usually there is an outline. My own state listed each skill step by step, and what the examiner was grading you on.

Isaac09 · Feb 8, 2017

What app did you used please for your cna exam

Gr4ceffa, CNA · Feb 8, 2017

Issac09,

The app I used is called "CNA-TEST". Ther are many other apps avalible if you don't like that specify one. Good luck.

ashlehh · Feb 9, 2017

Thank you Gr4ceffa for your reply, I have downloaded like 4 different apps, and I'm doing fairly well on the questions. You're right there mostly common sense. I think I'm just freaking out about the skills part of the exam. I'm familiar with all of them but I don't know if I'm familiar enough to pass random ones.

Paws2people So helpful thank you! I'm in CT and I found the website for it and it actually walked me through the whole thing. Which definitely helped at least ease my fear what what I'll be doing that day.

Gr4ceffa, CNA · Feb 9, 2017

ashlehh,

Just keep practicing on the skills that you're struggling with and having a hard time comprehending. Are you struggling on a specific skill? Or just the whole thing?

ashlehh · Feb 12, 2017

Gr4ceffa, not really a specific skill. Just the idea of not doing some of these thing for a couple months then being tested on it. Weird question, I know hand washing is definitely one. Do I have to wash my hands before each skill? Or is it just the initial skill and then I can verbalize that I would wash my hands.

Gr4ceffa, CNA · Feb 13, 2017

ashlehh,

Each school is going to have different rules about different things your examiner is going to be grading you on. Typically, you're going to show how to wash your hands the correct way(removing any jewelry that may be on hands, turn the water on a comfortable temperature, get your hands wet all the way up to your wrists, use a dime sized amount of soap, lather the soap for about 30 seconds, sing the ABC's or the Happy Birthday song twice to know you've washed long enough, friction is key. Especially try your hardest to wash around your finger nail area, that's a prime place for germs to hide. When washing, position your hands downward in order to keep microorganisms from traveling up your arms. If your hands touch the inside of the sink, you're going to have to start all over. Rinse with warm water, then dry with (disposable) towel(disposable, in order to keep germs from other towel uses).

Your examiner usually grades on this

1) Standing in a way your clothing does not touch the sink.

2) Turning the water on and adjusting to a warm temperature, letting the water run.

3) Wetting wrists and hands, keeping them lower than your elbow.

4) Applied soap, or avalible cleaning detergent to hands.

5) Washed both hands with friction for about 15-20 seconds.

6) Rinsed both hands and wrists properly with finger tips pointing down.

7) Dry hands with a disposable towel, from your finger tips to wrists.

8) Properly disposal of towel.

9) Using a dry paper towel between hands to turn off the running water.

Usually, you just wash your hands once, and then verbally tell them when you would wash your hands next.

sroseyos · Feb 19, 2017

Where are you located? Although the test probably won't vary much, there's a good chance your state has posted info on the specific test you'll be taking. For example, here's the candidate handbook for North Carolina, which goes over both the skills and the format of the test here. There are also a ton of great video series on Youtube that go through each of the CNA skills. Good luck!