How did you guys study your CNA skills?

soapfloats · Aug 4, 2016

I practiced in class and at home (if you live alone you can pretend a couple of pillows are your patient). I'm in CA so I don't know if it will be different where you are, but there's a PDF on the Redcross website that lists how the skills should be done. I kept that open on my phone and looked it over every spare moment I got. Once you've done each skill two or three times it should feel pretty simple.

Good luck! Try not to get nervous.

coneal783, ADN, RN · Aug 4, 2016

My community college, where I took my Nurse Aide course, had open lab for skills and I went several times outside of class to practice, practice, practice. It also helps to read through the steps and visualize doing them.

Also, our instructors taught repetition for each skill. For example, they taught us to always wash hands and check bed lock/level before/after every skill, whether it was required or not. That way we are covered. Always wash hands before putting on gloves and after removing, always provide privacy even if not needed. When standing or walking client, always have feet flat on floor and wearing shoes. Always give call bell before completing skill. Just a few examples.

FlygirlJenny · Aug 4, 2016

If your taking your test with person vue, they have the candidate hand book on their website. It has both sample questions for the written exam and all the skills that are tested. Also remember that in all skills the first few steps are the same. IE. Knock and introduce yourself, explain the procedure, provide privacy, wash hands, put on gloves, ect. Almost all of them you can practice at home.

NotQuiteAntonio · Aug 14, 2016

Thank you for the responses, guys!

My apologies for the delay in getting back to you - I assumed my post got buried, as no one had said anything for a few days.

I have a handbook. I've been trying to memorize the steps just by reading them, but that's not doing so much for me (don't know if I mentioned the poor memory before, probably). I can't look at a list and memorize it. I don't know why, my brain just doesn't wanna do it.

What I have been able to memorize, apart from the simple opening and beginnings steps, such as introductions, providing for privacy, etc., is what I've had the opportunity to practice in class. The things I've had hands-on exposure to.

If I could get more of that, I'd be fine. But, the thing is, being that the class is so accelerated, we basically have to have a good idea as to how a skill is performed before we're even shown how to do it by the instructor. Half of the teaching is up to us.

The way it works is we'll come into class, do the lecture portion, then she'll show us how to perform the skill ONE time, and then expect us to be able to do it. We test out on the skill the same day, needing a score of at least 7/10 for most skills. 10/10 for others.

The other kids might be able to manage that, but I am having trouble. I mean, I am passing, because she's kind of lax about some things, she'll correct you, and so long as you finish the skill, you get a 7.. but.. it's not a very good experience for actually learning how to do the skill and being able to repeat it.

I get that it's our education, our lives, and that we should do all we can to learn, not just have everything bottle fed to us, but I need more than one opportunity to practice it in class.

I've been trying, and will continue to try, to practice what I can out of class, but some things just aren't possible, whether because I don't have a suitable partner, mannequin, materials in general, or the imagination.

I can't just imagine giving a bedbath, reading the steps. I need to actually do it with a mannequin or something.

The pillows work for some things, but not so much others.

I wish we had a skills lab, like some have mentioned. I'd be there every day.

The in-class portion of the program ends on the 18th of this month. We take our exam on the 22nd, then go for a tour of the facility we'll be doing our clinical in, which starts on the 24th.

So, I've got like a week to figure things out. Gonna do my best. We'll see.

Worst case scenario, I fail, then take it again.

I might even try to find a program elsewhere that's not crammed into 75 hours, four weeks. It'd be worth the drive and/or extra money, if I'd get to spend more time learning the skills in class, even have access to a skills lab.

Again, might work fine for some people, but not me. I'd rather take 3 months getting the certification than 1, having to rush through everything.

Apologies for all the complaining in this wall of text. I have no one to vent to about these things. lol

I'm not gonna give up though. I'll pass eventually. Definitely will be seeing more of me, allnurses.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE RESPONSES.

Clarifier S'il vous · Aug 14, 2016

Oh gosh, I can relate. The 16 week classes with the skills labs are probably the best way to get ready for the test. You need to practice over and over till you have the skills down pat. Also, have someone read you the skills and you repeat them back till you can do it in your sleep.

Just keep in mind that the reality of CNA work is 100% different from what you will learn in CNA school/the skills lab. But you can put that on the back burner for now and do your best to get ready for the test.

Good luck!

Vtachy1 · Aug 16, 2016

Read it, write it down, review review review review. Watch YouTube videos of skills, practice with pretend items. You can practice all of your skills at home if you use your imagination. Every grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, parent, sibling, boyfriend/girlfriend, neighbor, practice on EVERYONE.

Vtachy1 · Aug 16, 2016

For male peri care we have used water bottles and made a plastic wrap to pretend he was uncirmumcised. You can use anything for female peri care. Just use your imagination and practice over and over and over.