New to STNA class

Published

Um, wow. I just started my state tested nurses assistant course Monday and goodness! The book work is beyond easy, so that's no problem at all. But they handed out the "red book" of 25 skills that we have to learn. Are they serious? Or after you practice them, do they get easier? It's already 2 days in of the 11 day class and we haven't gone over any! I've gone over handwashing and abdominal thrust on my boyfriend tonight.

Do they get easier the more you do them? I'm just super overwhelmed since a few of them have 24 steps!!

Ok...I need to calm down.....just nervous b/c we have to perform them in front of the class sigh. :crying2:

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Specializes in Mostly geri :).

Try doing it without looking at the book, just remember, knock, introduce yourself, wash your hands, and explain the procedure before you do anything. That only leaves the fun part. P.S. It will come easier with time, you'll be great.

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Specializes in 6 yrs LTC, 1 yr MedSurg, Wound Care.

We didn't do any skills for the first few days of our class either. You will probably go over them in class, everyone will have a chance to ask questions and practice but ultimately it will be your responsibility to learn all the steps. It sounds like your boyfriend will be a big help. Give him your booklet to read while you perform your skills so he can point out if/when you make a mistake. The best thing to help you will be to say out loud what you are doing. You may notice as well that the first 3 or so steps and the last 2 or 3 stes are the same no matter what. Knock on the door, explain procedure, handwashing then call light, handwash, etc. That knocks a 17 step skill down to about 10.

By the time class is over, you will be more confident. Good luck! You'll do great!

Dondie

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I have been an STNA for about 4 months now. I have taken the Ohio state test for STNa's and passed the written with like a 98% yay! but the skills were simple. I did my four skills a snap. hand washing, hair care, mouth care, bed pan, turn on left side.then I measured my out put and wrote it down and cleaned up after myself. I know I did all the skills right but since I picked up the grad. to read the out put. The tester failed me. She even informed me that my numbers were correct. agh! I am going back tomorrow to retest and if I dont pass this time, I will be getting fired bc companies can only keep a non liscenced aid on staff for up to four months :uhoh3:. So study and study. My advice just take your time, they do give you a time limit but all in all you can do all the skills within the given time. And the problem I have is that my work does everything WAY differnt than the testing site so keep it fresh on how the state wants it done and not how your getting paid to get it done. :) Goood Luck!

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how did you do over all

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i go a yellow book full of 25 skills, and that was intimating at first ; but I went with the flow and I did well in the class, not an A but above average

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try to remember your getting ready steps and finishing up

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Specializes in LTC.

24 steps sounds like a lot, but the first and last 5 steps of every single procedure are exactly the same, and everything in the middle is pretty much common sense.

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