Help with retaining CNA skills for state exam.....

somedaypeds · Jun 1, 2012

You just need to keep doing them over and over again. Get more time in the skills lab or partner with a classmate and have them go through the steps with you. First do the skill with your notes, then try the first 5 steps without, then the next 5. If you can't find anyone to do this with you (or you are too shy) do it with a baby doll or barbie at home. Seriously.

Pat2012 · Jun 2, 2012

I practiced with a good classmate over and over again, I practiced on my parents until they barred me (lol), and I practiced on my skeleton I used for anatomy class! haha :)

IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN · Jun 2, 2012

Oh, you're not the only one DreamChaser - not by a long shot!

Really, it just boils down to practice, practice & more practice - and then, practice some more!

As far as skills test anxiety - when I took the skills test you could cut the tension in that room with a knife, it was so thick. And, when it was all over - in our group of 6, 4 passed on the first try and the other 2 passed on the second.

Best thing to remember is (IMO) - if you do something wrong, TELL THE EXAMINER! 'Fess up - if you don't, you're toast. For example - had 2 students that drew gloves, mask & gown for their skill; one passed, one didn't. Oddly, they both made the same mistake (grabbed the outside of the sleeve instead of the inside - infection control boo-boo) but one called herself on it (and passed) and the other one didn't (and failed).

----- Dave

mindyfromcali · Jun 2, 2012

I agree with everyone. The main thing is, remember the first things for all of the skills: knock, greet, introduce yourself, tell them what the procedure is, check the name of resident/patient, draw curtain or close door. Everything else is safety related, which is what you must remember. Remember to lock the bed or wheel chair, and make sure safety rails are up or down as appropriate stuff like that. I had to shave my resident for my skill and the main thing was to remember to check the skin and use the razor properly, also remembering putting the razor into a sharps container.

As long as you catch your mistake before you finish completely you won't fail. Try not to stay nervous, and practice practice practice. I did flash cards and had family members check me. So I wouldn't actually do the skill, just say the list outloud that was on the card. Another thing I did was to come up with a reason why each step was there. For instance, closing the curtain is privacy, stuff like that. The people who fail are the ones who can't relax, didn't study, or just don't test well in general and didn't prepare enough. I think only one person failed in my class of 8 or 10 (its been 3 years) and they had failed it before.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Jun 2, 2012

I had a similar problem- has something to do with my lab anxiety, I'm sure. I'm in California., and we were told and I found it to be true that as long as you remember a step before you "leave" a patient, then you will pass. Practice your skills on real people at home. I practiced on my 6 year old, my husband, my nieces and nephews, and hosted a study session at my home so the other students and I could practice before the exam.Here is the mistake I made on the skills portion of the exam: I had started thinking that following correct handwashing procedures wastes too many towels so I used the towel I dried my hands on to turn off faucet. Examiner told me that germs might get through the wet towels so I can't do that. She still passed me.The other tricky thing that happened is that, in class, we'd only practiced donning and doffing ppe, but for the CNA exam, we had to tell her where we donn / doff: in the patients room.