Failed CNA Test. Should I retake it?

[alp7780]

Hello all,

I am pretty sure I failed my skills portion of my CNA test today. I did hand washing fine, nail care fine, ROM shoulders fine, and occupied bed fine, but I have a bad feeling about radial pulse. The person I was taking pulse on had their pulse all ove the place and did not know what to do. I took the pulse twice to make sure and I got 74. The evaluator asked me to do it again thinking that the ticking noise of the clock I was using to help count one minute was bothering me. She asked me to use her watch and I got 66 beats and then she had to take the pulse on the same arm I was taking pulse on to make sure. I am pretty sure I failed on pulse then because it seems like she was trying really really hard to help me pass my test. I do not know if it is worth retaking the skills test if I failed the skills portion.

I'm really sad right now. I do not plan on working as a CNA anymore because I wanted to become a nurse at first so I took this CNA class, but I feel like pharamacy might be a better career for me now. I think I will try to become a pharamacy tech and see if I like pharmacy. I am not sure if it will help me to find a career in pharmacy if I am a certified nursing assistant so that I should retake the skills test. Can I get any advice on whether I should retake the test?

[julz68]

Are you sure you failed? Some people have irregular heart rates and it can be difficult to count. On those patients, sometimes you get a different number each time, although by only a few beats.

[stewartfamily2010]

First off you're not even sure if you failed yet so try to relax while you wait it out. Second. If you did fail, of course you should try again!

[HeatherMax]

Pharmacy is a dead end job. I just left it, retake your exam if you failed.

[MrsStudentNurse]

I thought about pharmacy too! I just couldn't stomach being behind a counter if getting in a hospital setting didn't work as its hard to come by. Not a bad career choice though!

However don't let the CNA state board test make that decision for you. I can tell you the "state board" way and real way are nowhere near the same. Some of the way they do skills for state board makes me wonder. I'm all for safety and sanitation but also practicality and efficiency!