How hard is the CNA skills test?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I was wondering how hard the CNA skills portion of the test is?

How long do you get to do each skill? What the minimum before they fail you? 80%?

I'm in Michigan and I'm aware there's five things we are tested on; hand washing, indirect care plus three other procedures.

Any tips or advice on how to pass? I'm so nervous I feel like I have everything down quite well but I feel like I'll miss something like lowering the bed.

Also I understand that you must knock on the door before you enter and introduce your self and greet the resident, however does the resident or the evaluator tell you the name of actor/resident or do you have to ask yourself. Because in a real life situation the name would either be on the chart, outside their door, or on their arm band or would actually have to ask the person's name . I'm just wondering how that works for the test.

Anyway thanks for any and all advice, tip, etc :)

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Hi, I have taken the skills test twice. You will do fine if you practice the skills over and over. At home, I pretended to use my pillow as the patient, etc and talk out loud pretending as if I was taking the REAL test. I would knock and say hi "Mr john xxxx".. I really wanted to pass. Lol...There are plenty of cna skill videos that are helpful on youtube.

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Hi Ren,

The Skills portion of the CNA state exam is a bit difficult, I am NOT going to lie to you. You really need to practice and read your Skills Guide cover to cover. You also need to memorize the 6 Principles of Care. I mean read it, know it, live it and own it big time. I always recite it by D is for Dignity that means Did I address the patient as Mr. Jones or Mrs. Jones? Did I give them eye contact and treat them respectfully at all times. I is for Infection Control which means did I keep the linens away from my body/uniform, did I wear gloves/PPE equipment, wash my hands, use barriers and trash and linen bags appropriately. S is for Safety which means did you give the patient their call light, are the bed rails up, is the brake on the bed, is the bed at the correct height and did you lower it when you leave the room, did you validate the patient by checking their name band. C is for Communication which is when you introduce yourself, explain the procedure you are doing and have good interpersonal/communication skills. I is for Independence which means did you give the Patient choices, Did you ask the patient to help you when they can to maintain their independence and finally ask the patient permission to perform the skill. P is for Privacy did you close the curtain, knock on the door and lastly did you keep them covered whenever possible and not overexpose the patients body.

The name band is already on the mannequin or if a live person will be your patient the person is handed the band to put it on their wrist. When you select the skill by flipping the card over you read the scenario and its says Mr. Jones or Mrs. Jones etc. So you see it on the card and you will see the band on the person or mannequins wrist.

Yes you wash your hands FIRST when starting the skill and then knock on the door. If you forget to do something during the skill you can stop and say "oh I forgot to wash my hands, or I forgot to knock on the door". If you forget during the skill but remember as your going along you can wait until the examiner says "Looking at the 6 Principles of Care is there anything you wish to add or change about your skill?" You can say "Under Safety I forgot to lock the bed OR under Infection Control I forgot to wash my hands or for Privacy I forgot to close the curtain". One thing the examiner does like is giving the patient a choice at the end of the skill and ask the patient whether they want the curtain open or closed.

I am nervous as well because I am retaking the skills exam on Nov 12th which is Wednesday which will by my second time. You get 10 minutes to complete each skill. Btw I am in California but its pretty much the same in all 50 states from what I hear. I am doing it through The American Red Cross.

The skills we have to do are Skill Station: Handwashing, Skill Station A: Personal Care, Skill Station B:Vital Signs PPE Height Weight, Skill Station C: Positioning Transferring Restorative Care and Bedmaking.

As for tips my teacher encouraged us to take 3 pairs of gloves with us on skills that require gloves. If your not sure re-glove and remember to examine the gloves before you put them on. Announce when your using warm water that the temp is 105 degrees. Check the temperature of the hot liquids by putting a drop and touching it to the inside of your wrist.

I hope I helped you and good luck!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Emergency and Critical Care.

I don't know what state agency you use in Michigan but if you take a look at the D&S Headmaster web site it will give you a great deal of information. If you know your skills well you will do fine, the hardest part is it is stressful because you are on your own being watched every step of the way. Before you go in breath, and talk your way through every step, then the tester knows what you are thinking. If you are silent they can't read your mind. But if there is no door and just a curtain for example tell them you would knock on the door, wash your hands, etc. Don't be afraid you are talking too much. Voice to them what you are doing it helps you think your way through. In Arizona you have 45" to complete all tasks, I can't imagine it would be much different in Michigan. Good luck and relax as much as you can, know the steps of your skills and you will do just fine.

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The state board of nursing provides you a copy of skills that will be tested. Well, I assume your state does. These sheet have skills that have highlight/asterisks, which means that you CANNOT MISS any of these skills.

If washing your hands for at least 20 seconds is highlighted/bolded/starred, you should do this skill perfectly. Other skills should come to you like it's breathing, such as knocking on the door and introducing yourself.

It's the only advice I can give you because it's the most important one.

I had to retake mine again because during the ROM skill, I forgot to put my patient's hand and arms in the prone position. It's the only one I missed but this skill was considered an important part. It was bolded/starred.

I was given 4 skills. When I re-took it, I was given 3 new skills plus the 1 I failed to do.

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