Question about the NC State CNA Skills Exam

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Dec 29, 2008

I can't give details, but have heard it is very strict. Certain places are harder on students than others. I advise my nursing students to give themselves plenty of time to pass (just in case they don't pass on first attempt). The students in our curriculum must have an NA-1 certification in order to participate in the Nurse Extern Program in the summer. Sorry I can't be more helpful or specific. Best wishes to you.

graciapj · Jan 1, 2009

I have been a PCA in home health care for the last 4 1/2 years & just recently finished the CNA 1 class with ease.
I have been pretty much terrorized about taking the state skills exam with all of the failure stories & the reasons why you can fail ( a soap bubble on the arm-failed....didn't put a paper towel down when weighing client- failed ).
My question here is was it that bad? I sent my application to test in & am awaiting my ticket to test....Meanwhile I am SO nervous. I read in the book that they consider your cut score when passing a skill other than the critical element steps, so does that mean that you do everything correct but maybe do a part out of sequence that you would pass. I know the skills backwards, but am so scared I will get something out of sequence & fail.
EX: wash hands, call button when it should be call button then wash hands. Is it this strict?
I know I have rattled on a bit, but I love working with the elderly & have plans to become an LPN.
This is just the 1st step on my path.

hi i am confident on taking the written exam its the skills exam that i am mostly afraid of i haven't practiced all of it..what books or websites helped you? when is you exam and where are you taking it?

Thanks!

Kim8501 · Jan 3, 2009

i am taking mine on the 17th @ wake tech.

i really haven't looked at any websites other than this one, but have studied the nc cna candidates book { the blue book } from cover to cover, over & over till i am blue. lol !

has anyone here taken the test @ wake?? if so, how was it there?

polvaltqueen · Jan 4, 2009

I passed the written and skills CNA test at Wake Tech in October and would love to give some helpful hints :)

How it works is that you get paired with another test taker to do the skills with. While one pair is in a lab testing the other test takers are in another lab waiting for their turn. Each pair takes about an hour since each person has 30 min to complete their 5 skills.

You will get your five random skills when it is your turn to go, no sooner so make sure that you are prepared for that. First skill is always hand washing. So it is actually 4 random skills. They must be done in order as they appear on the list of skills.

You must also do all the steps of the skill. Missing a step won't fail you but missing a bold step will!!! What ever you do don't miss a bold skill.

You can also go back within a skill. So if you miss a step in a skill and realize it, just say I want to go back and start over from the piece you missed. If you miss a step, finish the skill and move on to the next, you can't go back to a previous skill to fix it. Once the skill is complete it is done.

Make sure to always leave the patient a call bell before you leave the room and wash hands after the skill is complete.

You don't have to physically wash your hands after and before every skill. Just say wash hands and pretend with sanitizer. The only time you have to physically wash hands is as your first skill and after you have completed all skills.

I was very nervous too, but also knew the skills book up and down and had practiced the skills numerous times before the test. If you know it the way you say you do you will do just fine!

Best of luck to you, if you have anymore specific questions feel free to ask.

graciapj · Jan 15, 2009

I passed the written and skills CNA test at Wake Tech in October and would love to give some helpful hints :)
How it works is that you get paired with another test taker to do the skills with. While one pair is in a lab testing the other test takers are in another lab waiting for their turn. Each pair takes about an hour since each person has 30 min to complete their 5 skills.
You will get your five random skills when it is your turn to go, no sooner so make sure that you are prepared for that. First skill is always hand washing. So it is actually 4 random skills. They must be done in order as they appear on the list of skills.
You must also do all the steps of the skill. Missing a step won't fail you but missing a bold step will!!! What ever you do don't miss a bold skill.
You can also go back within a skill. So if you miss a step in a skill and realize it, just say I want to go back and start over from the piece you missed. If you miss a step, finish the skill and move on to the next, you can't go back to a previous skill to fix it. Once the skill is complete it is done.
Make sure to always leave the patient a call bell before you leave the room and wash hands after the skill is complete.
You don't have to physically wash your hands after and before every skill. Just say wash hands and pretend with sanitizer. The only time you have to physically wash hands is as your first skill and after you have completed all skills.
I was very nervous too, but also knew the skills book up and down and had practiced the skills numerous times before the test. If you know it the way you say you do you will do just fine!
Best of luck to you, if you have anymore specific questions feel free to ask.

wow! thanks! this was very helpful...I test on the 30th friday..am very nervous about the skills part

tryingtobeanurse · Jan 18, 2009

One thing I will add is that some people fail because they run out of time. When you practice your skills try to use a timer. Make sure you get the occupied bed down to less than four minutes. I passed my state exam in May 2008 and I almost ran out of time. The occupied bed was the most time consuming but since I was advised by my cna class instructor to get it down to 4 minutes or less, I practiced this over and over. That is what saved me.

WSWEETA · Mar 23, 2011

I been a cna for 8yrs and i just move to the state of north carolina from washington state,since moving here i found out that i had to take the north carolina state exam before working.i am not worried about the first part of the test,its the skills part.i dont know whats considered the correct way to do n.c skills.i dont know what to expect.i know each state is different.....is this the only state that you cant just transfer your license,without going through an state exam all back over again? Does anyone know a web site on n.c skills requirments. Thanks to who all can help. I am really nervous

RadBSN · Mar 27, 2011

Remember that all the skills with important sequences have a reason behind the sequence. You wouldn't wash your hands and then give the pt a call bell because you've just recontaminated yourself.