Need Help! Testing out of CNA Course in MN?

U.S.A. Minnesota

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Hey guys,

Does anyone know if it's possible to just take the CNA Exam without completing the course? I've heard that it's possible to do at a Tech college, but I don't know if it would be a good idea. I feel like if I bought the book and tried to learn the info by myself, that I wouldn't retain it very well.

Would you pay the extra $800 to take the course when you don't have to?? Help please! :(

I'm getting on board for this discussion late, but I am wondering the same thing as several other folks on here. I, too, live in Minnesota. I am taking pre-nursing courses through Minnesota West and plan to eventually go all the way through the RN program. The CNA course is around $750, which I do not have. However, I have worked in home-care as a PCA for over five years, and am still doing so. I have been told by several nurses that by now I have learned all I need to to pass the challenge test. The only thing I am not confident in is taking blood pressures. If I purchased a cuff and practiced, I think I would do fine with the challenge. I just don't know where to try to take the test. Can anyone tell me about testing areas in Southern Minnesota? How about purchasing a bp cuff? What is the easiest way to purchase one?

Thanks to ya all....

Julie

I believe you take the same written and skills test as any other candidate whether or not they took the CNA course. If that's the case, blood pressure is not one of the skills you need to do anymore in order to pass. Written exam is mostly common sense, although there a few questions on there you would likely not know without taking the course. However, you can miss a few questions and still pass. You should read this handbook http://www.asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/071900.pdf because all the step by step skills are listed in there. The step by step skills need to be done the way the book says, and we all know in real life, there might be more steps, less steps, different steps we take in taking care of people. But like I said, you need to do it the way the book says, otherwise you won't pass.

Thank you for the help - I will look on that link...

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