My turn! CNA test Saturday :)

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2009

The best advice I have to offer is : be calm! I was a bundle off nerves on my exam day & I really psyched myself out..not good! Also, I think it really helps to talk your way through the procedure. I did this, along with 6 of my classmates who tested with me & we all passed that portion of the test :) Lastly, good luck! :)

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2009

I believe you will be fine regarding your testing. Just review questions and answers that are in the back of your book if you have them. I know my book had them at the end of each chapter. The questions are very simple. Depending on where you took your CNA but here in California even the skills test was so easy. If you're missing something the Proctors will basically ask you if you're sure you're finished. They're not looking for you to do every single step, what they're looking for is the end result. Did you practice universal percautions and was the patient safe in the end. If you're going to count respirations, & heart rate make sure that you do it for a full minute. Handwashing is a guarantee during the skills testing, so make sure that you stand away from the sink and don't let your uniform touch it. Let them know that when you wash your hands that you will wash for a full minute and apply friction. Ask them if they want you to wash for the full minute, they will either say yes or no. At least you let them know that normally you'd wash for the full minute. I remember when I was in the middle of my CNA class, handwashing technique changed so it might have changed since then. Go over what you were taught. Take a deep breath before you take the exam and let your body relax....and GOOD LUCK! :clpty:

Girl Scout · Jul 23, 2009

Thanks guys! It really means a lot that you stopped to offer support. :) My classmates and I have been talking and practicing and sharing our fears and talking about what we were still unclear on, and that's really helped. I believe I can do this!

Hard to believe just a few months ago I was still trying to figure out what I was going to do next with my life, and was reading all the posts here and envying everyone who'd gotten their certification, and wondering if I had it in me to do something like that. And now I'm next!

ICantWait! · Jul 25, 2009

GOOD LUCK! :yeah:

Girl Scout · Jul 26, 2009

Woohoo! All done! :yeah:

I think it went well. I don't want to get too hopeful, because I goofed a couple of times - but I did stop and say "I realize I forgot to do this - the correct way to do it is blah blah blah - would you like me to start over, or should I continue?"

But I did remember to ask her stuff like - would you like to check the water (when washing hands) to make sure it's the right temp? Or would you like to check the water in the basin, to make sure it's the right temp? I didn't know whether or not she would be checking to make sure we were actually trying to get the temperature right before we offered it to the resident.

I laugh now but my partner and I had to sit and wait 8 hours to even do our test, because there were over a dozen of us and only 1 tester could make it, and we were all scheduled the same day. And when the two of us were finally done at 4:00pm, there were still 4 more people to test. And our tester had already had like an 8 hour drive to get here! I know she is probably going to go back to her hotel room tonight and pass out!

Those of us sitting and waiting to test... we're all friends, and so the waiting wasn't really that hard. Basically, we sat and talked about everything, after we were sick and tired of studying and quizzing each other. Then we played games (hangman - 70s and 80s movie titles). At one point all got in the car and went for lunch. Kind of a nice day.

Anyway, my 3 skills were pulse & respirations, hair & nail care, and ambulate 20 steps. Whew. My partner got peri care, which wasn't bad, but I think she was just about as nervous as I was and blanked out a couple of times.

But afterwards we both gave a BIIIIG sigh of relief and laughed, just feeling the stress lift... and went out and had drinks to celebrate.

It was a good day.

CNAmonica65 · Jul 26, 2009

I thought i failed my test here in florida back in march. I had ALL easy ones. Feed patient position patient and empty cathiter. All FREAKING EASY!!! I BLANKED OUT! my mind had brain farts!!! How can i screw up any of those?? I did!!!! I still have NO idea how i passed! I think what saved me was i didn't screw up on any infection control

mlo4567 · Jul 27, 2009

I'm sure you did great on your CNA yesterday:yeah:

I sure do wigh we had patient care assistant classes around here, I'd love to do that after finishing my CNA class. Keep your head up & breathe. One test done. :lol2: