Failed my CNA skills... I need encouragement please

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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This is just a "hiccup" in your journey. Don't be too hard on yourself. ALL of us have gone through something that we felt like total failures and somehow we pick ourselves back up and keep on going, YOU CAN TO!!!

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Don't worry...you have what you need now. You will pass this time. Just another lesson on patience and endurance. You can do it! :up:

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Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.

I agree, you really needed the packet to pass. Those skills tests are super picky. I'm sure you'll pass with flying colors next time! :)

When you do get a job as a CNA, that'll really boost your confidence. It did for me, when I was in nursing school. After a while, lots of skills will become second nature. Plus, if the floor nurses know that you are a student nurse, sometimes they will make a point of letting you help with or watch interesting procedures.

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is this a joke? because the beginning of your post sounded really funny. you failed an exam that required you to turn a patient onto their left side? lol! Now if you were dead serious, i'm sorry. I just couldn't help myself. but to offer a few words of encouragement, I say "hang in there." Next time, when you turn the patient on their right side, you'll know what to do and impress your professor with the pillow between the ankles! And I'm sure you will remember to dry after each perineal stroke. Oh and by the way, real world application dictates that an extra pillow isn't always available. Thus, you would have to turn patients without one, with the hope that the person you are turning is durable enough to not require a pillow between their ankles.

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Specializes in Neonatal Intensive Care.

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Hey there KristenRN2b

wow! this is my first post! =]

Pretty new at the web.

I am actually reading, ..taking notes through subjects that concerns CNA "skills" of reasons of failing the exam (to study what not to do and do...and be familiar with the skills exam)

I'm in a very similiar situation. I'm a nursing student and decided to challenge the board to work as a CNA while in school to gain more experience and to help pay for my tuition. I can imagine how you will especially when performing the skills often during clinicals and little things can fail us, nursing students challenging the board..I can see myself crying ! =[[ now, Here I am, I am taking it on Sept 1st. doing what I can to pass the first time.

I believe you are right, the real world is different from the actual test..(based on my exams, esp practice nclex questions)..I'm assuming that the Skills for CNA State Exam is the same.. o0! a challenge!

I understand that each state varies of what is required for the student to know how to perform EXACTLY the skills when ask, therefore ...the checklist, is that only for your state? only for your test center?

Can i get that online? My state is California and I will be taking mine at American Red Cross?

Anyone out there took it at American Red Cross..?

I wish you all the best on your retake and you studies!! =]]]

Thank you in advance!

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Specializes in Neonatal Intensive Care.

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Help! Where can I get this skills packet you all are referring to? Is it available anywhere online for free? Is there only one packet or is it different depending on where you are going to take the exam? I'm in northern California and will probably take it with Red Cross.

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Yes.....don't feel bad about this. I know I'm good and competent, too, and I felt that I was well prepared for my skills test. I really don't get nervous all that easily......however, I was surprised at just how nervous I got during this test. I had been told it's OK to 'talk' your way through the skills -- such as if there's not a curtain provided for privacy, you could pull an imaginary curtain and say 'I am providing privacy'. My skills rater said not to talk to her, not say anything unless I'm correcting myself on a step that I forgot. Suddenly I'm at a loss and I stumbled a lot because I was supposed to be silent and act as if she wasn't there. If I'd missed one more 'non-essential' step I would have failed. I barely passed !!!

Just think how much more prepared you're going to be on the second go-round. You'll kick butt. :D

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I'm sure you'll do fine - but here's a few tips regardless of which skills you are tested on:

1) Safety and privacy are key points that you CAN'T forget. This means:

a)safety for your patient as well as your own safety...bedrails, non slip socks, call bell, checking ID bracelet, etc as well as good body mechanics and raising the bed to a comfortable working level for yourself - but don't forget to lower the bed back to the lowest level once you're done

b) Privacy means knocking on the door (or acting that part out for the purpose of testing), introducing yourself, explaining your purpose for being there (i.e explain the procedure)...and of course drawing the curtain closed

2) Washing your hands - this actually goes with safety, but to stress the importance of it, I'm giving it it's own bullet:)

Just keep in mind that you won't have to actually keep repeating all of these steps, but you do notify the person testing you when you would be doing all of these things...For myself, just for my comfort, I mentioned what I would be doing next then asked if I was required to carry out that step.

I stress these points because you can miss a task specific step or two and still pass, but you can't miss one of the steps I mentioned above.

One last thing (and one thing I messed up on:o) is logging data one the log - there is an AM and PM line for each date...make sure you pick the right one:)

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I failed on my first try also. All because of something stupid. the one i failed on was dressing on right sided weakness. I was thinking my right side instead of the patients right side. But then i want back and retook it and passed. I will not do nursing school but i am going to go take the med aide class and try and do that part-time. And i am going to take medical coding. It is going to be a busy year. But i am tired of talking and not doing.

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Please. What packet are ya'll refering to? I am caretaker for my wife for the last several years and am thinking about becoming a CNA while I'm caring for her and will start doing this after she is gone. It should be easier when one can leave the "work" and go home every day than it is being the main caretaker for my wife 24/7 so I figure I can hndle it better than work I used to do but can't any more.(construction)

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