Passed my state exams!

[mslulubelle]

I had both tests on the weekend....I was at the exam site for almost six hours and most of that was spent waiting between my written and skills. There were a few students coming in to repeat their tests and I did see students fail....quite a few....the student I was 'paired' with I'm not sure she even read the handbook....didn't zero out the scale to get a weight, left the bed and rails up after nail care which she just sat on the bed and used the orange-stick and file on my nails with bare hands....no basin, towel or gloves at all...then when moving me to a wheelchair, forgot the brakes and left the transfer belt on me....no clue about PROM either....it was weird, I didn't ask her which school she went too...She was very nice though!! Lovely person...but I was a little stunned...the exams cost almost a hundred dollars and thats alot of money....

I was nervous when it came to my skills and forgot two small steps when feeding my patient...placing a towel and handwiping...but I caught myself before I started the skill and told the evaluator who let me go back and perform both steps....I felt silly because I practiced so much but I guess I just 'started-in' without really thinking ahead...I wasn't sure I had passed so sat outside the skills area waiting for the results....I was so grateful when I peeked at the letter as the evaluator handed it to me and saw 'results: Pass'

....I studied videos online and started practicing on the skills I felt less confident about weeks ago...I also had a little basket and wrote each skill on a tiny piece of paper and would randomly select a few when I had time to practice...I got the 'exam cram' book before I did my cna program and I felt good about my written test...Now all I have to do is decide where to go from here.....? Goodluck to anyone about to take the exam!

[winniecooper]

Congratulations! :) I like in Illinois that we do our skills tests during our clinicals.

[MCFielder]

I like your idea about randomly pulling skills out of a basket. Im going to try that! My test is on April 9th and Im a little rusty since the class has been over for about a month now. My biggest fear is forgetting some simple task like letting the rails down or not finishing in time :smackingf

[tomc5555]

Congratulations on passing the exam!

[mslulubelle]

I had twenty-five minutes to perform five tasks but one of those was handwashing.....the evaluator told me when I had five minutes remaining and Thank Goodness only one task left to finish, it goes fast....just start practicing the opening and completion steps and it'll be something you will just do instinctively...I did see students fail for not putting the bed low, not placing the call-light in reach etc....The evaluator will always ask if you've fully completed a task before going to the next skill which I used as a prompt to make sure I'd covered all the steps.....

I was one of the last students to go thru the practicals and I could tell the evaluators patience had already worn a bit....But all you can do is prepare as best as you can, take a deep breath and go for it......I also wore scrubs because they put me in 'work mode' and look tidy....

....because it can be such a long process I would bring a drink and something to eat, we could bring our study materials too....they just had to be placed in a separate area during the testing.....I also planned something to look forward to later in the day so my mind wasn't just centered around the exams....I could look at the clock and think 'in a few hours I get to eat out with my best friend and then see that movie'...Good Luck!!!

[Getreal2011]

I also had a little basket and wrote each skill on a tiny piece of paper and would randomly select a few when I had time to practice...I got the 'exam cram' book before I did my cna program and I felt good about my written test...Now all I have to do is decide where to go from here.....? Goodluck to anyone about to take the exam!

:ancong!: to you!!!!

I love the pick a skill out of the hat idea. I am scheduling my exam date on Monday. I'm going to use that to practice.