Nursing Assistant state exam questions

tookewlandy · Jun 10, 2006

The way that my skills test went was the instuctor picked or i think she picked ot the skills were random picked, and there were 5 that i had to perform and usually handwashing is not a single skill they test you on but htey look to see if you are doing it. The tell you the next skill after you complete the previous one and so on. The instructor i had was very nice and the NA test proctor was very nice also, but as you know with nurses some people can be very strict and very mean so just be confident and do you best nervousness is what alwasy gets people. get alot of sleep.

Oh and if you do make a mistakle and you catch yoruself doing it, dont be afraid to stop and say wait i want to start that over, or i forgot something id liek to start again. They would rather you correct your mistake, they watch to see if you noticed it and would rather you correct it. It shows good thinking skills.

GOOD LUCK

ANdy

tofutti · Jun 10, 2006

In our state you do 5 random skills and the first one is always handwashing, you can do that right, no problem.

With the other four just remember safety and barriers. It's a big deal here to knock, identify, introduce, wash hands, explain, assemble, privacy (kiiweap) before each skill.

With barriers-put a paper towel down under everything. As for safety- bed at the right working height, brakes on bed and wheelchair, bedrails up or down, brace their weak leg if helping a stroke patient stand. Always leave their call light within reach when you leave.

This stuff seemed more important than say, doing all gazillion steps of a bed bath in the perfect order.

My evaluators were much nicer and more professional than my cna instructors. I did stop at one point and say "OH and I would have set the brake on the wheelchair 2 steps ago" and they said, "Good." So like the other poster said, you can correct yourself and get credit for doing it right.

Good luck! Tofutti

SaraO'Hara · Jun 10, 2006

Thanks for starting this thread! I'll be taking the CNA exam sometime next month.

Did you feel that you were adequately prepared by your instructor(s) for both parts of the exam?

buildingmyfaith57 · Jun 10, 2006

remember those days 27 years ago. just like the last two post. you will be doing 5 random skills. you just got to really focus. who knows you might get a tester who would let you wash their face. i did!

Nurse2bMelanie · Jun 10, 2006

I took mine 3 years ago in Kentucky. We had to do only 3 skills, which was hand washing, occupied bed making and blood pressure. I had totally forgotten about having to do my skills that day and had worn a skirt and high heels and forgot my stethoscope. And I still passed.

darlanow · Jun 10, 2006

Took the CNA exam in the state of Colorado within the past year... The written was a breeze (easier than any test I had in class - and those were not very difficult).

My tester was friendly in a professional way - i.e. she introduced herself and confirmed who I was, reviewed the process with me, and gave me the opportunity to clarify things or ask questions before beginning. My patient was likewise cooperative, but forthcoming with information, etc. only when asked.

The first task was handwashing and then I was given a sheet with four other tasks which I had to complete in order. My state testing registration booklet listed all possible skills to be tested along with what they were looking for (including critical steps that had to be done in order to pass) - review those!!

In talking with my classmates who took the test, the most dreaded task was taking the BP and being within +/- 4 mmHg of the proctor's reading. Of course, I was the only one who actually pulled that skill on the test :eek: Some skills that seemed to come up a lot: Feeding, dressing, turning/repositioning in bed, denture care, transfer to wheelchair, ROM ankle and knee, putting on TEDs, putting on bedpan (make sure you have the pan the right way - one of my classmates got confused b/c they used a fracture pan instead of the regular one...), and modified bed bath.

After I completed CNA, I did my EMT certification which requires even more skills testing - made it much easier after having done it for CNA. Of course, my EMT class made us go through a lot of mock practicals before the real one with people timing and scoring you, so that helped too. If there's anything I would say to CNA instructors to make the test easier on students, it would be to run a lot more mock practicals in the skills portion of class so students get used to the pressure and build "muscle memory."

Darla

who starts my BSN in Aug 06

slynn61 · Jun 10, 2006

I took mine 3 years ago in Virginia. Just so happened that SBON was there to renew certification for the program and so they were very strict that day. We have 5 skills. Everyone gets handwashing. Other 4 were random with 20 min. time limit.

Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP · Jun 10, 2006

Thanks for starting this thread! I'll be taking the CNA exam sometime next month.
Did you feel that you were adequately prepared by your instructor(s) for both parts of the exam?

I won't really know until I take it, which could be anywhere from 2-4 weeks away! But, I do feel very prepared for the written test. The skills test is all I'm worried about because people will be analyzing my every move. That's okay, I'll get over it.

buildingmyfaith57 · Jun 10, 2006

I won't really know until I take it, which could be anywhere from 2-4 weeks away! But, I do feel very prepared for the written test. The skills test is all I'm worried about because people will be analyzing my every move. That's okay, I'll get over it.

you will do fine. if this is what you want to do,and its in your heart you will do great.

LanaBanana · Jun 11, 2006

My tester was very nice. We had to bring our own mock patient (I brought my mom). There was a set-up of a patient room, with supplies all available along one wall. She would say something like "You need to help your pt ambulate to the door and back. How would you do this." My instructors had said to verbalize everything and provide the rationale behind what you are doing. So you say "I will knock as I enter the room and introduce myself to Mrs. Smith and tell her what we need to do. I will lower the bed to the lowest level for the safety of my pt, attach the gait belt, stand with my feet shoulder-width apart, and assist her to her feet. As we walk toward the door I will walk behind her to assist her if she starts to fall." It really helped me to verbalize everything. Since she knew I was going on to nursing school she gave me some additional information as we went along. When I was doing ROM she asked if I knew the correct terms for flexion, dorsiflexion, etc. We had to talk our way through a bed bath, saying in what direction we would wash certain areas, when to change water, how to keep pt warm, etc. Again, talking my way through it made it easier.

You'll do fine. The written test (actually ours was computerized) was the easiest thing ever. Be sure you're confident on your vitals as that was mandatory for us - and we didn't need our own steths, had to use the instructor kind so we both heard.

Hope this helps some! Just be confident in what you do, but don't be afraid to go back a few steps like someone else said and say "oh yeah, I would have locked the wheels before transferring her."

Goodluck!

Transplant-BSNTx · Jun 11, 2006

I took my CNA state certification test almost 6 years ago while I was in high school. We too had to do 5 skills, one of which was always handwashing. Also, we drew the four other skills out of a bag. We got to pick our patient, so that helped a great deal. Since we did clinicals on that floor we had a chance to pick a good cooperative patient before the day of the test. I took my skills test in a hospital on a skilled nursing unit. The written exam was easier than the tests that we took in my nursing aide class, probably d/t the fact that they were all multiple choice. I don't remember our skills test having a time limit.

Good luck! Remember to relax and think the steps through and you'll do great!