I'm taking my PA CNA state test tomorrow and my class is arguing about what to wear and what not to wear. The Red Cross never addressed this but the letter for the testing site specifically states: Please wear tank top, sleeveless shirt or loose fitting shirt with short sleeves.
The state exam book states to wear Easy to slide off shoes with non-skid soles.
Half the girls say they are wearing scrubs and the other half, active wear and easy slide on shoes.
Another girl I know who took the test a while ago says that her teacher told her how you dress gets factored into the test and you have to presentable for skills test in scrubs ONLY.
Any advice or clarification needed please. If scrubs were mandatory wouldn't the PA state exam just simply state that is the dress code? What gives with this confusion and vague instructions?
Trying to picture what on earth someone would be doing that would require a sleeveless shirt or tank top. Neither of those items have ever been permitted as workwear ANYWHERE I have ever heard, so...what's the purpose?
If we got Modified Bed Bath as a skill we had to actually wash who they paired you up with. Face, one arm, shoulder, hand and underarm.
Same with foot care. My (one) foot was washed, rinsed, dried and lotioned for real. Very awkward
This really has nothing to do with a work/ interview type situation. This is hours and hours of waiting; taking a standardized test + waiting for your turn to perform 5 skills in 30 mins and having 4 skills performed on/to you. THEN waiting and waiting again to be told the results all in one day with no assigned break or access to food/beverage( unless you brought it with you) they encouraged us to wait close by incase we were called. It's a long day so I wore all black, comfortable, presentable clothing with grey slip on flats and a grey sweater that was easy to get off if needed. It worked out perfect for me. Half the people wore scrubs and the other half did not. We were all from different schools and told different things.
I hadn't considered the dress for the day/test was a matter of comfort and convenience for performing (and receiving!) the skills themselves. Thanks for the info :)
I remember wearing just a t-shirt, yoga capris, and a pair of flats. The flats were easy to take on and off in case one of the skills required it (i.e footcare). I don't think it matters what you wear, some of my classmates wore scrubs, some wore regular clothes. We all eventually passed. TBH, the tester is looking more at how you are performing the skills and not what you are wearing. Obviously don't wear something inappropriate like short shorts or something that overexposes the chest.
Trying to picture what on earth someone would be doing that would require a sleeveless shirt or tank top. Neither of those items have ever been permitted as workwear ANYWHERE I have ever heard, so...what's the purpose?
It makes if easier if you're the patient during skills testing for skills like taking BP.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
It may be too late but I would dress in scrub pants that you can move easily in. If they said tank top or short sleeve shirt I would go with a short sleeved scrub top again something I could move easily in. Wear a Tank top under but make sure it is tasteful. 1 " or greater arm strap, no good bra with cleavage minimized, no belly showing. They want a bare arm to see some specific skill - I dont really know other than that.
Following directions is an important CNA skill. Dress stated above is so that candidates can be used as pretend patient during CNA exam which includes bathing and patient transfers. Flip-flops not permitted. :)
Issue should be resolved today since post test date. Hope you passed.
I passed, yoga pants and all! Oh my goodness it was cold, wet and rainy here yesterday, even the chronic flip flop wearing kind wouldn't have dared!
I remember wearing just a t-shirt, yoga capris, and a pair of flats. The flats were easy to take on and off in case one of the skills required it (i.e footcare). I don't think it matters what you wear, some of my classmates wore scrubs, some wore regular clothes. We all eventually passed. TBH, the tester is looking more at how you are performing the skills and not what you are wearing. Obviously don't wear something inappropriate like short shorts or something that overexposes the chest.
Yes, that is exactly what I thought and what I wore yesterday. I was questioning myself because a CNA I know took the test 6 months ago told me that you can "lose points" if you don't wear the right thing. I never heard of that before and wondered if anyone had. Now I know she had no clue what she was talking about, haha!
For my exam I wore scrubs and sneakers, but there were others testing in casual clothes. A few people were just in jeans and a t-shirt. I personally liked wearing scrubs since I felt more professional and appropriate.
If the testing site says to wear a tank top, sleeveless shirt or loose fitting shirt with short sleeves then that's probably what you should wear. And also wear shoes with non-skid soles. The rules are right there. Can't get written off if you do what they say to do...especially if it's in writing.
I wore a t-shirt, scrub bottoms, and some tennis shoes when I took my CNA test.
Trying to picture what on earth someone would be doing that would require a sleeveless shirt or tank top. Neither of those items have ever been permitted as workwear ANYWHERE I have ever heard, so...what's the purpose?
For our class to take the CNA State Test we were required to wear a tank top under scrubs. We were required to show we were wearing it at test day. My instructor explained the reason for this may be for the extra coverage in waist area as many students bend over during testing and expose a part of their butt crack. The extra coverage of tank top helps to somewhat avoid this unprofessional occurrence.
I wore scrubs to mine as I was headed to work after the test. My state, at the time, didn't require skills testing as clinicals counted as your skills portion. However, wearing a tank top under your scrubs is a good way to prevent butt crack and cleavage exposure to patients/residents.
PhillyRNtoBe
137 Posts
If we got Modified Bed Bath as a skill we had to actually wash who they paired you up with. Face, one arm, shoulder, hand and underarm.
Same with foot care. My (one) foot was washed, rinsed, dried and lotioned for real. Very awkward