Describe Your State Test Experience

ooper3076 · Aug 25, 2007

Well my state test experience was great. We had to pick numbers to figure out who goes when. I was # 6 so I had to wait a few hours. I was very nervous. The 1st girl failed because she flunked the blood pressure. That didn't help my nerves.

So I go in. There was only me, the patient (my instructor), and the state tester. The state tester made me pick a sheet that had 5 procedures I had to do. I picked handwashing, Semi-Fowlers, ROM w/skin checking, and draping. The 'patient' gets in the bed and I tell the tester what procedures I am doing. Everything was already set up.

Throughout the whole thing I was talking with the state tester and my instructor. Thats what I do when I am nervous: I talk to keep my mind off of what I am doing. We carried a conversation. The tester was asking me questions like what am I looking for during skin checks and during ROM. She doesn't tell you if you pass or fail until the end. I asked the tester if I got any dings in the end and she said I got 3 (that means I failed). Both of them started laughing at me because I had a horrid face. Well I passed, of course. After cleaning up, we all sat down and basically had girl talk while we signed papers.

You will be fine. The way I studied was having my boyfriend ask me procedures and I would tell him the steps and what I am doing. Or I would actually do the procedure with him. It helped me out a lot. My advice for the big day is go in with a smile (and if your instructor is fun) have fun with it. If you aren't in the beginning, ask the others after they're done how it went and ask for pointers. Also when you are doing the procedures, don't pay attention to the tester. Its just another day in clinicals. Take your time. Don't rush. Remember the simple things like bed in lowest position, bedside table and call light in reach. Good luck and let us know how you do!!!!

DreamyEyes · Aug 25, 2007

Hi Zooz- If it makes you feel any better, I was just as nervous as you are! I think everyone feels nervous and a little unprepared. I felt very comfortable with some skills, but very uncomfortable with others. It was very easy for me to do the skills on actual residents during clinical, but when it came to the test, I was soo nervous! I tend to blank when I get nervous, so I was worried I wouldn't remember anything when I actually had to perform the skills.

All I have to say is, I definitely lucked out. I took both my written & skills test yesterday. I was #9, so after I took my written part in the morning, I went home and then came back to take the skills. I was a nervous wreck. All I could think about was the test! When I went back to take it, they were only on #5, so I had to wait. Everytime someone came out of the door, my heart jumped because that meant it was closer to my time lol. The girl before me got bedpan and positioning, so I was really nervous- I didn't want to get bedpan....I felt like I didn't get to practice that skill enough. When I got called in, the proctor said that I had some "big shoes to fill"....I was freaking out thinking I was going to get bedpan! But then, she smiled and said "Actually, you really got the easy ones." She showed me the card, and I got the easiest ones (in my opinion) that you could get: Recording pulse, ROM on right arm, and Handwashing!!! I was so happy. After that, I felt a lot more relaxed, and I knew I was going to pass. I was a little nervous when taking pulse though- I thought I counted wrong because my victim's pulse was 88 :uhoh21:....but, the proctor checked and I ended up being right.

Everyone in my class passed, luckily. Our testing site was in the lab at the same place we've been doing class and practicing, so we lucked out. Like the other poster said, just remember the very important little things!-Such as side rails, leaving the call light, providing privacy, and making it known that you would wash your hands before and after each skill. Just take your time and you'll do fine!

Good luck on Tuesday, I'm sure you'll do great!! Let us know how it goes.

zooz · Aug 25, 2007

I felt very comfortable with some skills, but very uncomfortable with others. It was very easy for me to do the skills on actual residents during clinical, but when it came to the test, I was soo nervous! I tend to blank when I get nervous, so I was worried I wouldn't remember anything when I actually had to perform the skills.

That's me! You've described me perfectly.

I also hope I don't get bedpan. We never practiced it and I can't seem to remember to place the disposable protector under the person when I practice at home. Then I'm always wondering if I should lower the bed, since I am leaving the room, even if I'll be only right outside the door/curtain. Did your instructor tell you either way? My instructor never covered the topic and the textbook doesn't have it in the procedure steps, but it says (in a different part of the book) not to leave the bed raised if you will be leaving the person alone.

I will not panic. I will not panic. I will not panic. :nono:

DreamyEyes · Aug 26, 2007

My instructor told us to lower the bed when you leave the room, and then raise it again when you come back.

Oh, and I always forget about the bed protector too, but I'm sure I wouldn't if I was giving a real resident a bed pan. :lol2:

bethin · Aug 27, 2007

zooz, you're going to do great! Don't worry.

My state experience was actually really good. I had heard horror stories, but I wouldn't put alot of stock into them.

I was first to go, as I requested. It was either go first or puke. We got to pick cards out of a stack. Each card had 3 ADL's on them that we were to perform. I got lucky. No, I got really lucky. My ADL's were: ROM, back rub and denture care. Pretty simple stuff - and quick too! I was told by our CNA instructor that we were allowed to mess up 3 times before she had to fail us. Also, the state tester said that she would first try to reorient us before just marking the skill as failed. If, after reorientation you still didn't know what to do then she would fail. So you had several chances. But this could vary state to state.

I was so nervous before hand. But I knew that I knew the stuff and it was as simple as getting my nerves under control. When you're nervous, you don't breathe as much or as deeply as you should and that makes you more nervous and then being nervous makes you forget things. So take 3 big deep breaths before you start and remind yourself that you know the skills. If you know you made a mistake, say "I made a mistake. Can I go back and fix it?" That was acceptable during my test also.

The written test was a breeze. It was one of those tests that every question had an obvious answer. I think everyone in our class passed the written.

For ex, a question could have looked like this:

What is MRSA?

a) name of a rock band

b) an infection

c) a word in German

Good luck zooz! :balloons:

bethin · Aug 27, 2007

That's me! You've described me perfectly.
I also hope I don't get bedpan. We never practiced it and I can't seem to remember to place the disposable protector under the person when I practice at home. Then I'm always wondering if I should lower the bed, since I am leaving the room, even if I'll be only right outside the door/curtain. Did your instructor tell you either way? My instructor never covered the topic and the textbook doesn't have it in the procedure steps, but it says (in a different part of the book) not to leave the bed raised if you will be leaving the person alone.
I will not panic. I will not panic. I will not panic.

I would lower the bed even if you will be right outside the room. Better safe than sorry.

I'm lost on the disposable protector. Are you talking about chux? We never used those with bedpans, but it makes sense. This probably won't come up during your test but it will be handy when you start working: when putting a pt on a bedpan by yourself and the pt doesn't roll well, place the bedpan as best as you can. Go to the other side of the bed (opposite the side you were on) and pull the pad under the pt and under the bedpan. This will center the pt on the bedpan so they hit it. And don't worry, there are some pts that no matter how hard you try they cannot hit the bedpan.

zooz · Aug 27, 2007

My instructor told us to lower the bed when you leave the room, and then raise it again when you come back.

I would lower the bed even if you will be right outside the room. Better safe than sorry.

That's what I thought. Just wanted to make sure!

Should I leave the side rails up or down? Personally, I would consider leaving them up (something for the patient to steady themselves with when on the bedpan), but technically you are supposed to lower them when the bed is lowered.

Another question! What if you need to go into the bathroom, say to empty the bedpan, would you lower the bed? Is it acceptable for the bed to be raised as long as you can see the patient? I think we touched bases on that in the "bed rails = restraints" thread. I just need to confirm/deny it.

(Yes, I've been told before that I analyze and worry about things waaaay too much.)

Oh, and I always forget about the bed protector too, but I'm sure I wouldn't if I was giving a real resident a bed pan.

Yes! Definitely much easier to remember with an actual patient/resident there.

I'm lost on the disposable protector. Are you talking about chux?

Blue pads/disposable bed protector/chux. All the same, I think.

My ADL's were: ROM, back rub and denture care. Pretty simple stuff - and quick too! I was told by our CNA instructor that we were allowed to mess up 3 times before she had to fail us. Also, the state tester said that she would first try to reorient us before just marking the skill as failed. If, after reorientation you still didn't know what to do then she would fail. So you had several chances. But this could vary state to state.

Ah, girl! You had the skills that I'm hoping for as my unknown skills! :lol2:

We have five skills we have to perform in Oklahoma for the LTC/CNA certification. The two that are known are hand washing and temperature/pulse/respirations. The other three can be anything from a 20+ skill list. We have to pass the exam 100%. No prompts/reorientation, and questions cannot be asked once the exam begins.

Also, I found out today that I will be the first one in my class to take the exam. I also found out today that the majority of the people tested for CNA at my vo-tech have failed the first time due to, so I've heard, an extremely picky proctor. I need to just push that gossip out of my brain and focus on what I know.

I've been reviewing/practicing like mad and I'm pretty confident in my skills now for the lab setting. (Why was it so much easier in clinicals?) It's just a matter of getting my nerves under control and trusting myself.

Thank you, bethin and Dreamy, for all your words of encouragement and much needed help/advice!

bethin · Aug 27, 2007

Should I leave the side rails up or down? Personally, I would consider leaving them up (something for the patient to steady themselves with when on the bedpan), but technically you are supposed to lower them when the bed is lowered.
Another question! What if you need to go into the bathroom, say to empty the bedpan, would you lower the bed? Is it acceptable for the bed to be raised as long as you can see the patient? I think we touched bases on that in the "bed rails = restraints" thread. I just need to confirm/deny it.
(Yes, I've been told before that I analyze and worry about things waaaay too much.)

I would put all 4 up if you raise the bed. If you need to place a bedpan just lower the rails on the side you are on. Then when you lower the bed you can put down the 2 lower rails.

Technically, I would assume you would lower the bed if you go into the bathroom. Even if you can see the patient you may not get there in time to prevent a fall.

Truthfully, I don't lower the bed if I go in the br. I have a bedpan in my hand that is full and my goal is to get that emptied asap. But, for your test I would lower the bed if you go into the br.

jb2u, ASN, RN · Aug 27, 2007

Another question! What if you need to go into the bathroom, say to empty the bedpan, would you lower the bed? Is it acceptable for the bed to be raised as long as you can see the patient? I think we touched bases on that in the "bed rails = restraints" thread. I just need to confirm/deny it.

Never, Never, Never leave the bed up unless you are within arms reach of the bed and facing the bed. If you go to the bathroom, that is long enough for a confused pt to "jump the side rails" and injure him/herself leaving you to explain why you would leave him/her unattended with the bed raised. All four rails up is not allowed because it is considered a restraint. A confused pt may feel trapped and try to climb over the rail, only increasing the distance of the fall!

Good luck to all the future cna test takers out there.

Sincerley,

Jay