frighteded, please help!

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Hi all,

I finished the CNA course in April and I go for my test in the morning...... I am so nervous. I think I know what I am doing but..... When it comes to performing I am really worried that my nerves are going to win. Does anyone have any advice? What can I expect? I am testing in Front Royal, Va. I know that we get 5 skills (including hand washing, and one measurement). I'm not sure exactly how it is laid out as far as dirty supply area, clean supplies.... Yeah I am just nervous...... any advice at all would be great. Thank you all!

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Deep breathing, concentrate on each breath. You know the material. Don't rush, rushing is where mistakes happen. Think it all through and you'll do awesome! Panic is what gets almost all who fail. You're not going to fail! You're going to do great!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Talking while you performed each step helps a lot. That's what me & my classmates did when we performed the skills portion & we all passed that portion :)

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Specializes in NICU.

A lot of it will be common sense, try not to be too freaked out :).

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Also, if you start a procedure and realize you forgot to wash your hands, tell the tester "Would you allow me to start over? I realized I forgot to wash my hands." Our instructor tells us that we should do that when we test (which will be in a few weeks). Being nervous can make you rush and jump over whole sets of procedures.

So, if you make a mistake, acknowledge it to the instructor and ask if you may repeat the procedure correctly.

Also... I saw this the other day:

Knock on the door

Introduce Yourself

Provide for Privacy

Explain the Procedure

Wash Your Hands

KIPEW - maybe you can remember that. Some people like to remember it as KWIPE, but you do it how it works for you. Maybe you can come up with your own "mnemonic" to remember for this, or other procedures, including what you've got to do when you leave (call button, ask them if they're comfortable, push the curtain back, wash your hands, etc.)

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Thank you all so much!

For anyone who still has to take it our skills are all on you-tube, you have to watch and make sure they are doing it right but it is still a great refresher and helps with the night-before nerves...... I'm still nervous but, I am just going to give it my all and hope I don't do anything stupid!

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Specializes in NICU.

Ah, you should be fine :).

I don't think there's anything that's not on you-tube anymore...;)

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Well I actually had a panic attack during my last skill test when I was dressing the dummy. I tried to rush cause I was shaking and almost knocked the dummy off the bed. The testing woman got up and left the room and I finished up and went to the bathroom and cried. When I came out she told me I passed. I wanted to hug her. I dont know what happened to me in there. I was worried over nothing because I did everything right and scored 100 on my written test. I did it to myself with my worrying. Be nice to your self. Starting now.No more negative thoughts. You will pass.

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Hi all,

well, I left on sat. certain I failed, I missed little stuff and I was not certain that I got the pulse, I took it twice. the first time I got 104!, So I told my "client" that I felt I needed to retake it because it was very high..... I got 96 the second time. we were all so nervous that it may or may not have been right. I don't even know what all I missed. I know I got the skills them selves right, but I don't know if I even introduced myself or not.....

Anyway very very long story short, I have not received my letter yet (they do not tell us on site), but I checked the va web-site and I am coming up certified. So I am hoping that my letter will come and confirm it for me.

Thank you all.

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:ancong!:

How does it feel?

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